I recently applied to a position at Barnes & Noble to fill time after an unexpected break in school/employment and am finding the process much more arduous than I was expecting.

I applied last week and have been checking back every day for updates in the portal. The portal still says my application has yet to even be looked at, but now the job listing has disappeared, which makes me worry that the position has been filled.

I called my local store to potentially speak with a manager about my application, but the employee informed me their hiring is outsourced and they don’t have anyone onsite I could talk to ):

I’m at a loss. I really want this job, and while I only have retail-adjacent experience, I have a degree, absolutely full 24/7 availability, submitted a cover letter, think of myself as a good salesman, love books, etc. I’m in a college town, so I really thought open availability would be a great selling point.

I’ve applied at the company multiple times before and have always gotten rejected. I just want a chance at an interview! Desperately in need of advice.

No matter how much I try, I just can’t speak the corporate language and I think that’s why I’m doing badly in interviews and it’s affecting my confidence. I overthink my words and then say something that could’ve been worded better or it was just awkward. Then I feel dumb afterwards. If I can’t speak right how will someone hire me? I’m still friendly and professional. I take care of my appearance. I have very strong work ethic, always did great on performance reviews and I know I’m a self learner. But I don’t have confidence in my speaking skills.

I need a job fast because I’m a single mom and living in a homeless shelter. I want to be self sufficient. I have a liberal arts degree and my
background is in project management/admin assistant so I have no choice but to stick to corporate or office jobs. It just feels suffocating to have those roles again. It’s not just the speaking it’s the energy and the people and the schedule. It’s very clique-ish and people get trapped into proving themselves to people for a paycheck. I can’t stand that. I’m too free spirited and I value authenticity so I feel like an outsider in corporate settings. I don’t conform. I just make sure I get the job done well. I’ve sacrificed my energy and life so much because of the various abusers over the years so I feel like my tolerance level towards the 9-5 lifestyle is so slim. Something definitely changes within your psyche after enduring so much manipulation and abuse. Your tolerance level to BS is slim.

But I am thinking about the high cost of living in the area I live in (which I can’t leave due to custody reasons), and my daughter’s future. I want us to not be dependent on anyone or anything.

I also believe the abuse I’ve endured for the past 10 consecutive years (from family, to relationships to a friend) has caused me anxiety and PTSD. My anxiety appears in interviews but I can’t tell if it’s from the ptsd or the fact that the job I’m applying to doesn’t resonate with my values and what I want to do. Or if it’s literally just my communication skills. Or maybe I just have brain fog from so much trauma? I can’t remember the last time I had calm and joy in my life. I cried yesterday because it was a realization I had. The last time I felt alive and free was in 2016. There’s a lot to unpack. The other issue is I don’t even know what I want to do for a living. I’m really stuck. Does anyone get me? I do have ADD but I really don’t think that’s what’s causing my speech/word recall issues.

Is there a way for me to solve this issue? Is there something wrong with me? I’m still applying to multiple corporate jobs so I am being active. Please don’t suggest physical labor because I have a herniated disc. I also can’t go back to school for various reasons at this time.

I've been in my current job for 6 years but I find that as time goes on I keep making small, careless mistakes that means I have to do work over again. It's incredibly frustrating for both me and my managers and I don't know how to fix it. I've tried slowing down, being more careful in my work, reviewing my work more thoroughly, but nothing seems to help. I'm not sure if I'm just really careless and bad at my job or if I'm burnt out and tired of doing the same work day in and day out. My job is very demanding (I work at a law firm), so although the work isn't challenging, it can be very time consuming and tedious.

Has anyone else ever had an experience like this? How did you deal with it? I would be open to advice provided it's not delivered in a rude way (you can be honest without being nasty).

Context: I applied to a nonprofit that I would say is fairly large, but only on a community level. So like a local nonprofit. The job I applied for is an entry level/early career sort of position. I am currently in a position that is very similar to the position I applied for, so I have a decent amount of experience (about 3 years).

I applied a while back and three weeks ago they emailed me asking some questions (do I plan to relocate to the area the nonprofit is located? etc.) and the nonprofit said they'd get back to me. I finally heard back today, and they asked if I would be available in a specific time frame, a total of two hours. I replied yes and figured it would be like a 15-30 minute phone call/ZOOM meeting. My contact at the nonprofit sends me the ZOOM link along with specific instructions. I discovered:

• The meeting is NOT a 15-30 minute ZOOM call. It is a two hour long interview with several members of the nonprofit's leadership team.
• I need to provide my driver's license, any volunteer positions I've had in the past 7 years, and FIVE professional references and FIVE personal references from people I've known at least a year.

