27k in student loan debt, homeless, no job, no savings, two SWE internships on my resume, useless cs bachelor's degree from 2025.

My parents kicked me out when I approached a year post graduation with no job. I wasn't getting any interviews, at all. I was working as a part time barista for $16/hour to bide my time but I abandoned that job when I was kicked out. I'm in a city where rents are 2000+ for closets. No reason to stay at that place.

My loans have obviously been defaulted on by now, I don't even have an active phone number for then to contact me with. No money.

I've been staggering, stumbling around gagging on nothing like a drug addict in the last week or so. I had a bike but someone broke the lock on it while I was sleeping outside one night.

Idk what I can do now. I can't get a tech job or use my degree for much of anything. I've been diving into trash cans for plastic bottles. I feel uncomfortable in my skin, I have no pride in myself, in my existence. I have no confidence anymore.

I'm sitting near a Starbucks curled up on a bench just watching the night go by. My life is over. I have no control but my future any longer. I want to end this.

I have been looking for a PT internship in NYC in the proptech startup field this past month. A lot of time spend on LinkedIn got me absolutely nowhere. I ended up reaching out to a family member who put me in contact with somebody they know at a startup I would have been interested in interning by.

This contact and I spoke over the phone and really hit it off and he asked that I’d prepare some example work. I did so and I got very positive feedback and then he connected me with the head of the company who is in charge of making the final say.

This CEO, who is very busy took some time to respond and had to reschedule nearly 3 times before we actually had our time to talk over zoom. However while we were emailing it seemed that he was interested in an intern (I mean hey, who doesn’t want free labor from somebody hungry for work). He even told me that he was looking forward to talk and that he apologized for postponing our meeting.

I join the meeting and he is looking down at his keyboard the entire time clearly working on something else. It didn’t feel like an interview, more like a confrontation. I felt like I was at my principals office in elementary school where he guilted me into confessing to what I did.

After explaining the role I’m looking for, he took two steps back and looked around the office and turned to me and said: unfortunately, we currently don’t have the resources to have an intern at the moment.

Like… ugh. I totally understand that this is reality but damn, I really thought I had this in the bag.

So now I’m back to square 1, reaching out via LinkedIn and cold emailing.

I then decided I’d use another resource I had by being in the city and I printed the attached flyer and mamilla envelopes and decided to go around the city to some startups and drop it off by them.

The first startup I went to, the doorman let me in and I went up to the HQ. And omg it was insane. Just a huge space full of people working. I felt like I was intruding on something, I mean I was.

I walked into the office and see a guy coming out of the restroom and I ask him if there’s a secretary I could drop off my envelope by and he told me to give it to a person he pointed to.

I went up to her and very nicely I said “excuse me, sorry to bother but I have some mail to deliver. I was told you would be the one I could hand this off to.” She was very kind back and took it and I went back downstairs and left the building.

I never have ever had the confidence to do such a thing but I don’t think I’ve ever felt more alive before in my life.

Happens to be I also emailed a somebody there today and they responded that they aren’t hiring for PT/internship roles.

But I’m still proud of myself for doing something extremely ambitious.

Anyways I’m still on the hunt for an internship in NYC. DM me if y’all have any leads. Curious to know what yall think of my story 🙃

It's been 7 months. I applied to everything that pops up on Indeed. I am 42 and have decades of retail and warehouse experience. Nobody would hire me. I had not a single call back. I finally got hired. I start October 25th. All the paperwork is in and it's official. It's not the best job but it pays well. And at least I have something. It's a crazy job market. It's been hell. I hear the people out there who have been unemployed for years. I don't want to jinx myself so I am literally knocking on wood. Wish me luck

I need to vent about a wildly unprofessional bait-and-switch and free consulting extraction I just went through with Insight Global recruiting for a contract at BMO (Bank of Montreal).

