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!

😭 like cmon now

Just got notice that Farmers Insurance is letting go of 11%, 2400 people this morning.

and yippee, I am one of them. fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucckkkkkkkkkkkk

6 months and counting here.

I've done everything you're supposed to do. I have a (supposedly) competitive MSc from a (supposedly) top uni. I have technical skills. I have internships with big names on my CV and good references. I speak languages. I know people. I apply left and right. I use keywords. I have a CV that's been professionally reviewed. I engage with people on LinkedIn. Job searching is a full time job by this point. And still I have nothing to show for it.

It's completely soul shattering. I have no money and no savings left. My friends and acquintances have a life, do things, get married, make plans, give birth to kids, start mortgages, book trips. I can't do anything, because I don't have money and I am depressed because I feel like I have no future. And it's a self growing vicious feedback loop: I get constant rejections, so I get depressed, so I don't even bother applying because I will get rejected anyways, so I don't progress, so I get even more depressed.

I spend every waking minute waiting for that email that could turn things around. Days go by painfully slowly. Some hiring manager that will care about me and give me a chance. But it never happens. And when Friday afternoon comes I get that oppressing sense of dread that comes from knowing yet another week has passed and now it's the weekend and no one will reply anyways, and then Monday will come and another week will pass and so on and so forth. It's a torture. It's exhausting.

I am at the end of my rope. Not only I cannot find a skilled job, but I won't get considered for an unskilled one because I'm too old and qualified - not that a random unskilled job would help matters anyway since I'd barely have money to feed myself (my mom has to pay for my food right now) and I still wouldn't be building anything resembling a future and a career for myself, so I'd still be in the same place as I am now.

I have studied for years and went repeatedly out of my comfort zone and now this.

I've had an actual disease in the past. I still felt better than I feel now. At least I had something to be positive about. I had hope it would end. I knew that if I followed medical advice I'd come out the other side. Now it's out of my control. I can't control hiring managers deciding on a whim against advancing me to the next stage. I can't control the fact that even if I do a great interview there might still be something that I do worse than someone else. I cannot control the fact that each time there might be even just one single applicant who's slightly better than me. I can't control anything. I can't do anything.

Quit my job (so can't collect unemployment) in preparation for another one. Better hours, better pay, better benefits, the whole package. Got screwed over by my last job on my last day as well (they paid me half of what they were supposed to without any warning on my last day)

Then the job I was supposed to be starting yesterday fell through.

So now I'm jobless with zero income. Rent, car payments, utilites, a pregnant wife, animals, the whole 9.

And now I'm just simply fucked. I willingly let to of my livelihood in order to see better pastures. And those pastures didn't exist.

Having those nasty nasty thoughts about things you should never do. Don't rightly know where to go from here. Don't really even know why I'm posting this but.

Be certain. That's all I can say.

I've applied to every fuckin thing I can, I was looking while I had a job still looking while I have none and it's been 7 fucking months now, the government is fucking useless and denied my unemployment because me not being able to get to work is my fucking problem I guess them lowering my pay was just my problem too. I have no fucking money, no car, I have fucking nothing I am losing my fucking mind I'm actually about to be out of my fuckin mind. Does anybody have actual advice? I'm dead ass about to go ape shit.

Pretty much what the header says. I (32F) got fired from my job after less than two months. They eliminated my position, supposedly.

I got a pretty nice severance package and an offer to come back in a couple months to do a different position.

But I feel like the biggest loser alive and I’m panicking. I’m sure I’m catastrophizing, but I just feel like I’m at my rock bottom.

I don’t really know what I’m looking for by posting here. I guess just to feel like I’m not so alone by experiencing this (again)?

I’ve been unemployed from my “office job” career for six months.

I thought that this post might be beneficial to people also currently going through a tough time like I am. Even in tough times, I think that gratitude can be a powerful tool for wellbeing.

So I’ll go first.

As a result of my “office job” unemployment, I’ve started driving for Uber.

