Thinking

I recently found myself in a tough spot while applying for jobs. After leaving my toxic homophobic family this summer, I moved into university dorms and I'm really proud of that decision. However, as I've been applying for jobs, I hit a snag. One company got back to me, but I only have one reference available—my university tutor. They require two references, and since I'm estranged from my family, I don't have anyone else to turn to. I'm feeling really stuck. Should I give up on this job application and keep looking for other opportunities, knowing they might also ask for two references? Or should I consider finding someone to fabricate a reference for me? I know that lying isn't the best route, but I'm worried about my finances during university if I can't secure a job. I'm torn about whether to cancel the application altogether.

I recently found myself in a tough situation regarding my wife's unemployment benefits. She was temporarily let go from her job in February 2025 due to a lack of work, returned in April, but was permanently terminated in October. After her termination, she applied for unemployment benefits but faced complications when her previous employer appealed the determination, claiming she was doing word puzzles instead of working. This was not the reason given in her termination letter, which cited her sales performance. After a hearing, the officer ruled against her, stating this was grounds for disqualification from benefits, and now we are facing an overpayment notice of over $7,000. We believe this decision is unfair, especially since she was told to stop doing puzzles and was never coached on her performance. She missed the appeal deadline for the new determination letter, thinking she could wait to see if an overpayment notice would come. Now, we are unsure whether to appeal both the determination and the overpayment or apply for an overpayment waiver, especially since she is currently employed. I’m considering seeking legal counsel to navigate this complicated situation.

Today, I learned a hard lesson about job scams while my spouse was job hunting. They received an unsolicited email claiming to be from Uber for a position in business operations. The email was from someone named "Lucy Nutting" using the domain "lucy@contact-uber.com". My spouse was excited and logged into a Teams meeting for the interview, but things quickly took a strange turn. During the call, they received a notification that their microphone and camera were not accessible. The scammer prompted them to use a terminal app to copy and paste a URL, which led to a download attempt. Thankfully, the installation failed, but it was unsettling to see a person on the other end of the call who looked like a poorly looped video—definitely not a real person. I’m worried about potential hacking concerns and whether anyone else has experienced something similar. It’s a reminder to be cautious and skeptical about unsolicited job offers. If anyone has advice or similar experiences, I’d love to hear them.

I've been receiving rejection emails lately that say the company is no longer hiring for the position I applied for. This has happened four times now, and I'm starting to wonder if this is a new tactic from recruiters to soften the blow after choosing someone else. I work in marketing and communications, and I can't tell if it's just the job market or if this is a new trend in how rejections are communicated. The emotional toll of being rejected repeatedly is really weighing on me. I've been unemployed for almost a year now, and my savings have run out. I never expected the job search to be this difficult, and I feel exhausted and deeply depressed about my situation. How do others cope with this kind of endless rejection? It feels like I'm stuck in a hole with no way out.

I recently graduated in the UK with a degree in accounting and finance, but I'm struggling to land an interview. I lack any relevant experience like internships, and I'm unsure about which career path to pursue. I've been applying for a wide range of positions, from management roles to analyst jobs, but my only work experience is in retail. I'm multilingual, so I've also searched for jobs that require specific language skills, yet I keep receiving rejections. Most of my applications go through LinkedIn and Reed, but I know those platforms are quite competitive. I'm looking for advice on how to find more job opportunities or improve my CV. I've been advised to lie on my CV, but I want to stay honest. I'm focusing on graduate schemes or any position outside of retail and hospitality, but I can't relocate as I help my mum with rent in London. Any tips or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

I just got laid off from my third job since graduating college in 2024 with a business/marketing degree, and I'm starting to question if I'm the problem. At 23, I've had three different roles, and each one has come with its own set of challenges. My boyfriend pointed out that I might be the common denominator in these situations, which has really gotten me thinking. In my first job, I was a digital marketer making $85k, but after about six months, I was laid off due to the company's financial issues. The CEO promised mentorship but ended up shifting me to sales, which didn't work out well. My second job was at a restaurant where the boss was very intimidating and aggressive, making the work environment uncomfortable. I left that position to take on my third job, which I just lost. In this last role, I was hired as a Digital Marketing & E-commerce Manager at a small family-owned apparel company. However, the job turned out to be more about general office work than actual marketing, which was misleading. I was doing everything from social media management to customer service, but the boundaries were blurred, and I felt overwhelmed by the family dynamics at play. I was making $20/hour, working about 30 hours a week without benefits, and I often felt like I was thrown into situations without clear instructions. My boss had a temper and yelled at me multiple times, which made the work environment even more stressful. Just recently, I was fired after a particularly chaotic situation where I was struggling to meet a tight deadline due to WiFi issues. I stayed late, anxious and shaking, trying to get everything done, but it wasn't enough. Now I'm left wondering if I'm truly the issue here. I recognize that I've made mistakes and have areas to improve, especially in communication and managing expectations. But I also feel like the workplaces I've been in had their own significant problems. I want to learn from these experiences and not repeat the same mistakes, but I also don't want to internalize the idea that every bad situation is my fault. I'm feeling financially stressed and exhausted, and I'm looking for honest feedback on what I could change moving forward.

