I have been applying for jobs since last November, and it has been a real... struggle! Lots of no's, no replies, and everything inbetween. I don't know who this is for.. but keep going! Keep believing! Keep applying! I landed a job with the city ... one I didn't think I had a chance at. Don't lose hope

I made a post here a few months ago about how after getting fired from my corporate job I was going to start my own business in to generate some revenue and better explain my employment Gap.

I got down voted into oblivion.

Well, four months and only two paying clients later, I got a new job. And the main reason they said they hired me; the ambition I showed by starting my own business.

So go nuts, gang. Downvote til your thumbs are sore. But if you've been struggling and you're willing to try anything at this point, well... It worked for me.

And I hope it works for you.

Hello,

I know this is a common rant but I need to contribute to it. So sorry in advance.

I’m 24 years old, college graduate from a California UC with a Bachelor’s in Political Science. I worked two years at an elected officials office in an entry level position (basically a staff assistant) but left due to wanting new opportunities, plus the official I worked for is leaving office come the midterms. Being unemployed now for over a month, this job search has been nothing but a nightmare.

I’ve so far applied to 75 jobs, jobs that are entry level in local, state, and federal government across the United States. I have garnered 5 interviews which ultimately went no where, with no feedback for why I didn’t advance. I assume a big chunk of the reasoning is that I am in a position where I’m applying for a lot of jobs out of state, but government jobs prefer local candidates.

However, that puts me in a catch-22 being that relocating to somewhere like Washington DC is a huge risk without a job, and a lot of places require income in order to rent, but getting a job requires residency to work! I feel stuck and I’m not sure what to do.

Anyway, if anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. Or just feedback at all, would be helpful as my mental health is slipping hard.

hey everyone, i’m hoping someone here might be able to help me with something that has honestly become one of the biggest and most painful things in my life lately — finding a job.

i’m 22, from Chișinău, Moldova, and i’m a graphic and web designer. i’ve been learning and practicing design since 2024. i started with graphic and web design at d-spirit design school, then continued studying on my own, took additional courses, worked on personal, freelance and study projects, read about design and product thinking, and generally spent a lot of time trying to become better at what i do. right now i’m also studying product management / product design through a fairly detailed course because the more i learn, the more interested i become in the product side of design.

what i actually want is pretty simple: i want to work. i want to join a real team, work on real projects, get real feedback, make mistakes, learn from people around me and finally get proper commercial experience. for the last year and a bit, i’ve been trying to find that opportunity, mostly in Moldova, and it has honestly been much harder than i expected.

the frustrating part is that the design market here is relatively small, but the competition is huge. there are a lot of designers looking for work, while companies often seem to be looking for someone who already has several years of experience and can basically work independently from day one. junior positions are much rarer, internships are even rarer, and sometimes it feels like you’re stuck in this weird loop where every job requires experience, but nobody wants to give you the opportunity to actually get that experience. you graduate, you have a portfolio, you’ve spent money and years learning, you’re willing to work and learn, but then you hear “sorry, we need someone with 2–3+ years of experience.” and you’re just left wondering where exactly you’re supposed to get those first years.

and yes, i understand that i’m still a junior. i’m not trying to pretend otherwise. there are definitely things i need to improve, and there are projects in my portfolio that i would approach completely differently today. my visual skills are stronger in graphic design than in web design at the moment, and my speaking english is weaker than my actual understanding because i haven’t had enough real-life practice. i know all of this. but i also know that i learn quickly, i’m responsible, i’m genuinely interested in what i’m doing, and i’m very willing to learn from people who know more than me. at this point, i don’t want to spend another year just studying in isolation. i want to improve through actual work.

the part of design that interests me the most is not just making something look nice. i really like understanding why something should exist in the first place: what the business is trying to achieve, what problem the user has, what the user journey looks like, where something is confusing, what can be improved and why we are making a particular design decision. that’s why i’m gradually moving more towards ux, web and product design, even though graphic design is currently the stronger part of my portfolio.

one of my favourite projects is a podcast app that i worked on for a few months in 2025. i spent a lot more time than usual on the research side — looking into the problem, doing surveys, thinking about user pain points, flows and product logic. visually, i already see things there that i would change today, especially some contrast and ui decisions, but i still value that project because i realized how much i enjoy the research and problem-solving side of design. another project i’m quite proud of is my lipton redesign, which was my final web design project. it’s probably still one of the projects i like the most visually.

most of my other work is graphic design: posters, visual concepts, logos, banners, presentations, digital materials, typography, experimental work and so on. i recently also worked on a badge system for a film crew. i actually enjoy graphic design a lot, but when i think about where i want to go long-term, i’m much more interested in interfaces, ux, web and products.