They pitched me an incorporated Senior Data Architecture contract targeting $70/hr. That's a low wage for this role but it sounded like a solid fit, so I went through multiple interview rounds. Then, they asked me to do a massive, time-consuming case study and present my architecture recommendations directly to the bank's hiring manager.

This wasn’t a simple technical assessment. I spent hours building a complete 24-slide enterprise architecture deck (a 16-slide core strategy presentation plus an 8-slide technical appendix). I mapped out their data ingestion, ETL/ELT pipelines, audience segmentation rules, privacy compliance controls, incident response playbooks, and a full 4-week rollout plan.

During the video call, I noticed the BMO hiring manager immediately reaching for her keyboard the exact second I transitioned to a new slide. She was very obviously taking screenshots of my core presentation step-by-step as I walked through my strategy.

The presentation went perfectly. The feedback from the BMO Director was glowing. Then the Insight Global recruiter reaches out: "You were the strongest candidate, but they're going with someone whose rate aligns with the budget."

I was confused because I had never asked for more than the $70/hr listed on the job description. I emailed the recruiter back and said, "I really liked the team and the architecture challenge. If the other candidate falls through, I'll take the role at the original $70/hr rate."

The recruiter’s response? They admit the actual approved budget from BMO was only for a $50/hr T4A contractor all along.

Here is the part that really pisses me off. The recruiter explicitly told me they knew the budget was $50/hr T4A, but deliberately pitched me as a $70/hr incorporated consultant because they wanted to prove a point to BMO about current market rates. They used my unpaid labor as a free bargaining chip to educate their client, without ever telling me I was participating in their experiment. I wasn't looking to help an agency prove a point to a bank. I was looking for a job.

When the bank predictably said no, the agency just shrugged and walked away. Insight Global gambled with my time, and the BMO hiring manager walked away with screenshots of a free senior-level architecture blueprint.

If an agency ever asks you to do a massive presentation or a take-home project, demand written confirmation of the actually approved budget first. And if you do present, watermark your slides. Do not let recruiters and clients use your interviews to test budget elasticity and harvest free consulting.

i’ve literally been without a job for the past 5-6 months because nobody is hiring me. I’ll do countless interviews and applications and nothing ever comes of it. u genuinely have to beg for a job nowadays or know someone in the company to get the job. i’m basically homeless right now and sleeping at friends houses because i lost everything. this is genuinely horrible. i am able to do gigs every here and there but i dont make enough to survive on my own at ALL.

Some of the assessment questions were weird, for example:

Do you work too fast without thinking about safety more, or do you miss deadlines more? WHAAAAAAAAT. I DONT DO EITHER.

why do you have to ghost people after initiating a conversation with them? Why? Just say no we're not moving ahead with you. How hard is that.

end rant

Not that many of them ever really did, but I just got back into job searching after a long break and am noticing that barely any jobs these days are listing salaries anymore? It used to be that at least maybe 30-40% or so would list the salary and you could even filter by salary. Now the salary filter also seems to have disappeared?? Personally I dont even bother applying unless the salary is listed. Anyone else noticing this sharp decline lately?

If Domino's Pizza can have an online pizza tracker to tell you where your pizza is, I feel like companies should be able to do something similar.

I see so many posts talking about being ghosted, and I have experienced the same myself. Why can't companies help put people out of their misery and say "Sorry, no job for you. But here's a coupon for some pizza."

That way there are (hopefully) no awkward emails, no waiting endlessly. Just the facts.

🚀 JOB POSTING: Entry-Level Aerospace & Advanced Systems Specialist

Company: Apex Stellar Dynamics (A Sub-Subsidiary of Global Corp)

Location: Main Office / Remote Field Sites

Pay: $7.25 – $12.00 / hour (Depending on Experience)

Employment Type: Full-Time, On-Call (24/7/365)

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you a self-starter who loves fast-paced environments, intense pressure, and non-negotiable dead-ends? We are looking for an Entry-Level Aerospace & Advanced Systems Specialist to join our dynamic, high-impact team.