I started my new job two weeks ago, and I’m heading into my third week on Monday. Despite nothing bad happening, I'm struggling mentally. I've been in my previous role for 10 years, and I think that’s making this transition even tougher. I can't quite put my finger on the feeling—it's not exactly anxiety, but it's definitely unsettling. I’m also feeling burnt out from working in a nursery, which is pushing me to consider a career change. I had to leave my last job because it became a toxic environment, and now I'm feeling stuck on what to do next. Honestly, I just want to feel like myself again, but this strange feeling lingers even during my weekends off. I would really appreciate any advice or just knowing that others have experienced something similar.

I recently applied for a position at Walmart, but unfortunately, I failed their assessment. I was feeling confident about my answers, but it seems I misjudged what they were looking for. I've never failed an assessment like this before, and it's really frustrating. Now I'm contemplating whether I should reach out to Walmart to see if there's anything I can do to improve my chances or if I should just create a new email and reapply. I'm worried about using my social security number again and getting flagged for trying to be sneaky. I really need a job soon and can't wait until October to retake the assessment. I'm considering applying to other stores like Target as well, so I don't put all my eggs in one basket.

I recently went through a grueling five-round interview process for a position that I was really excited about. It started with a resume review, followed by a mini project that took quite a bit of time to complete. After that, I had a meeting with the manager, then another review, and finally, another round of interviews. It felt like I was stuck in this endless cycle for an entire month, only to receive a templated rejection at the end. It was incredibly frustrating to invest so much time and effort, only to be let down like that. I really wish companies would streamline their interview processes and respect candidates' time. It's disheartening to see this trend continue, especially in a changing economy.

I recently applied for two positions at a natural gas supplier and a garbage company, both in customer support and bookkeeping roles. To my surprise, the application process required me to provide three professional references right from the start. I've been job hunting on and off for the past year, and this is the first time I've encountered this requirement in the initial application stage. Previously, I had only given references when I was offered a job. A friend mentioned that this is common for government positions, but he hadn't seen it in the private sector. I feel a bit uneasy about giving out my references' contact information without even having an interview yet. I didn't fill out the references section because it felt too premature, and now I'm worried that I might be disqualified for not completing the application. Am I overthinking this?

I recently got hired for a serving position, and I’m feeling really anxious about starting. I’m 18 and it’s been 9 months since I last worked as a server, which makes me worry that I’ll mess up and my coworkers or managers won’t like me. I have over two years of experience and have always been praised for being a hard worker, but the fear of not being seen as reliable or good at my job is overwhelming. I need this job not just for the money, but also to help my mom and pay for school. The thought of no-showing and having to go through the job search process again is terrifying. I know I should take this opportunity, but I feel stuck and the comfort of not going is tempting. I’m looking for advice on how to overcome this fear and anxiety before I start.

I've been struggling to find full-time work for over two years now, and I'm starting to wonder if it's time for a career switch. I'm currently in the data science field, but my job search has been pretty bleak. I feel lost and unsure about what direction to take next. Has anyone else faced a similar situation? I'd really appreciate any tips or advice on how to navigate this. I know I need to improve my resume, as I've received feedback that it's lacking in skills and experience. It seems like the projects I've listed are too basic and don't showcase my capabilities effectively. I'm considering how to better present my experience, especially in areas like forecasting and predictive model development. Any thoughts on pivoting careers or enhancing my resume would be incredibly helpful.

I just had a frustrating interview for what was advertised as an admin role, but it turned out to be more of a personal assistant position. The interviewer struggled with English, and I found it really hard to understand what they were saying. I kept asking about the job responsibilities, but all I got was vague answers about making personal appointments and managing their stress. I even pointed out that they were really looking for an Executive Assistant. I asked for a salary of $35-40/hr, hoping that would deter them from hiring me. On top of that, they can’t schedule my second interview until the end of the month, which feels like a huge red flag. I’m really confused about what the day-to-day would look like and if this is even a role I want to pursue.