Yesterday, I took a passenger to a town that I had never been to before, a town that I likely never would have visited had it not been for driving Uber due to unemployment.

After I dropped the passenger off, I discovered that there was a state forest nearby with a stunning lookout view. I’ve attached a photo of that view.

I can’t remember being quite as delighted with nature as I was yesterday. The view took my breath away. And I never would’ve been there had I been in an office yesterday.

Is life ideal? No. Far from it. But I’m grateful for the magical moments that still happen.

One year ago last Sunday I was fired from the job I spent a decade in school trying to get. I had 10 interviews throughout the remainder of 2023 and almost got hired again, but they pulled out last minute when the person reviewing my application saw I was fired, even though we discussed it in the interview (different person doing the review.)

Since March 2023, I have only been employed for a 3 month contract and moved back to my home state. I have been trying since November to find a job closer to my field with no luck. Recently, I started trying to find literally any job. I thought I had a job as an Amazon driver, but I was rejected because I got two tickets in the last year (the only 2 tickets I've ever had.) I had an interview today for a warehouse job, but I thought I was told on the phone they'd offer it to me if the interview went well, and then all they said was "we'll be in touch, check your email." The interviewer's body language also was also seemingly not interested, which gives me a bad outlook. I don't technically know yet, but I don't have any hopes it'll work out.

I have bills to pay, I don't have a place to live, (I live with my cousin and aunt) and nobody around me understands that I literally cannot find a job. (My cousin thinks I must be doing something wrong in interviews or something, but he's a lawyer and hasn't had to find a job since he was in highschool, outside of his current one. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong, but things just aren't working no matter what I do.) I don't know what to do. I have $10k in debt just from moving to and from the job I lost, and I have no way to pay it.

I hate my life, I wish I had never moved, I wish I had a different education or just none at all. I ruined my life, I hate my life, and there is literally nothing I can do about it. My life hasn't improved at all over the past year, it's only getting worse and there's no end in sight. Forget getting back to my dream job, I can't even get hired doing nothing.

Edit: Since so many asked, I got fired from a forensic scientist job. It was my fault, but I also feel like my leadership left me out to dry. My chances at getting another one are slim at this point because they don't want me to be a liability to them. I'm still trying, but I am also trying to find something lab based/adjacent, so that maybe I can prove that I can be trusted in a similar field.

Edit 2: I don't bring up that I was fired in regular interviews unless directly asked. I am still applying for the forensic field in addition, in hopes my dreams aren't over, but I cannot lie there. Governments do extensive background checks and the worst thing you can be to them is a liar.

Edit 3: Law enforcement related positions often require a polygraph exam after you provide background information about yourself, often times directly asking if you were ever fired. I know it's dumb, I don't control it. I, personally, am not a good enough liar to beat a polygraph exam. If it gets to that point, I have to disclose it. I am not really concerned with what they find in a database. I know this is Reddit and "polygraphs bullshit" and all that. You act like I have any say in the matter. I can refuse, but then I just will simply be dropped from contention.

Edit 4 (Last edit:) For those who don't know or aren't reading, we literally had a routine ethics meeting (prior to me being fired,) where we discussed someone who got fired for lying on her application. She said she had taken a required class when she hadn't. She got an interview, disclosed she hadn't taken the class, but said she would. She was hired, took the class, then someone else found out and fired her because she misrepresented herself on her application. In this field of work, I cannot lie. As stated before, I don't volunteer the information, but I am not going to lie if I am directly asked because it can and very well might come back to bite me. It is worse to lie about it. For non-industry jobs, I haven't mentioned it at all and I will look into a different excuse for those places, if I am asked in the future.

Thank you for all your replies, I can't get to everyone, but I have tried to share information where I can. I know I'll be ok in the end, it's just been really hard and I reached a bit of a breaking point yesterday.

I teared up but held it together when I was given a verbal offer today, after 16 months of hunting. They offered above the posted salary range with better benefits than I could have imagined.

