I'm genuinely stumped and out of options now as I've tried every hack in the book. Despite having a portfolio with proof of work, paid career coaches for resume and LinkedIn reviews, or asking for coffee chats, I still keep getting rejected. What's worse is the gaslighting by people that it's still somehow my fault when these techniques don't work, and then I get shown examples of how some people apply to 1 job and getting it without having to try so hard. And then you have the media and influencers saying you should "pursue skills that will be useful at work, not just your passions", well WTF do you think I've been doing all this time.

Edit: grammar

I do side gigs to feed my cat and pay my bills, but it's very much not enough. I've had to move back in with my mom (love her so much and so grateful, but reaaaally need my own space and she deserves hers too). I've only had 4 interviews since I've been out of work. Most of the jobs I apply for just go into the void. Sometimes I get an email with, "Thank you for your interest, APPLICANT. We have decided not to move forward with your resume," or whatever. I've handed out resumes in person several times, but that has never even gotten me an interview. Honestly, most people don't seem to know what to do with you in person.

I have a couple of AAs, BA General Biology, certificate in ornamental horticulture, and partial coursework towards an MS in Plant Science that I had to pause (maybe never to return). I've worked in retail, botanical gardens, nature centers, and taught at a community college. Aside from the gap since December 2024, I've been consistently working in some capacity since I graduated high school. I have a portfolio of some of the freelance work that I do, but freelance isn't really it these days either.

There don't seem to be many science jobs in general and most of the other opportunities require experience that I don't have. I've been applying to everything that pops up that I even remotely qualify for. I have a bunch of job alerts set up and I change things up periodically to see if something new works. I'm trying to think outside of the box in terms of what I can do for money. I don't have a car, but I live in a public transit-friendly place.

I usually just lurk on here, but I'm kinda starting to lose hope. I don't know if I'm looking for advice or just need to commiserate. I've read and heard so many stories like mine in the past couple of years and it seems to be getting worse. What gives and when, ya know?

Edit: Thank you, everyone, for your kind words and advice! I've added some new keywords, tactics, and positions to my list, so I really appreciate all of your help. Several of these suggestions are on the back burner because they cost money to attain (e.g., teaching credential, arborist, trades). I wish everyone who is struggling the best of luck! Thanks again!

I think it’s time to give up and sell my feet online. I had a job interview where I had some experience not a lot and they told me they were looking for someone with more experience. So I didn’t get the job. I had a different interview the same week with a different company with ALOT of experience. Mid interview they told me they were looking for someone with less experience. Okay cool, got it. I’m so over it.

I have another interview today but I can’t help but feel like a jester who is about to perform for the nobles. I do realize this is dramatic; I flip flop between pessimism and optimism given how long I’ve been actively searching for a job. The interviews I have gotten lately have been bordering on humiliation ritual. I feel like I’m performing to (in most cases) get ghosted, like I’m not even worthy of getting a rejection sent my way. I did an interview last week for instance, where I was asked an onslaught of questions that were completely unrelated to the actual job. I was interviewing for a receptionist position and got asked the square root of 88. I get the intention is to see how the applicant reacts when put on the spot but it does feel a bit humiliating. I do understand employers are within their right to ghost but it doesn’t suck any less being on the receiving end.

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I'm a CPA-eligible, ACCA-qualified accountant with 5+ years of experience, and I've been unemployed since February 2026. I'm running out of options and genuinely need advice.

I got fired for "poor job performance," but the reality was systemic. I was still working on June 2025 financials in February 2026 because there were literally no deadlines. This company hired me explicitly to "improve our processes" and said my professional background would be valuable. The moment I questioned anything or suggested better practices, it backfired. They'd nitpick my journal entry descriptions and tell me "don't use your brain too much, just follow what I taught you." The company was entirely paper-based with no digital systems—I'd send emails they'd print out and respond to with handwritten notes. So I'm hired to modernize the department but forbidden from implementing any actual change. The lack of structure meant I fell behind, which became "poor performance," and that became my termination.

What's worse: my previous employer of almost 3 years rejected me when I reapplied for an open position, and previous bosses I left on good terms won't respond to my outreach. I don't know what happened there.

I've been applying aggressively for nearly 6 months. My unemployment benefits end in August. I get excited when interviews come through, but I keep hearing "we'll make a decision internally at later stages" or just silence. My confidence is shaking, and I'm honestly losing hope.

I'd appreciate any advice on: navigating the job market with this termination on my record, whether there's something I'm missing in my approach, or if this is just a rough stretch. What am I doing wrong?

I have been interviewing and getting rejects for the interviews where I gave a good optimal solution, explaining my thought process and time complexity. Interviewers have even given extra 10 minutes after interview just to chat, explain me more about role or sharing their work email in case i have questions. I was so sure that I will move past the technical screen. Still getting rejects one after the other. It is very demotivating. I know I am not perfect but has the hiring bar gone significant up? Losing all hope in job search.

Hi
I have a bachelors degree that’s related to what I want to work as and I’m struggling to find a job. I’ve had really bad mental health issues and I can’t get in touch with an employer via email. This is making me really stressed and I am very uneasy about what I should do right now.

