Is it better to tell them in advance of running the background check and be transparent that I got laid off? I can also tell them I quit (and wasn’t laid off) and give valid reasons for that? What are examples of things I could say? I don’t want to raise any alarm bells. My biggest fear is they rescind the offer - has that happened to anyone here? Given my last date of employment is only a week before they run the background check.. I’m not even sure how often that data refreshes and if they would be able to tell immediately? So telling them preemptively could maybe be shooting myself in the foot but I’m not sure. Context: I work in tech. The hiring mgr for this role seems very particular and picky about who he hires (the interview process was very extensive). I can tell he really cares about the company and wants to build out the best team possible.

The market is so tough and I’ve been interviewing for new roles for a full year with zero success. I’m in a HCOL area, have a mortgage, a kid, student loans, my wife works in education and we don’t have much saved up so feeling anxious for many reasons!

I've been applying nonstop and almost every entry-level posting wants 2-5 years experience, multiple software skills, certifications, and perfect interviews. At what point did entry-level stop meaning entry-level. Anyone else struggling with this right now?

Hey guys,

I have around 12 years of work experience in different fields, mostly prototyping (electronics, software, mechanics and communication systems). I have a good overall technical understanding and was also project lead for some computer vision and data science projects.

Now i've been working at a new company for a few months and somehow got promoted to Team Lead Software Engineering.

Honestly, the pay is crazy good. :D But there are a few things that worry me.

We currently have 3 software devs and im supposed to hire another 6. The devs are much more knowledgable than me when it comes to software engineering. I often have to ask THEM for technical advice, not the other way around. I have done some low-level programming and Python scripting, but im definitely not a software expert.

My strengths are probably my broad technical understanding, experience with prototyping and getting things to work, and working with people. Im also a bit too nice sometimes.

The other problem is that the company has almost no infrastructure. No proper documentation, no established processes, no clear requirements or even real goals to work towards.

So here i am, with a good salary and a team that knows more about software than i do, trying to figure out what my actual job should be. :D I dont want to pretend to be an expert or micromanage people who are better at the technical stuff than me. But i also dont want to end up being just a glorified meeting scheduler.

For those of you who have been in a similar situation: How would you approach this? Should i focus on building the team, creating structure and figuring out the overall direction? How much technical knowledge does a team lead really need?

Would love to hear your experiences, especially from people who became team leads without a traditional software engineering background. 😄

I started a job two weeks ago as a law firm receptionist, but now I underestimated the weight of my anxiety and depression and I feel like I’m spiraling. Every morning I wake up paralyzed in my dread and I hate the work that I’m doing. I know I just started, but I can’t see how scheduling appointments will lead to something purposeful. I even wanna say I was in a manic state when accepting this job and now I completely regret it.

I know I’m going to disappoint my manager, she may even be furious as I’ve seen what she’s like when you get on her bad side. They also take their jobs very seriously and to burn this bridge is causing me so much guilt. The company has been very kind to me, and I really don’t have a good reason for quitting other than mental health reasons. That makes me feel immature and so dumb and stupid. I feel so guilty and childish for wasting their time and to leave so soon. I am nauseous just writing this, nauseous at the idea of continuing this job when my mental health is failing, and nauseous at the thought of sending my resignation. Thinking about this is just killing me.

I’m confused on what to do and how to even feel or think.

I’m a first gen, nontraditional college graduate. I went back to school and finished with a broad liberal studies degree online. (I know.) Because I had already gone to college in my 20s over the years off and on and accumulated so many credits, that I thought this was the most affordable way at the time to finish my degree. I finally finished up three years ago, and since then I’ve been underemployed. No one really taught me that I was supposed to be building a resume and make connections. I was pursuing art and a writing mostly but that hasn’t really panned out yet.

Now I need a more big girl job, but I feel like no one is really giving me a chance. I have a huge gap because I can’t seem to get hired. I just want to use my bachelor’s degree.