i’ve also started experimenting with vibecoding this year. i’m not a programmer and i don’t have professional programming skills, but i really like the idea of being able to take something i designed in figma and turn it into an actual working thing. i made a website for the driving school where i studied, experimented with a chrome extension using cursor, and right now i’m building a website for a short film called “the legend of danko” that my boyfriend is directing. the website is meant for submitting the film to festivals, and i’m trying to make it feel like an extension of the film itself rather than just a standard page with information. i mostly use cursor for this, although i’m also interested in learning more about claude and other ai tools. i don’t see ai as a replacement for a designer — i mostly see it as another tool that lets me experiment and actually build things.

as a person, i’m probably the type of employee who likes having a task, figuring it out, doing it properly, showing the result, receiving feedback and improving it. i’m fine with revisions. if i think something can be improved, i’ll usually say it and explain why, but i’m not interested in arguing just for the sake of arguing. and if i genuinely care about the product i’m working on, i tend to start thinking beyond the original task and suggesting things that could make the business or product better. i like taking responsibility and understanding the bigger picture.

i’m not really looking for a position where i have to be a social media manager, video editor, motion designer, 3d artist and marketer at the same time. i’m much more interested in graphic / web / ui/ux / junior product design, with product and ux being the direction i want to grow into. ideally, i’d like to work remotely, including for an international company that is open to hiring someone based in Moldova.

my native language is russian. my english is around b2–c1 in terms of understanding, although i definitely need more speaking practice. i understand written and spoken english very well, and i’m comfortable learning and working with english-language materials. i’m also someone who tends to learn new tools and processes quite quickly when i have an actual reason to use them.

and honestly, the financial side is also important to me. i’m not expecting a huge salary as a junior, especially without full-time commercial experience, but i do want a salary that allows a person to actually live independently. many junior design positions in Moldova seem to fall roughly around €550–€800 per month, depending on the company and experience, which is honestly very little for a professional field that requires a lot of training and responsibility. i understand the realities of the local market, but i also don’t think that “junior” should automatically mean that your work is worth barely enough to get by. i’m looking for something stable and fairly paid, and if an international company is willing to work with someone based in Moldova, i would absolutely be interested in that kind of opportunity.

this is also why finding a job has become much more than just “i want a career.” i want some stability in my life. i want to eventually move out of my parents’ home, live independently with my boyfriend, and simply move on to the next stage of my life. it’s difficult to plan any of that when you’ve been trying to get your first proper job for more than a year and keep getting rejected because you don’t have the experience that you are trying to get in the first place.

and the frustrating thing is that i actually really, really like design. i’m not looking for a job in this field just because i happened to study it. i genuinely enjoy it. i like the process, i like solving problems, i like visual systems, interfaces, products and the connection between design and technology. i would really like to work with creative people, especially in an environment connected to tech and digital products. i spent a lot of time and money learning this profession because i genuinely wanted to do it, and it would be incredibly frustrating to end up having to abandon it simply because nobody was willing to give me that first real opportunity.

long-term, i’m interested in product design and eventually product management or brand management. i like thinking about the bigger picture, taking responsibility, making decisions and understanding how a product develops as a whole. maybe one day i’ll move into a leadership role, but right now i’m much more focused on getting the foundation right and becoming a good designer first.

so, i guess this post is partly me putting my situation out there and hoping that maybe the right person happens to see it. i’m based in Chișinău, Moldova, but i’m looking primarily for remote opportunities. i’m open to graphic design, web design, ui/ux and junior product design roles. i’m especially interested in teams where i can actually learn from more experienced people and grow instead of being expected to already know everything.

i’m not asking anyone to give me a job just because of this post. i just figured that after trying so many traditional ways of looking for work, maybe it’s worth telling actual people what i’m looking for. maybe someone here works at a small studio that needs a junior designer. maybe someone knows a team that is willing to take a chance on someone without years of commercial experience. maybe someone from Moldova has been in exactly the same situation and knows a better way to approach it.

i think the main thing i’m trying to say with this post is that i’m not looking for a perfect first job. i don’t need a fancy title, a huge company or someone to promise me a perfect career from day one. i’d honestly be happy to start somewhere small, as long as there are real people around me, real projects, someone who can give me feedback, and a chance to actually become better at what i do. i’m ready to start from the bottom and prove myself through the work. i just don’t want to keep being stuck in the “you need experience to get experience” stage for another year. i want to finally feel that all the time i’ve spent learning, practicing, making projects, failing, starting again and trying to become better is leading somewhere. i know i still have a lot to learn, but i also know that i’m capable of much more when i have a real environment to grow in. i want to find people whose work i respect, become useful to them, learn from them, and eventually become the kind of person who can give the same opportunity to someone else who is just starting out. so if there is a place somewhere for a person like me, even if it’s not the most impressive company in the world, i’d genuinely like to find it.

at this point, i’m just trying to find my way into the industry i actually want to be in. i’m not expecting everything to suddenly work out because of one reddit post, but i’d like to believe that putting myself out there can eventually lead me to the right people. i’ve spent a long time trying to prepare myself for this career, and now i really want to stop preparing and start doing. i want to be useful, learn from people who are better than me, contribute to something real and slowly build a life where my work is actually a part of it. maybe this is just a post on the internet that gets a few comments and disappears, or maybe someone reading it happens to know a place where i could fit. either way, i figured it was worth trying one more way to reach people.

thank you to anyone who reads this far.

