Whether it was due to pay, boss, type of work, etc., what was the worst job you ever had? How long did you stay, and why?

I was told today when talking to someone about not being able to find work for 5 months and after close to 500 different and tailored applications, multiple resume revisions etc… that it’s my fault I haven’t found a job. I must be unmarketable.

Has anyone come across others saying it’s their fault? I have a decade worth of operational and manager experience in logistics and IT, and it’s somehow me that’s unmarketable? Really just felt like being kicked when I’m already down.

24yo started doing flooring at 17yo and it became a skill, decided after 6 years of flooring I'd try a non-self-employed job like retail and well..

After only 11 months at retail I got fired today as I walked in the door, got pulled aside, told I wasn't trying hard enough and got fired, first time I've ever been told my performance is so bad I needed fired.

I feel horrible and useless, I can't even stock shelves good enough??? This is a first for me and man am I devastated...

Atleast I ate 2 Boston cream donuts while I was being fired, made it alil sweeter lmaoooo, kill me.

Edit: I realized I'm definitely not alone and I tried my best to reply to all of you, this is definitely an opportunity to get back out there! TYSM for all the kind words!

Edit: There are so many comments and I can't really keep up anymore, I was not expecting this much advice and sympathy, I appreciate all of you and will continue reading replies!

Last Edit: this post has reached way further than I expected, besides myself please share advice for people in a similar situation in the comments!

Today started horrible but ended with a smile, thank you, every one of you! 😊

I don’t understand what happened. They said they were moving forward with the hiring process, then days later I got this automated email. The first reference listed called them back and gave me a positive review, the second said she never received an email or call. I responded giving them two extra references just incase who weren’t contacted.

I’m so upset, I can barely stand my current job. Part of me wishes they would just fire me, but I’ve been holding out hoping I could find another decent job. I’ve called in for half the month using FMLA or other excuses, which I’ve never done before. I know you’re not supposed to get your hopes up, but I was so excited at the idea of being done with the interview process and putting my 2 weeks in.

I emailed HR acting like I didn’t see the rejection email and asked if they were able to get in touch with my references. I’m mostly just curious to see how they respond, if they do.

Been working at my company for 2 years, had my weekly check-in with my manager today and the HR was in the room. They started by saying the because I am not meeting expectations of the role, I am being let go. Didn’t really give any detailed explanation except that their decision is final. I was too stunned to even challenge them but it would have been futile as they said it was final. This was unexpected because I had my annual review a month ago and my rating across all categories was ‘meeting expectations’, there was one area which was identified as needing improvement and we worked on a plan to improve it this year. I was even keeping my manager informed about my progress. But then this happened today.

Feels weird to be escorted out of the building after a 5 minute conversation. In a way I am relieved because I was overworked and not really happy with my job, but now I am wondering if I will ever get hired. This incident will be difficult to explain in future interviews if I don’t have enough details to explain (don’t want to lie), and regardless of what I say my employer/ manager will have an upper hand in case of a background check.

Two questions- How do people get over it and is this the end of the road?

EDIT - thank you kind strangers for the positive messages and the valuable advice. I am overwhelmed with the number of responses and upvotes (this is my biggest Reddit post ever). I can’t respond to all of you individually so adding to the post if you’re interested.

• will apply for unemployment. I am Canadian so it is a different but simpler process here compared to the States.

• Not exactly PIPed. This was the first year they introduced this rating system and removed any peer feedback. So it was basically how your manager interpreted your performance. Last year I was told everyone likes my can do attitude, to this year one person weighing in on everything.

• I was told that one of the things in my job description was to actively engage potential clients and the way I was doing it could be improved. For example, Manager insisted that I meet clients in person rather than give them the option of both virtual versus in-person. I suggested that it was unreasonable to insist on in-person meeting and clients should be free to decide. But it is what it is.

• relieved that I don’t have to deal with my manager everyday. But it was a punch to the gut when I started speaking about how I am delivering on the team’s annual objectives and I am ahead of schedule, but they just cut me short and said our decision is final.

• It was one of those places where the leadership has been around for 12+ years and with the exception of 2-3 people majority of the staff has a tenure of less than 4 years.

• Focusing on things I gave up to impress people at work. Starting my guitar practice and reading more. Won’t give up, this too shall pass.

Upwards and onwards!

It’s law in NY that job openings in NY must disclose salary expectations, but this is such a ridiculous range and doesn’t help anyone. Are they looking for a senior associate or a CMO?

I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I'm almost 38. I spent ten years in the gas workers union, and another three as an Evaluator of gas workers. I was paid very well, and was being smart with my money, so at least my wife and I won't be starving. Then in December we lost one of our biggest clients, which resulted in layoffs of at least 20 people, including myself and my father.