I had an interview at Aritzia yesterday for a retail position. I've been a fan of their brand for a while, so I was genuinely excited about the opportunity. I felt well-prepared and dressed appropriately for the interview. While I don't think it went poorly, I'm also not sure if it went particularly well either, as it really depends on what they're looking for and how competitive the candidate pool is. They mentioned that I should hear back in about a week regarding their decision, but now I can't help but replay the interview in my mind, searching for any signs of how it went. It's driving me a bit crazy, oscillating between thinking I might get hired and fearing I won't. I'm curious if anyone else has been in a similar situation or if there are current employees or other candidates I could connect with!

I recently connected with a recruiter but I'm feeling a bit lost on how to make the most of that relationship. I scheduled a call with them and I'm not sure what I should be asking or sharing during our conversation. I also want to reach out to people on LinkedIn who are in the roles I'm targeting, but I could use some guidance on that too. I'm looking for a step-by-step approach to effectively engage with recruiters and hopefully land a job. Has anyone had success after connecting with a recruiter? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

I applied for a public sector job through governmentjobs.com and went through two rounds of interviews. They mentioned that I would hear back within a couple of weeks after the in-person interview. Now, it's the end of the third week, and I haven't heard anything yet. I understand that the recent holiday may have caused some delays, but I'm considering reaching out to HR for an update. I know the public sector operates differently than the private sector, so I'm unsure if it's appropriate to follow up at this stage.

I recently applied for a couple of jobs that I'm really excited about, but there's a bit of a hiccup. I'm a Senior in college and set to graduate in December, but the positions I want have start dates in mid-October. I've already submitted my applications and mentioned that I won't be available until after the semester ends. Now, I'm left wondering if companies ever consider extending start dates for candidates who are still in school. Should I keep my hopes up for these roles or is it time to move on?

I have been struggling to find a job for 11 months after being laid off from my role in a new grad program at a tech company. I had two years of experience, but the program I started in was quite intense, focusing on critical work that reported directly to upper management. While I worked with some great people, the experience didn't align well with my career goals, as I was involved in various tasks like data analysis, project coordination, and SharePoint site maintenance, which didn't help me build a focused skill set. I was laid off in October 2025 due to "operational efficiency" along with others in my department. Since then, I've applied for around 10 to 20 jobs, but I've mostly received feedback that I lost out to candidates with more relevant experience. It's been tough finding roles that match my background, and I've noticed that junior positions are often filled by individuals with significantly more experience due to the current job market. In light of this, I've started applying for rotational programs, as they typically seek candidates with less than two years of experience. However, I've already faced a few rejections, although the response rate is better than for other jobs. I'm targeting rotational programs related to business analysis and product management, which align with my degree in UX Design and Data Analysis. I'm open to exploring new career paths, even if it means a pay cut or relocation. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has advice or knows someone who successfully transitioned into a rotational program with a similar background. I'm feeling a bit lost and would appreciate any insights.

I was laid off in April and have been actively job searching since then. Recently, I completed a final round interview with a company I'll refer to as Co A, and I received an offer from them. However, I also have a final round interview scheduled with another company, Co B, this coming Tuesday. I feel more inclined towards Co B, but I'm unsure if they will extend an offer. I'm contemplating whether it's appropriate to ask Co A for more time to make my decision. I'm seeking advice on how to handle the situation and what information, if any, I should share with both companies regarding my decision timeline.

I am beyond thrilled to share that I just landed a new job! After leaving my kitchen management position of six years in late June, I took a leap of faith to return to the service industry as a full-time bartender/waitress. My previous job was exhausting, with 10+ hour shifts and over 16,000 steps a day, not to mention the constant battles over basic hygiene with younger staff. I was earning $23/hr doing something I dreaded, and I felt trapped. Finally, I decided enough was enough and made the switch, but my first attempt at a service job fell through after just one shift. For about 2.5 months, I lived off my savings while applying and interviewing everywhere. I faced a lot of challenges with poorly managed businesses and frustrating experiences. Eventually, I applied for a corporate banking position, despite having no prior banking experience. I went through a rigorous four-part interview process, and yesterday, I received an offer! They even increased the pay to $31/hour because they were impressed with my interview performance. Now, I won’t have to work nights, weekends, or holidays, and I’m free from managing adults or dealing with the mess of a kitchen. I feel like I’ve not only secured a job but a career with plenty of growth potential. I was worried about losing everything I had worked for, but it seems like this is just the beginning of something great!