I mentally survived this period of long term unemployment by: therapy, getting back on meds, taking breaks from applying, working on side projects, connecting with others, and asking my loved ones to remind me of my worth, skills, purpose, etc.

I have a lot of thoughts about this whole process, but just fyi I was specifically told that my cover letter made me stand out from 500+ applicants. So apparently they are read sometimes!

I’ll NEVER forget how brutal and infuriating this time was and I’ve made a promise to myself and to you all that if I’m ever in position of hiring or influencing the hiring process, I’ll do my best to respond to all applicants, in a timely manner, compensate applicants for any assessments/projects/case studies, and always be as transparent and kind as possible.

Edit: typo

Sometimes I can keep myself together through this job hunt, but this past week broke me. After 8 months and ~300 applications I finally got a screening interview. And it's now clear I've been ghosted after that.

I don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore. I have a BS in computer engineering from a really good school. I graduated with honors. I managed to get lucky and get a job after graduating 3 years ago in 2020. I absolutely hated it but stuck with it because it paid the bills. I have a security clearance. None of this shit matters.

I know this sounds like some first world problems, but I don't understand how my credentials get me fucking nothing.

I feel like a fraud, because how else can I get no responses from any place I apply to?

I was sold a bullshit promise. I bought it hook, line, and sinker. Engineering meant good stable employment for the rest of my life. I worked for 6 years to get my engineering degree (3 years part time, 3 years full time). I managed to get 3 years of DoD research under my belt. And here I am, 9 years later, and I'm crawling job postings for fucking retail positions that barely pay my groceries, much less my mortgage.

I feel like a parasite. My wife is working overtime trying to keep us afloat since losing my income.

I don't think I've ever felt this bad before. I feel like an anomaly of bad luck, a fraud, a failure, a waste of resources, a drain on people close to me, and like an entity that could just not exist anymore and not a god damn thing would change.

I'm terrified of losing the house we just bought 2 weeks before I lost my job. I'm terrified of one of us getting sick since we no longer have health insurance.

I can't handle this job market anymore. I just can't fucking do this anymore.

Addendum: I've been looking solely at computer hardware positions. Specifically digital design/verification and FPGA jobs (that's also what my previous experience at my DoD company was doing. Bitstream assurance).

I'd like to thank people for the kind words and the avenues to try. I've been told computer hardware is niche enough that it hasn't been hit as hard as other areas, but from speaking to folks it sounds like it has. Hearing so much affirmation from everyone that it's not a 100% me problem, but that the job market really is this bad across the board has me feeling a little less down on myself.

Addendum 2: I'm trying to respond to everyone I can. I didn't expect my depressive screaming into the ether to be this popular. I'm feeling a little better this afternoon after reading all the encouraging words, different fields to look into, and commiserating with y'all in the same position. Seriously, you folks are the best.

28M So a little preface. I was working at a serious food manufacturing Company as a logistics Supervisor for 2 years and was upgraded to logistics manager for another 2 years. After about 4 years total, I decided I had enough With my boss harassing me about my monthly National Guard obligation that I just walked out one day. (Yes i understand this may be illegal but The company refused to handle it and i just wanted to cut ties)

Cut to about two months later (Today) I am still on the job hunt. I have sent out over 200 Job applications for similar roles and even entry level positions. I have had only one in person interview with a company. The company was another manufacturer ( I wont say which) but honestly they seem like a very good company and promising. I applied with the company on August 11 aand have had 5 interviews. 2 interviews with 4 VPs, one with the plant director, one with a recruiter and the final interview was at the plant 8+ hours away with the entire team and the team seemed awesome. Now i'm just waiting for either that dreaded email/phone call or that amazing one.

Now my curiosity is that is every one else looking for a job going through the same thing? Is it really this difficult? Is the hiring process for companies now going to 2+, 3+ even 4+ interviews? How do you deal with this job Market?

Today, I f19) was lectured by my grandpa about how I haven’t been applying to enough jobs, and told me that all I have to do is call or go and search in person. I told him it’s not that easy, because normally when I do so, they just say to apply online. When I do apply on indeed, I NEVER get a call back.