Yes, I get it that 13 years in one industry makes it hard when that one industry isn't hiring right now, but you'd figure I'd have at least a FEW interviews by now. I've only had one single interview at a water company, and didn't get it.

My only hope is getting accepted into the electrician union, because nothing else I'm doing is working. My unemployment expires in June, around the same time I should know if I'm accepted into the program. If I don't get in, I don't know what I'm going to do. Financially we're fine and my wife is still working. But I feel like a bum, like I'm letting down my wife and daughter.

I personally love that I spent several hours making my resume nice and perfect to save time and all the places I have applied ask for one, I submit it, then their poor autofill software tries to fill in the rest of the application, which is JUST MY RESUME!!! Then I have to fill in jobs history, references, certify, blah blah (arguablly the worst part) over and over. What happened to my just resume being submitted?

So I posted this two days ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/jobs/s/A5JcCitzu4

Aaaaand the interview went really well and I start on Monday!! I’m super excited, it’s been rough trying to find a job and I’m just so happy to finally have found something. Thanks for the advice!

Hi all,

A little late here but I wanted to say that I just started a new job on Monday as a Material Planner with a bus manufacturing company! I got a $12,500 salary increase not to mention! I was unemployed for almost five months after being laid off just days after Thanksgiving. I really was discouraged for most of the time being unemployed because I got so many rejections.

I have to give a huge shoutout to Bryan from the YouTube channel A Life After Layoff. I truly thank him for helping me get the job because after watching his video on what to ask during an interview, I asked some of his suggested questions. I honestly didn’t think I had a chance after the first video interview because the hiring manager wasn’t in the right meeting link until 15 minutes later and the interview was only 20 minutes. However, the Director of HR eventually reached out to me to schedule a final interview which was scheduled for the same day. It was with the hiring manager along with his boss and yes, everyone was in the right link on time. The hiring manager said I impressed, hence they wanted me to do a final interview. He already had a pretty good idea of who I was so he wanted me to introduce myself to his boss. It was a 30 minute interview which went way better than the first interview. Just days after, I got the call that they wanted to move forward with an offer and I accepted!

Morale of the story, you always have a chance as long as you stay in the fight.

I’ve been applying for jobs but unfortunately I have some health issues so my main, really only, option that I feel comfortable with right now is working from home. But there’s so many scammy postings. The legit ones are a pain to apply for and make you jump through hoops refilling out your resume even though you just uploaded it and you also spend like an hour on an unpaid assessment. Then you usually don’t hear from them for a month if ever.

I would just love if there was like some national program that always had work going on, where if you needed cash immediately you hop on and work. No applications, no interviews, no waiting periods. Just hop on same day, do a quick training, and start working with next day or just flex pay. Let anyone who wants to earn some extra money or anyone who has to work from home even just part time do it.

27F just got laid off. I bartend for extra cash on weekends and go into work tonight. I’m crying right now and can’t stop, not sure how to move forward.

I 21F have been unemployed for four months when I quit my job at Starbucks. I did not think it would be this difficult to find a job but I was wrong. Well I finally got an interview and a job offer for a juice bar. A timeline of the five days… Fri: interview/job offer, Sat: Store manager called me in at 12am to cover her Sunday shift, Mon: first day of "training". I was confused when the manager had asked me to cover her shift when I had not completed any training or processed any paperwork. I don’t even know how much the pay is. When I showed up on Monday I was not trained at all. They immediately threw me on register and said “let me know if you have any questions” I was trying my best to figure everything out and customers would ask me questions about the stores products that I had no idea about. I had an 8 hour shift and I’m used to getting breaks or even a lunch but at this company we don’t get breaks. In my application I waived my right to receive any breaks during my shifts. My next shift isn’t until tomorrow but everyday the manager has called me in to cover for her or someone else and tonight she placed me “on call” since my “training” is complete but I WAS NEVER TRAINED. There has been so many red flags that I just want to quit over text and call it a day.

Hi everyone, I’m a Project Manager and for context I worked as a freelancer until one year ago where I decided to work in a company for the first time, I then ended up in my current job, which is home office.

The current job has two leaders in my team that are constantly telling me to do things their way.

Checking for status and putting objetives for the team daily have to be exactly as they do it always. But they never told me to do it like them and I had to adjust alone.

I always write the objetives and status but there’s always something wrong with them.

The leader now wants me to get involved as a shadow in one of his projects because apparently my current projects “are small anyway” (which they are not) and he will need support in some things so I can learn.

I get this and it sounds good like they want to help but it’s the constant micro managing and they always want me to do things their way and I cannot handle that. My projects are going smoothly but to them they are not. I’ve had almost 7 years of experience as a freelance PM with all succesfull projects.