I have no professionals in my family, no real network, etc. I can’t really afford to go back to school this time for something practical. I’ve tried cold emailing, coffee chats, linkedin, temp agencies, etc. with no luck.

I’d appreciate any advice. Completely
stumped!

Imagine you're at $110k fully remote and get an offer for $140k, in the office 5 days, 30 minutes each way.

Sounds like a no-brainer until taxes, the 401k and a pricier health plan take their share. In a state like Texas the paycheck only goes up around $1,525 a month, and after gas, parking and lunches it's more like $1,275. Count the commute as work time and it's about 6% more per hour, not 27%.

What got me thinking is the counter. Another $5k barely moves that. Two remote days a week move it a lot more, about as much as an extra $9k of salary would, because you also skip the drive and the gas on those days.

So on paper remote days are the better ask. Has anyone actually countered with remote days instead of money? Did it work, or do companies push back harder on that than on salary?

Any tips for navigating going back to school and a career change at 40?

Background, I was a middle school teacher for several years. Left a few years back for health reasons that surgery has helped. I also have been doing a ton of trauma healing in the past year and now feel like I'm in a space to start a new career, but at 40 it's a little intimidating.

I have used the last couple of years to take a variety of classes on Udemy/Coursera and really figure out what my passions/interests and skills are. I just started a grad certificate in Juvenile Justice and am hoping to pursue a Master's in either: restorative justice or criminal justice/public policy.

I am passionate about social justice and want to be a change maker, but haven't narrowed down what grad program to do or what specific career path to choose.

I love learning-have my BS in Family Studies and Master's in Elementary Education. I'm also loving the certificate program I just started. Problem is there are so many options in interested in: research/public policy in the justice system, restorative justice-implementing programs in communities and schools, investigations.

I feel like there are just so many options out there! Any tips or advice for making a change like this at 40 and/or grad programs/careers that might support these passions and interests is much appreciated!

I am currently working in the trades. I've dipped my toes in manufacturing, worked service, kitchens, and other areas. In my core of cores, I am a creative person, who is very detailed in their craft and uncompromised in their art. But I live in America, and artistry is not rewarded here.

I have a job in life safety now - doing electrical work on life-safety devices - that I hoped would reward detailed, mistake-less work, but it is essentially trade work, and it is not a good fit for my work style.

What fields or positions require a critical level of detail? Where "doing it right" is more important than "doing it fast?" I am still working on myself in the process, but it's a lot easier to change careers than to change the fundamental brickwork of our personality. Any direction would be appreciated!

I got a new job lined I can start Monday. However, that would mean I would quit my current job on the spot today. I would have liked to give a two weeks notice but I can't. How bad would it be to just put in my notice now?

I know I am in "at-will" state and they would have let me go if they needed too. But I would hate to leave this in this way and then used for a reference and they bring this up to another employer.

Before anyone tells me to just take the free money and shut up, please understand that the anxiety is eating me alive.

I switched companies four months ago for an "Operations Coordinator" role. The pay is decent, team is nice enough, but… there is no job. Like, none. The person who hired me took an extended medical leave the second week I started. My interim manager is swamped and whenever I ping him asking how I can help, he literally just says "just keep shadowing and get familiar with teh docs."

I’ve read the documentation ten times over. I spend maybe 35 minutes a day answering sporadic emails, and the other seven hours staring at Slack pretending my mouse is moving.

i genuinely don't know what to do here. If I keep badgering leadership, I feel like someone will finally look up, realize my position is redundant, and axe me. But if I stay completely silent, I’m building zero skills and wasting months of my resume. Has anyone survived this without getting caught in a layoff wave, or should I just aggressively start sending out resumes tonight?

TL;DR: Biostatistics PhD student looking to explore career options beyond traditional biostatistician roles, especially those with higher earning potential and more challenges. Open to competitive, high-pressure, fast-paced environments.

Hi everyone! :)

I'm currently a 2nd PhD student in Biostatistics at a mid-ranked R1 university in the US, with a bachelor's in Pharmaceutical Science (out of the US) and a master's in Biostatistics (US).