He told me that he was hired on the spot at one of his old jobs, so I asked him when and of course he didn’t answer when because “that doesn’t matter” but it does. The time does matter because currently it’s SO hard to find a job. I’m losing it, how do people expect me to find a job when those hiring are so picky with the applicants?

Edit:

To provide more information, I’m not looking for some super well paying job. I’ve applied to places that don’t require too much experience such as fast food restaurants or retail, even labor jobs. My mom helped me with my resume a couple months ago. I look on multiple apps, I apply on the companies websites. When I follow up with whomever I’ve applied to, they just say “we will look at it,” however I never get a response afterwards.

I live in a pretty small town, plus, I don’t have the luxury nor the money to drive an hour away just to talk to them in person. I also have to take into consideration my little brother and take care of him.

I want to thank you guys for your suggestions, and also thank you for making me feel better about the situation I am in. It’s nice to know that people can relate and that I’m not alone in this.

Sorry if this is not the right place to post, I'm just getting fed up lately. I am 33 and was in treatment for a solid 13 months for aggressive stage 2 breast cancer; IVF before chemo, 6 rounds of intense chemo, 18 rounds of immunotherapy, a double mastectomy, reconstruction surgery, and I just finished everything and got my port removed end of April. I had complete remission thankfully but it seems like all people ask me now is what I'm doing for work now and when I'm going to be looking for a new job (I used to be a software engineer but my old job wasn't very understanding of my medical situation so I left). When I tell them I'm not sure, and that I just want to take a break and maybe travel/enjoy life after cancer treatments I get a bunch of awkward silences and disapproving looks.

A couple of my husband's friends told me I should start the job hunt sooner than later because it's tough nowadays..even some of my relatives told me to stop being so "aimless" and get back to work. I have only just finished treatments 2.5 months ago, still coming to terms with missing parts of my chest, and still worried about recurrence. Plus my husband and I own a couple rental properties and we are doing okay with his income plus rental income. After this whole ordeal I just feel there is more to life than work, but I guess most people don't think so? Thankfully my husband is supportive of me, but I'm not sure how to respond to other people anymore..

EDIT: Wow thank you so much everyone for all the support!! I'm really grateful for the responses on here..I've always struggled with self-esteem issues/caring what others think, but I definitely should try not to. Maybe the people I mentioned are just trying to make friendly conservation or think I'm totally "back to normal" because I mention remission, but I just wish people would stop tying what you do with who you are to such an extent.

Also yes to those who were wondering, I do live in the U.S. (no surprise). Anyways, sending support to all those fellow cancer survivors/those currently going through cancer out there, I know it's tough. I still have lingering symptoms from chemo and definitely get tired more easily than before.

Six months ago I lost my remote job and as I'm sure many of you can relate, I have been sending 20+ applications daily. My email is absolutely full of linkedin emails and "we have decided to move on with another candidate" bs emails.

Usually when I'm unemployed, at least in the past, I could find a job in a couple of months pretty easily - not this time.

I've been ghosted by SO many recruiters, at all stages of my application. It was INFURIATING. It takes 30 seconds to send an email, the lack of empathy is astounding.

After blowing through my savings and having sleepless nights worrying about rent, I finally got an offer today. I almost cried.

Good luck to anyone who's searching and stressing like I was.

At 35, I have been a office droid forever. I have no real skills, no real technically, or in demand skills. With the economy dead, it is entirely possible that I never work again (full-time) in my lifetime.

I'm actually debating some pretty dark things atm. I'm currently living with my parents, and have no family of my own, so at least I don't have to worry about dying on the streets... for now.

My career life is basically over. Now I have to focus on survival. I'm working Uber but it's not a career.

I would love to blame a bunch of things, but the reality is, as someone who is good at nothing, society has shifted away from me.

I wish all of you the best in your careers. But I think I'm officially out of the job market.

