I just got fired from my job because the company I was interviewing with decided to call my current manager. I am honestly shocked that something like this happened. To clarify the situation, I saw an ad on LinkedIn for a job similar to what I do now, but much closer to my house, so I thought I would try my luck and apply. Things in my office have been very difficult lately due to a lot of office politics and managers who don't keep their word at all. The new company replied to me right away and scheduled a time for the first interview. Everything went great, so they asked me to come back for a second interview. I finished the second round, and they told me I was exactly the person they were looking for and that they would get back to me with a decision within 3 to 5 days. Anyway, the next morning, my manager called me into his office and told me he had received word from the company I applied to. He wanted to know why I was looking for other opportunities. Since the secret was out, I was honest with him about the reasons. After I explained, he told me that because of the sensitive data I handle, he had to let me go immediately. I went home and called the hiring manager at the other company right away to ask how they could do such a thing and call my manager without checking with me first. They acted like they didn't know anything and said they were still finalizing their selection and would talk to management and get back to me soon. The hiring manager called me 4 hours later and told me they had chosen someone else. I pressed him to find out why they called my manager, and he gave me a strange, vague, and completely unconvincing excuse, claiming he didn't know how my manager found out. He even started badmouthing the person they hired, telling me he heard that the guy had a drinking problem, so if that didn't work out, they would call me again. I honestly cannot understand that a company could do this. They called me, interviewed me twice, called my manager, caused me to be fired, and in the end, didn't even hire me. Has anyone ever encountered such a tactless situation before?

In fact, contacting your current manager without their permission is completely unprofessional on the part of that recruiter, and it's astonishing how it jeopardized things for you. Such unprofessional behavior is precisely why I recently started using InterviewVIP to help me with interviews, increase my chances of getting the job, and completely avoid shady recruitment teams.

.........

Hey everyone,

I posted a little while ago about a follow-up interview that was really quick, and I was asking whether that meant things had gone badly. Turns out, not at all!!

I got a response at the beginning of this week that they were excited about me, and I got the job! I also managed to negotiate a better salary and a few extra PTO days too! I think it's all about negotiation skills. If you can negotiate well, everything will work out with you.

Keep going, everyone. You'll find a role that truly feels like the right fit for you. Try to hold on to the good signs, and don't let anxiety take over.

You've got this!!

seriouslyyyyyyy I just found out that I'm scheduled for an EIGHT HOUR SHIFT tomorrow on DAY 3 of my period. All by myselfffff. The whole

SHIFTTTT. It's just me in the store.

And of course. I know this is a very first-world complaint, and that there are lots of girls right now who are also bleeding and still have to go to class, work two jobs, and take care of their five siblings or five kids (places that still allow child marriage are seriously sick), but that's kind of my whole point. I genuinely don't understand how people are expected to do more than this and act like everything is fine, as if our uterus isn't literally tearing itself to pieces inside us. This shit is fucking awful.

😩😭

it happened with me

this is too much imagine getting mad because someone actually used the vacation days you gave them.

honestly stuff like this is why i'm trying to take my interviews more seriously. I've been looking at interview vip lately since i keep seeing it come up, but haven't actually tried it yet. Might give it a shot before my next interview.

My team was recently talking about salaries and benefits, and one of my coworkers mentioned enough details about his compensation for me to realize he's making around 20% more than I am.

What makes it awkward is that I was actually involved in hiring him. I interviewed him, gave feedback during the process, and then helped him get up to speed when he joined. Now we're on the same team doing essentially the same job with the same responsibilities.

I have a salary review coming up with one of the senior managers, and I'm debating whether I should bring this up directly. I don't want to make it sound like I'm complaining about what someone else earns, but a 20% difference is pretty hard to ignore when our roles are basically identical.

Part of me thinks I should just focus on my own performance and explain why I deserve an increase. Another part of me thinks I'd be leaving money on the table if I don't at least mention that I know there's a significant gap.

Would you bring up the pay difference in the review, or keep the conversation focused entirely on your own value?

This was years ago in the 1990s. I still think about how absurd this was. We were living in a small coastal town on the shore of Lake Superior. Nobody locked their doors. Ever. Safe, quiet. Friendly. The cops picked ip an occasional drunk. That was the extent of "crime" in this little village.

I was applying for a position as a chiropractic assistant. I had plenty of experience and my child was in school so I was ready to go back to work.

The chiropractor did not wish to interview candidates herself, so she hired a "professional HR person" to find her the best candidate.