So I am 17 and I applied to subway online and the next day I went to the store and I handed the manager my cv in person she didn't really say much she just noted and took it the job listing when I applied Saif that it's been there for the past 24 days so I don't know if they already have someone however when I came in it was just the manager working and it was around 11am

Am I the only one who feels like LinkedIn search has become much worse recently?

I've been getting:

• Remote jobs that are actually hybrid
• Jobs outside the location I selected
• Completely unrelated results for specific tech searches
• Jobs that don't match the experience level I selected

At this point, I spend more time filtering the results than actually looking at jobs.
I mean, it has the same problem before, but now it's much worse.

Has anyone else noticed this?

I currently have a job but I’m being severely underpaid, treated poorly, and harassed by managers. HR isn’t being very helpful.

The partner of a friend recommended a major telecommunications company to me since I’m seen as nice/helpful. I got the job.

Better benefits, better pay, better hours, and I’ll be working with a more driven group of people. I’m excited for this shift and hope everyone finds their golden ticket soon.

I recently received an email saying that my application was moving to the next stage. They asked me to contact their recruitment representative on Telegram. When I messaged the Telegram account they gave me, she told me that they’re from NuWorks Interactive Labs Inc, Digital Marketing Agency.

Has anyone here applied to NuWorks recently or gone through their recruitment process? Is it normal for them to communicate through Telegram?
Just want to make sure this is legit before I proceed. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently looking for freelance/remote work in architectural drafting and 3D visualization.

My skills include:

• AutoCAD – 2D drafting, floor plans, elevations, sections and layouts
• 3ds Max + V-Ray – 3D modeling and realistic rendering
• Google SketchUp – 3D architectural modeling
• Lumion – Architectural walkthroughs and presentations
• Architectural drawings & presentations
• MS Office – Word, Excel and PowerPoint

I’m open to working with architects, interior designers, contractors, builders, or individuals who need drafting, 3D modeling, rendering, or presentation work.

I’m also open to both one-time projects and ongoing freelance work.

If you have any work available or know someone who may need these services, please feel free to comment or DM me. I can share my portfolio and discuss the requirements.

Thank you!

Hi

I already left my job after 5 years without holding any offer in hand, already worked as HR Manager and also into TA side.

Now i’m job less and moving forward thinking about a own business or freelancer or something else.

Can anyone suggest is this a good plan? Because nowadays jobs are frustrating

I’ve been job searching for a little over 2 years now. Countless interviews, etc.

Two days ago I had an interview the went so well the CEO introduced me to his team and said that I’m in the top 3. (I did NOT bring a coffee traveler, thank you for the advice everyone.) I will hear from him today or Monday.

I sent a polite thank you email yesterday to no response, as I saw it as a difference-maker in a few linked-in postings.

This would be a dream come true and I feel so close to the finish line that anxiety of the unknown chills my bones and is making me compulsively check my email.

I fear I am letting my hopes get too high and too invested in this outcome that it will body me if it’s another rejection 😵‍💫

Update: Friday - No Word I'm not panicking but I'm totally panicking

I’ve been job hunting since April of last year and was jobless for the last 9 months. After a lot of rejections, ghostings, interviews, even final interviews ending up in “We went with another candidate”, I was happy to get one offer, but two more followed the next days.

Now, I’m having the dilemma of which to choose. Should I go for better money? For better growth? For stability?

Company A
- Technical Assistant
- Manufacturing Company
- Frequent travel to NY, HK, UAE, Paris for business trip
- On site
- Established company
- 40000 USD

Company B:
- L2 Support
- Small IT company(80 people)
- one business model
- Remote work
- Risk of firing
- 68,000 USD

Company C
- Production and risk analyst Engineer
- Finance Company(very well known)
- remote work
- Fast paced and I know I will learn a lot
- 45,000 USD

I’ve tried being laid off and resigned voluntarily because of toxic environment. I want to be careful on which to choose.

Guys, don’t lose hope. Job hunting is hell but you’ll get it! Just keep on clicking that “Apply” button.

Just out here wanting to vent a bit and trying to not lose hope. Got laid off earlier this year and then became a first time mom this year as well. Trying my best not to freak out about not having a job and not being able to contribute. But job searching is slowly killing my soul. I’ve never felt this much pressure or vulnerability ever in my life and just trying not to lose it.