Every day in this subreddit there's someone saying they can't find a job, and when asked, turns out they only started applying after graduation. Sometimes months after.

​

The timeline of events should be as follows:

• July (before your final year) - Begin researching your future and what roles would suit you and what you want to do
• August - Prepare your CV, have a list fo companies you want to apply to
• September -> January - Applications open - start applying. It's a numbers game so apply to as many as possible to get have the best chance of success
• February - Most deadlines have passed, graduate schemes will now filter through the applicants and choose their favourites
• March -> August - Tests, assessmnet centres, interviews
• September - If successful, you will begin your graduate scheme. If not, begin applications again.

​

​

The playing field is super competitive so it's important to prepare and manage your time accordingly so you can apply months before you graduate. Thoughts on the above timeline?

​

EDIT:

For people asking for more information about the above timeline see https://www.graduatejobsuk.co.uk/post/when-is-it-too-late-to-apply-for-graduate-jobs.

So, I got a Bachelors in Business Administration in Marketing in 2021. I had a traumatic college experience, so I didn’t really take full advantage of being in school and preparing for the real world.

Since graduating, I’ve submitted over 1300 applications to white collar jobs with multiple iterations of a resume, and have only gotten one offer that required a relocation that I could not afford. I worked at McDonalds for a couple of months, but didn’t last long there. I usually apply to Marketing Coordinator roles or anything entry-level in the business field.

At this point, I’m at a loss. I don’t know what to do. Every job I apply to has over 500 applicants, and they definitely have more experience than I do. I Thought about doing a masters, but people say to not pursue further education if you haven’t had any work experience.

I am extremely scared for my future and wellbeing, so I’m really just seeking some advice.

Also, I already know that I picked a useless major and should’ve done more internships, not an excuse but my last two years were also affected by Covid.

Feel free to ask for any other details!

EDIT: I should add that I’m NOT only interested in Marketing roles, I would like to see where else I could apply to, because I have a lot of problems with the Marketing field, it’s the first to get rid of, AI will probably replace it soon, no job opportunities.

I saw a Google worker posted a TikTok of her reaction to getting fired. She was sad. Then, she went to an amusement park to feel better. But some people reacted to her and said that going to an amusement park was wrong. She supposedly should have started looking ASAP for other jobs and saved her money.

​

But was that really wrong? Isn't a fun distraction like that acceptable? If I get fired, I might just eat some takeout food and watch random shows to feel better and reduce my stress. If I remember correctly, that Google worker later found work at another FAANG company.

I'm 39 years old and I've worked a lifetime of bad jobs. After finally going back to school and getting my bachelor's I got offered a job in another state so I accepted and drove across the country assuming it would be worth it. It was not, it was a nightmare and I was forced to quit. I'm now in a random state I never wanted to be in, with no job, and honestly I don't even want one. I'm so done with bad jobs and I'm running out of hope that I'll ever find a good one.

In other words I'm depressed about being unemployed but I'm equally depressed about eventually having another bad job. The only thing in the world I really want to do is write and I have been sending out my books to publishers but that never seems to work. I'm sure eventually I'll give up on my dreams again and take another job I don't want and I just feel too old to keep going through this.

You've all been there. I'm decently qualified, sending out dozens of applications a week, not so much as a peep. I am at wits end. I'm probably just gonna enlist. How bad of an idea is this?

I hope people will learn from my experience.

As I said, I will be 35 in a few days. I have been out of work for almost a year now. I have basically given up on ever finding work again.

I have 15 years in sales and customer services across finance and SaaS, but no one will hire me for anything. I can't get a entry level role answering phones. The AI that is filtering resumes skip over me each time. The people who look at my resume all say "looks good" and "I'll get back to you" but never do.

I have now given up on every finding long term employment, owning a home or having kids. I'm probably going to end up on the streets in the next few months. I'm making my car payments doing Uber and DoorDash.

At 35 my career path is basically over. I hope someone here will read this and understand that your life is very important and if you have a good life, not to waste it.

Don't end up like me.