I'm pretty set on going into industry after graduation rather than academia. I'm also an international student, so government jobs probably aren't very realistic for me due to visa restrictions.

I know becoming a biostatistician is a solid career with good pay, challenging work, and plenty of responsibility. However, given the current job market and limited openings, I'd really like to broaden my options rather than put all my eggs in one basket.

Frankly speaking I'm also pretty ambitious when it comes to my career and earning potential. I enjoy challenging work, and I wouldn't mind a more competitive or fast-paced environment if it meant greater opportunities for growth and higher pay.

I enjoy challenging work/life, think I handle pressure fairly well, and have a competitive mindset. I'm also more motivated by careers where I can see the results of my efforts relatively quickly, rather than a stable job but waiting years for things to pay off. (That's partly why I moved away from lab and pursued statistics in the first place lol)

Given above, I don't think academia, hospitals, or nonprofits would be the best fit for me. But beyond those, I'm honestly not sure what other directions I could explore with my background in a realistic term.

I'd really appreciate any advice on:

• What career paths outside of traditional biostatistics might fit someone with my background and interests?
• Are there industries or roles that particularly value a PhD in statistics/biostatistics and offer the kind of environment I'm looking for?
• If you've made a similar transition, what skills or experiences would you recommend developing during my remaining PhD years?

I'm still relatively early in my PhD, so I figure now is a good time to start exploring and potentially building skills outside my current research area.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Hi everyone,

I am planning my undergraduate studies and trying to decide on the right bachelor's degree. Considering how rapidly artificial intelligence is evolving, I want to choose a field that offers both relevance and strong career stability over the next decade.

I am Non IT professional, 2011 engg graduate who accidentally fell into mechanical field, as a shy woman from girls school, I never liked the stream but didn’t have courage to say it to my parents as they were the ones paying for my high tuition fees, I am from India for context, as i graduated I got the placement opportunity with one of well known Indian MNC , but as i grow in my field I noticed IT professionals who are half hardworking as me earning more , which made me regret as choosing mechanical was not my first choice (my uncle insisted) now the regret is more obvious when I see college mates who were very average works for big companies and earning multiple times more than me, I know it’s too late i can’t anything it but how to accept my profession and move on with life?

Only relief is , never afraid of layoffs in my life but getting twice my salary I couldn’t just accept how fair it is ? My one choice changed my life entirely

long story short in my job search I learned the interview game and in my last batch of company’s I was interviewing for, I got 3/4 for offers. (now 4/4)

I accepted one offer and started 3 weeks ago for 60k as a graphic designer / motion designer heavy on video editing for a EaaS company

Now the adult education company I was most excited for, the one that was very similar to my previous role in marketing/instructional design finally gets back to me with a tentative offer for ~80k. plus they would pay for my masters

They asked how much I wanted and I said that, aka the top of the provided range.

I liked everyone i talked to on the interview process except the last one the VP says basically that I’ve basically only worked at smaller companies and they’re a big company traded on the stock market and “I hope you know what you’re getting into” meanwhile it sounds exactly like my last job, 5 clients and 2 campaigns a month for each.

My current job as a video editor is nice, video does take longer but I know how to do it well. my boss is nice and the team is also nice but it’s a bit un organized file wise and proofing wise. but it does seem like they give me alot of creative freedom.

What would you do in my case? which would you take? feel free to ask more questions

how do I know if this is a career fit, company fit, or team fit issue?

From recent events at work and a mistake I made has been stressing me out and my manager as well and how it’s affecting me mentally a lot. The past two months I’ve been job searching and nothing but crickets.

Been at the job 4 years and I’m starting to realise maybe this isn’t for me, or I’m not a good fit for the career. I spent time researching different careers and felt I aligned with this 5 years ago and now after being in the role it feels like a mistake and a waste of time. I even did career counselling, but I think my initial research into this career path skewed my thinking and my results of the counselling towards this career and gave me a false confidence in this right path. I always thought I could never see myself in my manager's position, but thought maybe I didn’t align with my manager and her views, now recently, I’m hesitant and anxious trying to apply to the next level of this career ladder.