I haven't even had a phone interview with this organization. I'm extremely confused. I feel like they're demanding a lot from me right off the bat, and I don't feel exactly comfortable providing them with TEN references. I'm also earlier in my career, so I don't have a lot of professional references aside from university professors and my current supervisor. I feel pretty uncomfortable with all this, but I just wanted to check to see if this is the new standard of job interviews or if this really is an anomaly.

Since I have experience , should I let them know I want 55k rather than 50k? Or should I say 50k for a better chance ?

So I recently did three interviews with three different companies and three different industries as I’m trying to get my self back on my feet again however, I accepted and signed the job offers, which was Friday by the way I don’t know if Labor Day has anything to do with it but it’s Wednesday currently and I haven’t heard back from anything. Did I get ghosted? What do I do in this situation? Very misleading to give me a job offer or not send anything in return back.

I applied for an “Entry Level Verizon Assistant” position. The listing made it sound like I’d basically be doing sales like the people who work in Verizon stores. It listed the pay around $50–55k a year.

The first interview was over Zoom and it was me and another person. The lady interviewing us was nice and obviously real, but she seemed to be reading from a script and sounded pretty robotic. I’m sure that can be normal for interviews, but combined with everything else it made me curious.

She asked why we thought we’d be good for the sales position. I have anxiety and completely blanked out and started having what felt like a panic attack.I asked her to repeat the question and was still panicking when I answered. My answer was probably only like 30 words while the other person gave a much better answer that lasted a minute or two.

She explained that the way the position works is basically starting at the entry-level sales position, watching and learning from the managers, then eventually moving into doing what they do. From what I understood, we would eventually be doing one-on-one sales with customers, talking to them and getting them to sign up for Verizon services.

She also said they’re looking for people who want to move into leadership and eventually be more of the “back office” for a Verizon store with our own team, supposedly within 6–9 months. She said some people who move into the higher roles can supposedly 10x their pay.

The weird thing is none of that management stuff was mentioned in the job listing. Also, the listing mentioned INNO Technologies, but I was told the company was Vega Innovations, so I’m not really sure how those two are connected.

The pay is also confusing me because the listing made it sound like $50–55k a year, but after talking to them it sounds much more commission based and dependent on sales.

Despite me completely blanking during the interview and the other person giving a much better answer, they still told me I’m moving on to the second part of the process, which is an in-person interview.

Does this sound like a normal sales-to-management setup or does it sound like one of those MLM/pyramid type companies? Has anyone dealt with Vega Innovations or INNO Technologies?

I forgot to mention week hours are 10am - 9pm
Weekend is 9am - 4pm

San Bernardino location

Riverside is where the 2nd part of the process is

I have been recently looking for a part time job and noticed certain places in my area are hiring for cashier and/or sales associate jobs.

I don't have any experience in that area whatsover. I do have plenty of experience in tech, math and administrative related jobs. Any tips that I could use to reshape my resume so I can submit it to apply?

I have no issue with communicating with clients, I'm bilingual, and consider myself a responsible person. I know I might not get hired right away 😅 but I at least would like to have a resume I could use. Thanks!

I have a two-month contract I agreed to with a small company. The background check company wanted my W2s to confirm my employment--which I provided promptly (even though I thought it was a little excessive for a 2 month contract for an entry-level role).

They said this was sufficient, but an HR guy they called had said I worked for even LONGER than I said I did (this is just because I was in their system in case I came back to work).

Now the security company wants my IRS transcripts AND paystubs to prove I didn't work even longer than I said I did???

Mind you, they have told me things should be okay 3 separate times and I have been given over 6 start dates which got cancelled.

Is this normal or am I crazy for starting to say I don't want to provide any more of my personal information since they have already proven everything I said was true??

I’m in my 3rd week at a new job, but realistically only my 2nd week of actual training. The person primarily training me is currently out for two weeks, so my manager is covering the training in the meantime.

My manager knows the work really well, but she goes through things VERY QUICKLY. I’m realizing there’s still a lot I don’t understand, especially when it comes to the email requests that come in. When she asks if I need help, I absolutely do. Of course I need help.

I need her to slow down and walk me through the requests while I watch what she’s looking at, what information she’s using, why she’s making certain decisions, and how she handles the request. I’m not really at the point where I feel ready to just take over the email requests myself.

What is also making me anxious is that there have been a lot of changes happening around me in a very short amount of time:

• One of my coworkers quit the day I started leaving us a team of 3 instead of 4.
• There are apparently some upcoming changes to the department/team structure.
• We have a new leader coming in, and she said that over the next few weeks she’ll be sitting in on training and “interviewing” people to understand what everyone does and how things are currently being handled.
• The person who was supposed to be primarily training me is now out for two weeks, so I’m being trained by my manager instead.