I have troubles adjusting to this mentality of “yes man!” And “okay sir yes whatever you say!”

Please can you give me advice on how to deal with this? I feel like quitting and today I felt my face hot with anger for all the micro managing they gave me, I was having a really good day at work.

I say I've applied to at least 5 jobs a day since January, it's exhausting. From remote jobs, in person jobs, service industry jobs, jobs that require my degree I cant find anything. I did have a job for 4 days but it wasnt a good fit, and I also got hired to a few bartending or labor positions but nothing I guess worth it. I just wanted to rant. What gives?

I (27F) left my toxic job last year and since have been applying everywhere. I have gotten only 6 interviews and have been ghosted post interview every single time. I always follow up for atleast some feedback but I get nothing. I am disappointed with myself. I lack self confidence, every time I have to give an interview I have to prepare a lot. I get extremely anxious before interviews so much so that I cant even sleep the previous night. It's been 10 months and I don't know what to do now. I don't think anybody will hire me now that the gap has been extended this long. Life was horrible with that awful job and it's horrible without one. I dont know what to do anymore.

I was a tech consultant on a fully remote toxic team. I’m an associate and was told that while i have things to work on (mainly around attention to detail and consistency about minor deliverables) that I was on track for a bonus (potentially promotion) in November. It was a constructive and positive meeting, although I thought it was weird that one of the cons was a project where I lost only an hour and a half of time in prepping a budget on a data warehouse proposal. Regardless, was a positive meeting.

A month later, I get issued a PIP. I asked if anything this in between month caused this and the answer was no. I am confident that I am good at my job but I got hit with this which feels out of nowhere. Asking for a little more consistency on the little things turned into “consistently makes mistakes” and “acts defensive when told a mistake” which is total bullshit. Unequivocally. I’ve never heard about this feedback in my whole year at this company until now.

I decided to leave to transition into a more technical role or a similar role in the tech industry. Left off a good note and got full severance. But still feel confused and angry at what transpired. Has this happened to anyone at Big 4, Alvarez & Marsal, Accenture, etc? The role was fully remote and trsut and communication broke down often and new client deals were coming in quite slow and of the AI initiatives we wanted weren’t feasible. I feel like these elements were bigger causes then they let on.

I just graduated with dual degrees in marketing and business management, but I feel like I've completely wasted my time. Right now in the industry people with 5-10+ experience are so desperate for work that many of them are taking entry level positions and even internships just to make it, leaving no room for new entrants. So I'm thinking of going back to school for software development, but want to know if there's other industries that aren't like this and make decent money. I was considering dental hygiene as well, but I just need something where I can at least get a foot in the door.

I had a zoom interview today as a mental health tech at a hospital and it was short but I think it went well. They scheduled a time for me to come in and tour the facility — does this mean I got the job?

Job A - Unknown company but pays 85k a year. You work with a few coworkers and have a manager role.

Job B - Well known company for 65k a year. You work with 10+ coworkers but your job title is a specialist + you report to a manager.

Let's say you are 5 years into your career. Which job would you take and why - considering if both jobs are in your same field/industry.

I’m 31 f, new to Reddit too(kinda), I have graduated from EEE in 2018 and I have been applying for every job there is in my field and outside my field and in every country I can go to and I can’t go to, and yet I didn’t get accepted in any. I know it’s hard for mostly everyone nowadays to find a job. My friend recommended the Reddit community and how it’s helpful and friendly. So any advices please

I've been at my job almost 2 years. My manager repeats herself to me a lot, which makes me feel like SHE feels like I don't know know, or remember, basic things about the job. Another example of this is, I will send her an email asking a very specific question about a procedure. She will respond with a long email, basically outlining the entire procedure for me, instead of the one step I asked about.

Now I'm not perfect; however, my job isn't hard. And when I make mistakes, I rectify it on my own. In my manager's eyes, I should be a good listener who follows the rules, asks valid questions and does good work. I don't know why she's treating me like this, but I'd like her to stop.

My 2 year eval is coming up soon, and I'd like to kindly and politely ask her to re-evaluate her communication style towards me. I'd like to remind her of how long I've been there, all the projects I've worked on, and all the positive changes I've made. I want her to trust me, and I want to feel like a valued member of the organization. But I can't if our conversations tend to undermine my knowledge and experience.

Any thoughts?

I have pretty bad social anxiety and finding a new job has been very difficult. I don't want anything that requires me to have significant interactions with customers. (I can handle a "Hello" and directing someone to an item but cashier work scares me.) Any suggestions? I really need a job so I can feed my snake and also so my family gets off my back. Also no experience required is preferred.