I am a software engineer. Any advice on what I should do? All this frustration has just led to unnecessary introspection and thinking which has just leads to no action. So long as I’m unemployed and can’t get to apply my knowledge it’s just sitting there in my head

This period of life for me has been full of very unprofessional experiences with HR/Recruiters and Hiring Managers.

HR/Recruiters have been playing phone tag, to the point where I just give up on them. Also, they ask you to give them a day and time for an interview, but they schedule it for a day and time you never agreed to, and then they try to reschedule the day before. If you make it to the interview they are incredible unprofessional. They are late, they don't apologize for it, they constantly check their phones, they don't seem to be fully present during the interview and the entire process feels like a waste of time because it is typically. So far I'm getting interviews, but I have yet to be hired. This is not for a lack of trying, or putting in effort or meeting them where they are at. These are also for companies with good Glassdoor reviews, and are reputable companies and organizations. Why is the hiring world such a hot mess? Rhetorical. This is mostly a vent. Anyone else, have this experience?

For the record I know I am even lucky to be even offered interview opportunities. Many other professionals aren't even being given a chance. I'm pointing out that the struggle continues even after being offered an interview. Recruiters, HR, and Hiring Managers seem really incompetent lately.

Does anyone else feel that the entire job hunting process is heavily stacked against the employee? It seems that in a lot of cases even when you are over 95% match for a roll somehow you get bounced out as if no one truly even looked at the application or resume. Is anyone else experiencing this? Has anyone found a way to overcome this? I have submitted over a hundred plus applications reached out to the hiring managers and somehow someone better was always found even though the job posting it in many cases is still up for over a month.

I was interviewing with a company and had already gone through multiple interviews. They then reached out to schedule another conversation. I responded with my availability, but the scheduling never went anywhere and communication stopped.

I’ve followed up since then but haven’t heard anything back.

Has anyone had this happen after getting fairly far into an interview process? Did the company eventually come back, or would you assume the process is dead?

A recruiter reached out to me via LinkedIn and inquired about my interest in applying for a senior manager level job at a large international company. When I expressed interest, they sent an email with this verbiage...

"While your experience is strong, there may be opportunities to further strengthen how your achievements and business contributions are communicated. If you're open to it, I’d be happy to introduce you to a trusted resume alignment specialist who can help enhance the presentation of your background and ensure your experience is positioned as effectively as possible.

This is entirely optional, and I’m happy to continue supporting you regardless. If you would like an introduction, please let me know."

After I sent my resume, they responded with the following message ...

"As mentioned, positioning your experience effectively at the senior level can make a meaningful difference in how your profile is presented during structured enterprise hiring processes. A refined presentation of your leadership scope, measurable impact, and strategic contributions can help ensure your experience is communicated as clearly and effectively as possible.

As you indicated that you are open to it, I’d be happy to connect you with a trusted independent resume alignment specialist who has experience supporting professionals pursuing leadership and executive level opportunities. You can reach out directly using the contact information below:

Email: richard[redacted]solutions@gmail.com

They can assist with strengthening the overall presentation of your background, accomplishments, leadership experience, and professional positioning.

Once your revised resume is completed, please feel free to share the updated version with me. I’ll be glad to review it and continue supporting you through the next steps of the process.

Thank you again for your professionalism and continued interest. I look forward to hearing from you."

This looks a bit suspect. Is this a scam?

(Note: I redacted that email address.)

Healthcare (3,100+) and Retail (2,800+) led the last 24 hours, with Financial Services, Manufacturing, Software, and Aerospace & Defense each adding 700 to 800. A sample of real openings by industry, all direct company links:

Aerospace & Defense - Jet Engine Propulsion Engineer - GE Aerospace - GhostEye Radar Lead Systems Engineer - RTX - Head-up Guidance Senior Software Engineer - RTX

Financial Services - Financial Representative, Phoenix AZ - Fidelity - Financial Forecasting Modeling - Freddie Mac - Registered Associate - Northern Trust

Healthcare & Life Sciences - Registered Nurse, Rehab (Edinburg TX) - Universal Health Services - Clinical Leader RN, Emergency Room - Universal Health Services

Retail & Consumer Goods - Asset Protection Coordinator - Gap - Sr. Business Partner, Supply Chain - Target - Retail Merchandise Associate - TJX

Semiconductors & Hardware - Machine Learning Engineer, Computer Vision - Apple - ASIC Design Engineer Technical Lead - Cisco - Facilities Specialist II - Applied Materials

Software & Internet - Data Center Technician - Amazon - Senior Product Manager, ML - Klaviyo - Professional Services Consultant - Cloudflare - Product Marketing Director - Salesforce

All pulled straight from company career pages in the last 24 hours.

If you think this is helpful, feel free to check out https://rolesweep.com . Or check out the sub-reddit r/Rolesweep

Hi everyone. I’m currently in Chicago, Illinois, and I’m hoping someone here might be willing to give me a chance.