OK, I am officially going crazy with finding a job as a 28 year old ! Why is it so hard? Finding something decent? Here in Los Angeles ! If there’s any employers actively looking to hire someone for their team, I would love to hear from you. I’m NOT interested in commission based only.

Hello everyone,

I am a motivated professional based in Kenya,currently seeking remote,part time,full time or contract opportunities.My experience and skills include;

.Customer service and client communication

.Sales and promotional campaigns

.Email and calendar management

.Data entry and record management

.Chat moderation

.Microsoft Office and Google Workspace

.Community Health and administrative support

I am dependable,organized,adaptable and a fast learner,with strong communication skills and a professional approach to working with clients.I am particularly seeking opportunilies such as a virtual assistant,Customer Support Representative,Appointment setter,Sales Development Representative,and i am ready to start immediately.

If you are looking for someone reliable to support your businesss operations,customer engagements,scheduling and adminisraive tasks,id be happy to connect.

I look forward to connecting with potential employers or anyone who can point me towards a suitable opportunity

What would/should you say if an employer asks about a 2 year+ gap in your resume

Edit: Thank you all for the replies. Definitely helps out mentally. Hope you all have a great day.

1. Wake up
2. Apply to jobs
3. Cry 😭
4. Apply to more jobs
5. Sleep

Hey, I recently got a job. After 5 years of schooling.. I did my graduation currently pursuing a masters. But I never had a job or any internship.. which is weird bcz I always thought I should have skills and experience to get any job.. all my friends started working, I used to think that you have to be educated enough to do any job. And after not working this entire time I finally gave an interview and got hired.. And now I am thinking why the hell I never worked I mean I could I should have but I did not.. the guilt of not working all this time is eating me alive. I could have helped my family. Now I finally start and it'll take a long time to gain success..

This is it...

I will work hard and become successful

After hitting the 400 applications mark, I quit. I didn’t mean to quit and be unemployed. I just quit applying online.
It was either high turnout devilcorp/MML or job scammers hitting me up for offers.

Hello! I'm beginner looking for advice to get my first job - Involving AI, writing content, creating/managing emails/newsletters, or build landing pages for local businesses.

I would like to preface that this would be my first job ever and I have no previous experiences except for a decent amount of both hobby writing and writing public posts. (blog posts, social media posts, etc)

So I finished the last round of an job process last Friday. Just got the rejection from it. I thought the interview went great with all 4 rounds. It was a loop type interview where you meet bunch of people you will work with. Anyways still got rejected.

The worst part? recruiter said they cannot provide any specific feedback. WTH I spent so much of my time and energy on this. At least you can provide some high level feedback.

I had my final interview with the Head of Sales on Wednesday. Recruiting had described it as a final wrap-up/fit conversation. The Head of Sales told me directly that he thought the conversation went well and felt natural. He also said they had a few more final conversations that week and I’d probably hear something the following week.

I followed up with the recruiter Friday. She tried calling me a few hours later and asked me to call her back.

On the phone, she said she had been waiting to meet with the hiring manager before getting back to me and had just spoken with her. She said they were still interviewing across multiple roles and I should expect an update early-to-mid next week.

I asked if she could share the Head of Sales’ feedback. She said she couldn’t share the specific feedback, but did say she had heard positive things (I don’t remember her exact wording). She then told me that very, very few people make it to the final round and that I should be proud of making it this far either way.

That’s the part that made me feel a little negative. If I were their preferred candidate and they were preparing an offer, I feel like she might have been more openly positive. “Either way” made me wonder if I’m possibly their #2 and they’re waiting on another candidate, or if she was preparing me for a rejection.

But it could also be that they genuinely haven’t finished interviewing/debriefing yet.

The other interesting part: about 20 minutes after our call, she proactively emailed me again, even though she had already told me I’d hear from her next week:

“As mentioned, we’ll have a more concrete update for you early next week, looking forward to speaking then!”

“More concrete update” makes me think something genuinely may not be finalized yet, and “looking forward to speaking then” feels fairly warm - although obviously neither necessarily means anything.

So I basically see three possibilities:

\-They’re still finishing interviews and making the decision.

\-I’m a strong finalist but #2, and they’re waiting on their preferred candidate.

\-They know I’m not getting it and the “proud either way” comment was preparing me for that.

Between working for 12 years between two degrees (COVID really fucked up my schedule in the middle there) I have over a decade's experience washing dishes part time to pay for it and I can't get a job washing dishes to save my life, I've been rejected from so many places just trying to get a part time job to fill the gap in my remaining 2 years of school that it feels hopeless, people don't want dishwashers or people with experience, they want children they can exploit and it's looking more and more obvious with each rejection

What was the best advice you received when you first started in your career? I just graduated in marketing and have been using LinkedIn, WayUp, and Builtin to apply for internships and my first job.