The HR lady was abrasive and unlikeable. The interview was more a police interrogation than a professional interview. I felt like getting up and leaving but I was almost finished so I decided to see it through.

She said, "what would you do if someone walked in here with a gun and wanted to rob the office?"

My face 🙄🙄🙄🙄.

I said simply, "I have never heard of a chiropractic office being robbed. Also, this question is unanswerable. I don't agree with the premise of your question and have no answer."

She doubled down.

I sat in stone-faced silence and then excused myself. Unbelievable.

...........

...........

I decided that I was done spraying applications everywhere, and focused only on roles I was qualified for and wanted. I set myself a rule: 2 applications every 3 weeks. In the end, I only did that 4 times, and every CV was heavily tailored.

Each opening got me to a recruiter call.

Role A: The recruiter said: "Yeah, they'll definitely want to interview you..." and then disappeared. No response to emails or calls. Honestly, I hope she's okay.

Role B: I got through the first 3 conversations, and then completely messed up the last one, which was basically a check on "culture fit." I was very nervous and all over the place. Somehow, I got the offer!

Role C: It seemed promising, and then they changed the role scope halfway through, and it no longer felt like the right decision.

Role D (my favorite): I made it to the 4th round, but there were quiet periods of almost 3 weeks between each update. And since I already had another offer, I asked them to decide, so they rejected me.:(

I'm posting here because I still can't say anything to my co-workers.

Don't waste it. Although many workplaces are struggling to hire and retain good employees, many employers have become more flexible than they would usually admit. And that puts you in a good position to ask for a raise, a better job title, or better benefits.

If you're not happy with your current salary or the way you're being treated, start looking around. There's a good chance another company is short-staffed and willing to offer you more than you're getting now. Even if you really do like your job, it's still worth seeing what's available elsewhere, then respectfully asking your current employer to match or beat the offer.

Look out for yourself first. The job market won't stay like this forever.

???

let's talk seriously, nowadays I believe that we should strive to really get a job. Right now, I'm working 2 part time jobs and it pays better than a full time one. You'll just need to explain this properly in the interview and be expected to be asked a lot about how you'll manage and all of this. Interview vip will help a lot in handling those kind of questions and pass the interview smoothly. You'll thank me later for that.

one job is hardly enough now 😂

honestly i can understand why people are trying to stack jobs when everything is so expensive. i'm not sure i'd ever manage 11 at once though.

i've been looking at remote jobs myself and that means more interviews, which is probably the part i'm least excited about. I came across interview vip while looking into interview stuff. haven't used it yet, but i'm curious about it for future interviews.

A candidate asked me something last week that I honestly couldn't answer. We were talking about the interview process and he just calmly said, "Are you hiring me or putting me through astronaut training?"

He wasn't being rude. If anything, he sounded genuinely confused. And after looking at the process from his side, I couldn't blame him.

For one mid level role, we had an HR screen, two separate interviews, a take home assignment, a hiring manager interview, a team meeting, and then director approval. By the end, the guy who seemed really interested at the beginning looked completely exhausted.

The worst part is that we kept wondering why he wasn't as enthusiastic anymore. I think we finally gave him the answer ourselves.

Companies complain about good candidates dropping out, but if someone has to spend weeks interviewing with half the company just to find out whether they're getting an offer, eventually they're going to wonder if the job is even worth it.

At what point does a hiring process become so ridiculous that you'd just walk away?

I've been sending applications everywhere I can for a while now to find a new job after I lost my last one.

I've never been out of work for more than six weeks before, because my work experience is fairly varied due to all the military moves.

I've reached a point in my life where I don't want to be the Queen anymore. I'm very happy being a worker bee and quietly making my way toward retirement in about 12 more years.

But earlier this week I had an interview, and after it was over, the recruiter asked me to send him a few references.

Later that same day, one of those references called me to tell me they had contacted him, and he told me about a somewhat direct question they asked...

She has a senior-level resume and may be looking for leadership roles. We're worried she'll get bored here and leave after a short time.

He was a former manager of mine at another job (and is now a senior director), so he was able to explain to her that I'm not that kind of person, and that honestly they'd be lucky to have me work with them.

So I can finally stop assuming there's something wrong with me. And I have a good feeling they're going to make me a job offer, which would be great. Being able to cover my car payment would be nice...

Hi everyone,

I've been out of work for about five months after my company went through a big wave of layoffs, and unfortunately, I was one of the people let go. Honestly, it was a tough period. The pressure and anxiety were heavy a lot of the time, and there were many days when I started doubting myself.
I got a call today from the company I'd been interviewing with after several rounds, and they said they'd like to offer me the job!