I just feel defeated and lost now. Where do I go from here? I don’t want stay in my current role, don’t want to move on to the same role in a different company, but what choice or options do I have? I’m scared to start over again after putting all that effort 5 years ago.

So I've been a maintenance technician for awhile now. I feel like im above average and have been wanting to move up to a multi skill position. I can do the multi job and have filled in for that position in the past.

This week I've been drained. Just completed a move and am physically and mentally exhausted. So sticking to my normal job duties. Our multi was out all week for training and another was here to fill in. Apparently I was expected to act in the multi position and "step up" in my usual multis absence.

I got pulled to the side and asked where I've been all week. I replied working on my assignments. I then got half berated for "not usually doing what I normally do."

I snapped at the manager. Told him I have my own workload to deal with that directly impacts production. If they needed someone to fill thay role they could have communicated it better. I told him I don't hold either the title or the salary of that position and to expect me to do that work uncompensated was actually offensive. I reminded him that 99.9% of the time I am performing well above my role and that the .1% of the time I don't I need to be treated as if I don't even do the minimum (like most)

The conversation ended on decent terms and the manager seemed to take a step back and understand, but I don't fully trust that.

What should I do at this point? I could act my wage and hurt the business/my chances at moving up, or I could keep doing more until I lose it?

For some context I am 25 years old and have been on and off odd jobs for the past 7 years since I’ve been 18. I worked primarily in the food industry from fast food to fancy senior living apartments.

For working the odd jobs I had done retail for 1 year, Floor installation for 1 year and supervising bank remodels for 2 years. I was also a B.O.O for a small web development team for about 6 months.

For 6 months this year from February to the end of July I worked a straining 2 jobs for 12 to 14 hours 6 days of the week. I would driver an hour away for both those jobs. My mind and body finally gave out and I started lashing out to my loved ones and almost lost my relationships with said loved ones. My car broke down around the same time I burned out. Which was a blessing from the heavens.

After the burn out I realized I can’t be doing this well into my 50s-60s. That life has already taken a toll on my chef mentors and I don’t want it to repeat in my life as well.

I quit both jobs (since I don’t have a car anymore). I got a bike (not an e bike) and now I got a part time job flipping burgers. My roommate got a raise and told me to try and go back to school which now leads me to do so.

I want to work in a career where I am actually valued. I also want a good work like balance too. I plan on wanting to start a family and I want to be very present in my children’s life so have a good work life balance is a must. I would like to work a good 28-32 hours of the week.

I am going to college from scratch. I thought I wanted to become a pharmacist, but looks like public doesn’t give them the respect and pay they deserve so now I’m trying to swerve my way into something else. Specifically in the medical, tech or science area. I am also okay with some laborious jobs but something that is easy on the body and also gives me the hours I want/need.

Thank you, if there are any questions please feel free to comment I will try and get back to you guys as soon as possible.

I'm going to try and make this short.