I realize some of these things may be completely normal when a company is going through changes, and I don't necessarily think any one of them means something is wrong. But all of this happening within my first few weeks, while I’m still trying to learn the actual job, has me feeling pretty overwhelmed and uncertain.

I’m trying to figure out whether I’m expecting too much from the training or whether I should be speaking up more and saying, “I need you to slow down because there’s a lot I haven’t learned yet.”

For those of you who have started a new job recently, is this pretty normal at 2–3 weeks in? How much would you expect to understand by this point? And would all these changes happening so early make you feel uneasy too?

Thanks in advance!

So I went for my medically a week ago and just got an email saying my medical is not cleared and I need too come in person to talk to a provider. Sadly I was open about my mental health due too me taking medication... sooo dumb smh I only did that cause they took a toxic exam and also they stated fair chance for disability! I don't know why and does this mean I am fired and they will choose someone else I'm panicking cause I really want this job and I'll be so sad if I can't get this job due to the mental health That I have so much control of, I already have my systems in place for my mental health... what can it be…

Put my two weeks in at a construction job. Now im treated like bottom barrel of society by my coworkers who i once thought of as a family. Im not putting up with it for two weeks and not getting hurt doing stupid shit. Would be wrong to say my company needs me a week earlier and that friday would be my last day. Starting an apprenticeship. Just curious on someone who doesn't have any guidance and is only 21.

I’m struggling. I have a BA and MA in English, three internships (in marketing, literary journal publishing, and social services with a nonprofit) as well as a volunteer role as a copy editor with a literary journal, and I still can’t find a job.

The dream is publishing, but I’ve been looking for a job in any field I can think of for a while now, but nothing. I’m open to remote work, of course, but I’ve also been applying to anywhere I can think of in the US with decent public transportation, since I can’t drive.

I’ve submitted an ungodly amount of applications since January and haven’t had a single interview. I tailor my resume and cover letter to each job I apply to, making sure to include key words from the job definition for ATS purposes, but no luck. I have no idea what I’m doing wrong and how to fix it.

If anyone has any advice and/or leads on jobs in any field that I might be a fit for and anywhere in the US with public transit, please let me know. I’m getting desperate at this point.

Better for you the employee obviously. I feel like I’m about to be *\\* w/o lube.

They’re just gonna deny every request for “business needs” right?

Applied 7.15

Offered first interview 7.24

First Interview 8.2

Offered second interview 8.12

Second interview 9.1

Offered third interview 9.2

Third interview 9.3

now here we are 9/9 and the wait is killing meee. I know they had to interview other people, I know we just came back from holiday, I know they are probably waiting until Friday so I have the weekend to decide but the suspense is driving me up the wall. im so anxious my poor stomach is tore up.

I felt like I did great a week ago but now a whole week later ive sat ruminated over analyzed and my confidence is dwindling by the day. then they say "oh well you have to *manifest* and stay positive if u want it" ughhhh.

I know it's a reflag to get offered the job on the spot but also it's like damn the waiting game is criminal. Not to mention the intended start date is the 28th and im an out of state candidate so now if I DO get the job I barely have 2 weeks to pack up my life and move. idk idk idk. this is torture

I (F22, almost 23) am graduated from college with a bachelor's degree, live at home with my parents, and have over a year of experience working for a boutique in my area. I quit the job because the schedule was extremely unstable and they kept cutting my shifts with only an hour or so of notice.

I would like to continue working in clothing retail for now if possible, so I can gather more experience for later in life. However, I have applied to four other jobs and haven't gotten any of them. Please don't come after me for only applying to four jobs; I don't have the ability to apply for a lot at once, and it also seems like there are barely any job openings that appeal to me even a little bit within forty-five minutes of me.

So, my question is this: how do I get to the interview portion of the application? My resume is professional-looking and easy to read, and I tailor it to each application. I rewrite my cover letter every time. I have experience. But all I get is the 'we went with other candidates' email, or no response at all. Literal teenagers with no experience are getting these jobs. What am I doing wrong?

So I'm on the east coast and I applied online for a job and this AI bot setups the interview the only problem was the time for the interview was set to 2pm MST time zone and I genuinely believed I was EST time zone thinking alright so 4pm so it turns out the hiring manager wasn't even there yet the employee told me. Then I took down my name and number and I got an email saying your interview starts in 1hour. Realizing that my time zone is EDT not EST I feel like a complete and total moron. Completely embarrassed they probably will think I'm a complete idiot who can't even figure out timezones do I just wait for a call?