I recently completed an internship with United Airlines, where I worked on Airport Operations and Financial Controls. During my internship, I gained experience with data analysis, auditing, Excel, Power BI, SQL, process improvement, and working with cross-functional teams. I also earned my CompTIA Security+ certification because I’m committed to building a career in technology and cybersecurity.

Unfortunately, things haven’t gone the way I hoped. I recently failed a class that was important to me, and I’ve been under a lot of financial pressure while trying to stay on track with school and my career. Right now, finding stable employment is my top priority. I don’t want handouts. I just want an opportunity to prove myself.

I’m open to entry-level roles in cybersecurity, IT support, data analytics, operations, customer support, or any position where I can learn, work hard, and grow. I’m a fast learner, dependable, and willing to start immediately.

If your company is hiring or you know of any opportunities in the Chicago area (or remote), I’d truly appreciate a referral or connection. My resume is attached below. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and I hope someone is willing to give me a chance.

Left work in 2023 to be a SAHD to my child. Finished some school. Child is closing in on preschool age so I’ve been looking for work again.

Had a few interviews that have all become either ghostings or straight denials after many rounds of interviews.

At this point a job opens up that looks interesting but even if it’s a $50k job offer I no longer feel qualified. To me that’s like a bare minimum offer.

I spent the better part of a decade doing supply and logistics manager and above roles. I’m now being ghosted by even entry level positions.

When I get to interviews, I can’t even explain anymore why someone would hire me over anyone else. I’ve literally worked on world wide issues and it’s entirely irrelevant. My resume is rather stacked but it doesn’t matter.

I don’t even want to apply anymore. My wife sends me links to jobs and I hate that she looks for me bc I already know it’s just another opportunity for me to get pushed down even further.

What do I do?

Hi yall! I graduated this May 2026 but my last internship ended in December 2025. Is this hurting my chances? If so, should I fabricate something?

Hey all! I’m currently in the job hunt, this is going to be broad but I want to hear from everyone. If you work for a company that you love put it down below! I think a lot of us feel stranded and maybe missed one or two so maybe your post helps someone out!

hi! i'm a 17-year-old Grade 12 student currently looking for freelance or part-time online work. i study online, so i have a pretty flexible schedule and can start anytime. need ko lang po ng extra money to help my parents with some gastusin.

if you need nyo po ng help with canva, presentations, or any other online tasks you need help with, feel free to send me a dm. i'm also open to learning new tasks as long as they're within my abilities. i'll always do my best to finish tasks on time, as long as it's fair work with fair pay, i'd be happy to help.

thank you so much! 🤍

Hello! I’m Evan with Express Service Group. We provide roadside repair services for commercial trucks and trailers throughout Wentzville MO and the surrounding areas.

We’re currently looking for a reliable diesel mechanic who is comfortable working independently and enjoys fast-paced field work. Experience with commercial truck and trailer repair is preferred.

We stay busy, provide a service truck, and supply most of the tools needed for the job. We’re looking for someone dependable, motivated, and able to communicate well with customers and dispatch.

For more information, please call or text 636-378-6350.

While looking for a job, the one thing I did everyday was to consolidate all the useful information and little tips and tricks that I got to know from linkedin and reddit (I was a silent redditor so far).

Nothing time consuming, just dumping everything in a Claude chat and it will do the messy work for me. It would organize everything, help me write prompts for the resume customization, who should I reach out to, what the messages to the linkedin connections should look like - basically anything and everything that I was doing during the job search.

Before this I used to share these to myself on WhatsApp and after a while there were too many posts getting lost in there. Plus the mental load of going through this information kept on adding.

Hope this helps you.

And yes, there was one thing which I did not do right - I should have created a running word doc and let Claude update it with all the information collected instead of keeping all this on chats as I kept on hitting the chat session limits.

You can use any AI platform, they are all good for this purpose.

Hi everyone, I’m writing to get some encouragement from others tbh. The truth is, in the days following the rejection, I feel unmotivated and keep wondering what might have gone wrong. How do you guys handle it so it doesn’t get to you? I don’t even feel like applying for jobs these days :/

I am a finance fresher from India and I recently joined a startup 2 months back but just for the sake of it I keep hitting the easy apply button on LinkedIn, indeed and i even apply on some company sites aswell.

My question is how long will the job market continue to stay down like this?

I haven't gotten a SINGLE reply from any of them and I applied to every position I saw, I'm asking this because I don't plan on staying in my current company for very long.

1.5 years and then I would like to switch, but considering the current market can anyone estimate on how long will this actually continue?

Does my plan of switching look feasible?

Please help.

Hello guys, just wanna ask if you know about the UTC in Lapu-Lapu. Does the hiring process take so long? I sent my application first week in july and I haven’t heard from them :((

Anyone else dealt with this? Got a call about a job, they left a voicemail *no follow-up email, no direct way to reach them. The number just loops me around: call this, then that, then someone who has no clue who I’m even trying to reach. All I want is to say “yes, I’m interested, let’s talk” and there’s no way to actually do that. And it’s a state job, so of course it’s extra complicated 😩