I'm a school psychologist working at a firm which gets contracted by a school.
I got hired last year last minute after one their psychologists quit suddenly. I was hired before I got licensed, I was waiting for my papers, I got what was considered to be a student's salary, no benefits whatsoever, no transportation, nothing. I signed my contract without the CEO being present, was denied a copy, still haven't gotten it a year later.
I get paid per day I work, so no vacation at all is paid, no sick days, no overtime, nothing. I have to work at home some afternoons or weekends without pay, they suddenly tell me either to come to work on an off day or to not go. We live in an unstable country so for example last year, i worked 40 days less than expected because school closed for student's security. I can go on but wont.
This year i got my license, Fuel prices are up, and yesterday I asked for a raise to match the going rate for a psychologist in my country. I asked for less even. I was told by CEO they need to think about it until December but I wasn't going to get anything near what I asked for. I said yes initially because I froze. Then when I calmed down, I realized how stupid I had been since I was getting into debt to pay for gas to come to work. I'm 280$ in debt this month alone to cover fuel cost. I'm not doing anything else. Barely even buying water. I live at parents' fortunately and got no other costs than my car, gas, repair, insurance for the car and some taxes. It's my mom's car even. I can't even get one because I don't have a fixed income. I can't save.
Anyway I put in my two weeks later during the day because honestly, I have made my calculations, to cover car, medical insurance that they don't cover in case something happens, and my license yearly fee and the trainings needed to keep the license and I asked for that, barely over the number i got. Still not enough for savings but still nearly double what I get.
They ignored me. I notified the school about my notice. They called the CEO. CEO called me then hung up after one ring. Secretary called me 5 minutes later and told me to be at the office at 4.
I'm honestly scared and a bit stressed but still I cannot go anywhere lower than what I asked. I'm better off without a job at this point.

Edit:
Okay I've seen the comments. I live in Lebanon, there are no rules but the rule of the person who knows the most influential person here. And obviously, I don't know influential people and they do, which is why I am a bit warry of them. We live in a jungle. It is not a matter of maturity or anything.

You cannot know your laws when there are none full stop. Also, I am a bit worried about not having any references for future employment because of this.

I went to the meeting with my sister, I got my contract, we spoke and they said there is no way to raise anything until December at least. I said I would think about it.

Why am I still thinking about it? Because I am, at the end of the day, a new psychologist. I have worked other places but not in the field. So I am trying to balance the benefits with the costs that aren't material.

Half of me wants to use my spine, the other half is whispering things that aren't wrong but also aren't fully right. For example, half of what im paying for gas has nothing to do with them. But still my work should be able to pay for my life.

Get the dilemma?

Things are more complicated than what I posted. Also half of the family is not working, which also is why I'm thinking about it twice. So for example the extra gas im paying for is to get my sister from uni.

Anyway, things are as they were.

I feel like quitting is the best answer, not quitting is a valid one too. I don't know. Is it better be safe than sorry? Or am I letting go of too much safety? Will it be 4 years before I find a job because I virtually have one year of experience?

As it stands, they have a close in the contract that says that I have to give them two months, which might give me two weeks, two days or two months. They haven't signed the contract but, in this country, it doesn't seem to matter. I asked, legally it cannot be enforced. It's null. But, in this country, they can forge the signature or find a lawyer dirty enough to pull some crap you can't even imagine and make me liable for it.

Anyway, I still want your thoughts, even if you don't know the whole thing, you guys gave me some strength and anyone could spark inspiration without knowing.

Thank you for all the advice

Edit 2.
Just had an epiphany
I'm a moron
I'm quitting

Background: I served in military for 6 years as Engineering Assistant (Civil engineering), working on AutoCAD, Geographic Information Systems and Land Surveying. I got my associate in Construction Technology in military.

I wanted to major in something Im passionate about, and found anatomy and physiology very interesting. I hoped to become a physician assistant but my dad passed away and had to become head of household. I got my Associate in Biology but later switched to Computer Science for more job options. During my major in cs, I got very depressed and suffered through schizophrenia which wasted 5 years of my life to recover. I’m currently 2 semesters away from graduating (hopefully). However, I’m not a good coder, I suck at it, and don’t really enjoy it.

I’m the first in the family to go to college, so, education from family was never a priority but I later realized the importance of it.

What are my options for a career choices ?

I don’t want to do anything construction related and I don’t understand much about coding and can’t even do a single leetcode without looking it up.

It’s too late for PA school or nursing because my prerequisite were taken more than 12 years ago, which makes it expired for applications.

Currently working at American Express India Gurugram as a Band 28, earning 8 LPA (band range: 5.5–9 LPA).
I have 2 years of total work experience and a postgraduate degree. I initially joined Amex at Band 28 through a referral because I was unemployed after graduation.