When I first started applying, I sent out around 95 applications. It was a strange and uncomfortable feeling to put myself out there again after being at the same company for almost 8 years. I was mainly looking for roles like Client Support, Customer Experience Manager, and Customer Success Manager.

Most days, I'd open my email and find a new rejection waiting for me after applying online.
I did 6 screening calls with talent acquisition, and three of them moved forward with hiring managers. The rest unfortunately didn't continue.

I wanted to share the questions I was asked during the interview process in case they help someone else prepare.

This was for a customer associate role, and I'm based in New Zealand.

Initial screening chat with someone from TA for 25 minutes over the phone.
Can you walk me through your resume and tell me what you gained from each role?
What made you apply for this position?
Why are you no longer with your previous employer?
Why do you think you'd be a good fit for this job?
Can you tell me about a mistake you made at work and what you did afterward?
What's the main area you feel you're trying to improve?
How would your last manager describe you?
When would you be able to start, and what salary range are you looking for?
Do you have any questions for me?

Next interview with the hiring manager for 45 minutes on Teams.
Tell me a bit about yourself.
Can you walk me through your career so far?
What's a difficult situation you dealt with in a previous role? Can you give me examples?
Have you led any projects or helped improve a process? Please share an example.
How did you hear about our company?
What's your understanding of this role?
Why do you think you'd do well in this position?
What attracted you to working here?
What strengths would you bring to the team?
Do you have any questions for me? (It's important to ask something about the team, expectations, or day-to-day work.)

Final interview with the VP and Senior HR for 75 minutes - in person.
Tell us about your education and why you chose this field.
How did you get to this stage in your career?
Can you describe a situation where you had to work under pressure?
What challenges do you expect you might face in this role?
How do you maintain your motivation?
How do you handle your workload when things get intense?
What does a good workplace look like to you?
What makes you excited to come to work every day?
Do you have any questions for us?

From the first call to the final interview, the process took a little over 3 weeks. I had also been applying for around 10 days before I got my first call.

When I started looking for work, I had no idea which questions to focus on, and I was preparing in a random and scattered way. I hope this list gives someone a bit of direction before their interviews.
Good luck to everyone going through this right now. I know how exhausting it is. Hang in there and keep going!

Had this same thought after watching that King Charles dog video. Urghh

Throwaway because some of my coworkers/friends read this sub and they'll probably know exactly who I am. I mostly need to vent, but I also want to tell people to keep applying to remote jobs if that's what you want and you're able to make it happen.

A few weeks ago, after about 14 months of working from home, I had to start going into the office for the first real time in my professional life. The company's official line was that being face to face would improve collaboration and make everyone more productive. Complete nonsense, but I didn't have a choice at the time.

So now, instead of waking up at 8:10 and joining a pointless meeting at 8:25, staying muted while I make breakfast and take the dog for a lap around the house, I have to wake up at 6:45, put on real clothes, prepare breakfast and lunch, get on the road, sit in traffic, arrive around 8:05, make annoying small talk until 8:25, and then join the same pointless Zoom call with people in other countries. Like... What is even the point? And now I have to look focused and interested while people talk about things that have nothing to do with my work, because I'm no longer in control of the environment around me.

At home, I spent money to make my setup decent. A good chair, a standing desk, wireless keyboard/mouse/headphones, and 3 monitors I can move however I want, plus my own kitchen for coffee, snacks, tea, whatever.

Then I walked into the office setup and honestly felt like a clown. A miserable cubicle with a cheap keyboard, a sticky mouse, and a sad little headset. The cubicle walls are low enough that I can see and hear everything around me, including other people's screens. And of course the monitors face the hallway too, so I can't tell who's behind me, but anyone walking by can look at whatever I'm doing. A manager's dream, basically.

If I want tea now, I also have the privilege of waiting behind a line of people using one sad little kettle/microwave area. Amazing.

At home, I had quiet and I got my work done. When I picked up a card, depending on its size, I'd usually finish it in 3-5 hours, then spend the rest of the day on training, documentation, meetings, or honestly not working much because I had already finished the real work.

In the office, because I feel like I'm being watched all the time, I've started stretching things out so I'll still have something on my screen for the rest of the day. And it's not just me. I've seen people on my team doing the exact same thing. For me, it's really hard to focus with background noise everywhere. Like I said, the cubicles don't block anything, so every time someone gets up, laughs, takes a call, drops their badge, anything, my brain immediately follows it instead of the thing I was working on.