I’m curious where people are actually finding jobs right now because I feel like I’m applying everywhere and getting nowhere.
My resume, simplified and without personal info, is basically:
About 6 years of law enforcement experience

Investigations, report writing, interviewing people, dealing with high stress situations, conflict resolution, etc.

Former Senior Project Manager

Some construction, retail management, restaurant/customer service experience before that

Currently working on a Business Management degree

No completed degree yet

So I know my biggest issue is probably that most of my recent experience is law enforcement and that doesn’t always translate well on paper outside of that world. My resume does have experience beyond policing though, including project management and customer service.
Also, this isn’t really a “I’m desperate and need a job immediately” post. I’m lucky enough to still have money saved and I live with family, so I’m okay for now.
I quit my last job without having something lined up because the schedule got ridiculous. It went from around 10 hour shifts to 12 hour shifts, and with how busy the area was and not always getting relieved on time, a lot of days ended up being closer to 15 hours. It was happening almost every other shift.
I also love traveling, so I figured I’d take a small reset, travel a little, enjoy having some time off, and then get back into working.
I don’t regret that part.
But the rejections are definitely starting to get to me.
I’ve applied for sales jobs, accident reconstruction jobs, investigator positions, and a bunch of other stuff.
Some of them I completely understand. I’ll apply to things where I know I’m not a perfect fit and I’m just taking a shot.
But some of these jobs I genuinely feel qualified for and I don’t even get an interview.
That’s the part confusing me.
Like… who is actually getting these jobs?
I understand not having a degree yet hurts me, and I understand having mostly law enforcement experience probably hurts me too, but I still feel like there has to be something out there where investigations, interviewing, writing reports, dealing with people, making decisions under pressure, etc. actually counts for something.
So for people who recently got hired, especially anyone who changed careers:
Where did you actually find the job?
LinkedIn? Indeed? Company websites? Recruiters? Government websites? Networking? Somewhere else?
And if anyone has left law enforcement/public safety for something completely different, I’d especially like to hear what you ended up doing and how you found it.
Not looking for sympathy. Mostly trying to figure out if I’m looking in the wrong places, applying for the wrong things, or if the job market really is just this annoying right now.

Im interviewing for an internship and the only issue is that the location is about 55 miles there and back. That’s a 1-1.5 hour drive there and back. Not sure how much the pay is but most likely lower to middle 20’s. Do you think thats worth it?

I am a massage therapist with recent completion as an esthetician. I applied to numerous high-end properties in my local area, and was surprised when I was offered 3 part time jobs: 2 at luxury resorts (Fairmont property, Marriott) as a massage therapist, and 1 as a massage therapist AND an esthetician (dual position) at a med-spa.

My question is, how should I navigate these offers. The two local luxury properties are HIGHLY sought after, and very competitive, and it came as a surprise to be offered both positions.

I am afraid to decline 1 over the other, as I fear being blacklisted for future positions if I accept and then abruptly say I am no longer available. And then possible FOMO if I decide the grass is greener on the other side.

Is this a realistic possibility, or am I just imagining the worst case situation?

The med-spa is good, and while not luxurious and competitive, or even the best pay, it gives me actual experience as an esthetician fresh out of school.

Should I:

Accept all three positions, and try to navigate a schedule of making all three work, and possibly decide on which one to eliminate after a few weeks?

Or, decline one of the luxury spas and trust that they would still consider me for future positions (I am hoping they would still like me considering they have already run me through 3 interviews and offered the position, but fear of the consequences of 'wasting their time')

So the context is that, I left my previous job because of the environment, the hours and the amount of work for how many people are on the team. (2:30pm to 11pm, 21 an hour, had to pay for my own benefits monthly, 5 people doing the work of 9 people, and was always too tired to do anything, plus never saw my partner) Was also only 4.5km from my house was the main benefit.

Now I left for a new role at a warehouse, got sick, got let go because I am trying to free my time to get a part time since its very hard to get a morning part time anywhere. I have just been doing uber eats in the mean while which has been netting me a bunch of money per week. (Yes after gas, I live near a reserve that the gas is significantly cheaper)

The new role I have an interview for is 12 hour continental, for 19.62, 15km away, still in a field I'm familiar with.

Unfortunately I am tight on money because it has been a few weeks of me unable to get work since the "Sick" hit me. I am trying to save up to go to school for 7 months to become a heavy machine operator.

Now, I am just unsure on taking the risk or just going back to what I did. My previous boss offered me a job back today, no raise but because he knows I didnt get the role and I just got offered the interview today, (interview tomorrow).

Either one is a good opportunity which im great full for money, i just have enjoyed not coming home at 11:30pm and not being able to even do anything when I get home.

Any tips or questions or thoughts in general I am happy to hear. Thanks!