Now I’m planning to apply internally for Band 30 roles in Risk, Credit Risk, and Fraud in December. I’ve checked the eligibility requirements, and I meet or exceed the experience, education, and technical skill requirements.

The salary range for these Band 30 positions is 12–22 LPA, which I can see internally.

My questions:

Is asking for 20 LPA realistic, considering I’m currently at 8 LPA? I know it’s a 150% hike, but it’s within the new band’s range.

What’s the maximum I should negotiate for, and what’s the minimum I should realistically settle for?
If HR says “Your current CTC is only 8 LPA, we can’t offer such a huge hike” or “We don’t have the budget,” how do I negotiate without getting lowballed?

Does Amex have any internal salary hike caps when moving from Band 28 to Band 30, even when switching functions?

Would especially appreciate insights from people who’ve made internal band jumps at Amex or worked in HR/compensation.

I’m looking for some advice from people who have been in a similar situation.
I recently received an offer for an internal position that would be a great opportunity for career growth. It’s a step up from my current role, fully remote, and would give me experience that could open more doors in the future.
The problem is the salary came in lower than I expected. I’m currently hourly and work quite a bit of overtime, so switching to salary would actually mean making less money overall.
I did try to negotiate, and my counteroffer is still under review.
I’m honestly torn. I’ve been wanting to move up in my career for a while, and this is the type of opportunity I’ve been working toward. But at the same time, taking a pay cut doesn’t sit right with me.
Has anyone taken a pay cut to move into a better position? Was it worth it in the long run? Did you regret it?
I’d really appreciate hearing other people’s experiences, especially anyone working in corporate healthcare.

I'm a year into my first job and all is well on the surface. I have decent benefits, reasonable work hours, kind co-workers, and a manager who advocates for me. It doesn't pay great, but it does mean I get to work in a creative industry, which is a relief compared to the drab roles I could've ended up in.

However, there's a small part of me that is having doubts about whether the work I'm doing is the right fit. I am good at it and I am learning a lot. But it doesn't make me feel like I've accomplished anything meaningful at the end of the day.

My head is telling me that this a typical reaction to the corporate world. I've finally realized that a job just a means to survive, and it doesn't have to be the thing that fills your cup. But I see some of my co-workers absolutely thriving in their roles as if it was tailor-made for them, and I want that feeling for myself.

Do I seek fulfillment elsewhere, like in a creative side project? I've seen other people turn side hustles into job opportunities when the job doesn't cut it. I've also seen people who are content with their 9-5 as long as they can pursue their hobbies on their own time.

How do I plan for a move (internal or diff company) if I do end up making the jump?

And lastly, how does one find the bravery to make big life decisions, especially ones that impact livelihood?

Hey everyone!

I’m a 2025 AIML graduate based in Bangalore. I completed an internship at a company, but the role wasn’t very technical, and taking up a full-time position there didn’t seem worthwhile for my career goals.

I’ve been unemployed for the past 5 months and have been trying to find a job, but unfortunately, I haven’t received many interview calls. I’ve had a few assignments here and there, but nothing that has led to an actual interview.

I’m now considering joining a training institute with placement assistance, and QSpiders/JSpiders is one of the options I’m looking into. I’m particularly interested in learning DevOps and trying to get into a technical role.

I wanted to ask people who have experience with these institutes:

Is QSpiders/JSpiders worth joining for DevOps training?

How good is the teaching, especially for someone starting from scratch?

Do they genuinely provide placement opportunities, and how good are the placements?

What is the current fee structure for the DevOps course?

Are there any other institutes in Bangalore that you would recommend over them?

I’d really appreciate honest reviews, especially from people who have studied there or got placed through them.

Thanks in advance for your help!

So HR asked me if I plan on doing a master's. I said no not anytime soon. I want to gain work experience and grow within the company before pursuing a masters. She pressed me to give a minimum number of years before I'd go for a masters. I said 5 to 6 years. I'm worried shitless rn that I shouldn't have said that and that they saw it as a red flag and now won't hire me. Am I overreacting?