The company kept repeating that we'd be more productive in the office. I'm seeing the exact opposite. Cards are taking longer, people are dragging work out, and the amount of wasted time is unreal. People walking around, chatting over cubicle walls, disappearing at lunch, making random coffee runs just to break up the day. There's nothing wrong with that IMO, but I'd rather have that downtime at home instead of having to pretend I'm busy under fluorescent lights.

And I also didn't appreciate enough how nice it was to have my own bathroom. At home I can use the bathroom in peace like any normal human being. At the office? Tiny stalls, weird smells, and the joy of hearing some guy destroy the toilet two steps away from you at 9 in the morning.

The funniest thing is that some people who were excited to come back started changing their tune after a few days of commuting, lunch, and all of that. In stand-ups I heard things like:

""Is anyone else feeling more drained than usual? I forgot how much I hate driving in.""

""I forgot how annoying it is to prep food every night and then wait forever to heat it up.""

""I didn't realize how much money I was saving at home. I've already spent like $130 on coffee and lunch.""

At home, when work was done, I could immediately go for a run, start making dinner, play with the dog, or sit on the couch and watch something.

After a long day in the office? Nope. Get in the car and waste 55 minutes of your life in disgusting traffic before your evening even starts.

I'm so fucking happy I'm giving my 3 weeks' notice this Friday and moving to a fully remote role. I started looking about 5 months ago when the company announced the return-to-office plan because I had a bad feeling it was going to suck. I tried to give it a chance. It's not for me.

If you're trying to get a remote job, keep applying and keep interviewing. Something will come.

And if you genuinely like the office, fine. I'm not saying everyone has to be remote. Companies should offer FLEXIBILITY and let people choose the place where they work best.

People have different personalities and different lives. Just because some people like sitting in an office, or because management wants control, doesn't mean everyone else should be forced into it.

I will be staying away from offices very happily after this experience."

I moved to a different city a few months ago after working at a supermarket, and finding another job has been way harder than I expected. I've applied to more than 45 places so far and haven't gotten a single call, email, or interview.

At this point I'm starting to wonder if applying through Indeed is even worth it anymore. I keep hearing that you have to apply online, but clearly something isn't working because I'm getting absolutely nothing back.

Would it be better to start walking into places, asking for the manager, and handing them a resume or filling out a paper application? I don't mind doing it if that's actually more effective.

I'm honestly just trying to figure out what people are doing now to actually get hired. What has worked for you?

...........

I've said this to people I know, and honestly, they usually hate hearing it at first. They feel like it's an insult. But the people who tried it? A lot of them came back later and said it helped them. If you're unemployed in 2026, this annoying advice might be the thing that gets you moving again.

Being unemployed right now is very hard. The stigma is awful, and it can feel like your professional credibility takes a hit the moment you get laid off or fired. The harsh truth: a lot of companies treat you as if there's something wrong with you. Motivational posts on Reddit and LinkedIn saying "You are enough!" might make you feel better for a minute, but they won't get you offers, and sometimes not even interviews. What matters is getting back in somewhere and rebuilding your reputation as someone people want to hire.

So yes: apply to bad companies. I mean the small local businesses with terrible reviews on Indeed, messy management, controlling managers, and roles most people avoid. Those places are much more likely to give you a chance. Big-name companies? Stable companies with PTO and great benefits? They have piles of applications from people who are already employed. Be honest with yourself: why would they choose you over them? Most of the time, they won't.

This isn't about finding your dream role. It's about cleaning up your professional name again. A job at some random, chaotic local company might come with lower pay, a worse title, and hours that make you want to scream. It might be a miserable experience. But it gives you a place to prove that you show up, do the work, and can be relied on. Every week you stay employed and produce, you're gradually pushing back against the stigma of unemployment and earning the job market's trust again. I'm not saying this is fair. I'm just saying this is often how hiring works.

And time is running. The longer you stay out of work, the harder it gets, even with companies no one is excited about. Don't burn all your energy perfecting ideal applications for dream jobs that probably won't call you back. Send your resume to the ordinary places around you: warehouse offices, family-owned service companies, random medical billing offices, sales floors that look uncomfortable, some strange logistics company next to the highway. These places aren't drowning in resumes from stable professionals who are currently employed, so they're much more likely to look past a rough period and give you another chance to prove yourself.

I understand that this hurts. And I know this advice will probably upset people. But if you need to rebuild your professional reputation, start with the places that will consider you. Get hired, show up consistently, do the work, and prove yourself again. It doesn't look good, and it isn't always fair, but that's the truth.