In this entry-level role, you will be responsible for high-level rocket science, advanced systems diagnostics, and making sure the facility stays operational.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Ph.D. in Theoretical Astrophysics, Aerospace Engineering, or Quantum Dynamics (Dual Ph.D. preferred).

• Experience: Minimum 25 years of direct industry experience. (Time spent in simulators or entry-level roles does not count toward experience).

• Certifications: Active Astronaut Credentials, Master Mechanical License, and Advanced Scientific Research Certification.

• Nobel Prizes: Minimum of 1 (one) Nobel Prize in Physics or Chemistry awarded within the last 5 years.

DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Calculate complex orbital mechanics and trajectory adjustments on a napkin during your 30-minute unpaid lunch break.

• Assemble rocket engines and precision propulsion components using standard field tools, digital calipers, and torque wrenches.

• Conduct advanced scientific experiments and quantum data modeling.

• Restock the breakroom coffee machine and ensure all mugs are washed.

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Uniforms: Official company uniforms will be provided, and convenient payroll deductions will be applied to your check in small installments each pay period.

• Commuter Stipend: Receive 15% off using the GasBuddy app after you download it, share it with at least two friends, and both friends spend a minimum of $40 on fuel.

• Growth Opportunities: Potential to qualify for consideration toward a Senior Specialist track after 15 additional years of service.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Apex Stellar Dynamics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates with severe background challenges, extreme record red flags, or former high-ranking politicians are strongly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume, cover letter, 3 professional references, and a 15-page research paper.

(Note: Candidates who require training need not apply.)

I had final-round interviews for 2 different positions, and both of them rejected me. Although the first one surprised me because I had a very good interview with all three people, I didn’t really dwell on it too much because I had another interview lined up at a different company that I preferred over the other. I went through the unnecessarily drawn-out interview process, did the employment check, visited the office, and finally provided my references, only for them to tell me that several people made it to the final round and they decided to move forward with someone else.

I had been regularly speaking with the recruiter who was facilitating and scheduling the interviews, responding quickly each time and answering all my questions, but lo and behold, the rejection email comes from a no-reply email with some generic message saying they “went with someone who better fit their needs” and signed off with the recruiter’s name. During the interview process, I was in communication with someone who was working at the company, and she said that after the references, she was given an offer and was congratulating me basically saying that after this step I would probably get the job. The recruiter said she got in touch with my references and updated me saying my candidacy was moving forward and that they were checking if public info matched my resume. I confirmed that it did and told her to reach out if they had any questions, and 48 hours later, I get the “After careful consideration” email.

I am just sick and tired of going through various hoops and hurdles to get a job that a 5th grader can do and pays a measly $20/hr, just for them to reject me with zero to no explanation. Why are we pretending this is okay? It’s so cruel and disgusting. I’m TIRED

Edit: Oh, and I forgot to mention they posted the same job on the website under a different title on the same day💀

I was laid off from a job I was at for a decade and decided to apply with a competitor.

Application sent 8/15

First screening with recruiter on phone: 9/6

Interview with team leader 9/21

Interview with CFO originally scheduled for 9/28, she didnt show, recruiter called me and rescheduled 10/3, sat in room for 15 minutes. Got email from recruiter that they got busy at a meeting.

Ok. Remained positive and adaptable. Noticed the job listing was closed to applications.

Finally met with this person 10/15, they were late yet again.

Was told I should know by Friday, now feeling hopeless. I have a lot of experience but no degree, and its biting me in the rear.

I just really feel like multiple layers of interviews then a possible assessment THEN presentation feels so inefficient.

Back to the drawing board!

I worked at my first company from July to November 2022 and my second company from July to August 2023. But I mentioned the second job till November on my resume and selected September in the HireRight form. My relieving letter shows 31st August as my last working date.

It’s been almost 3 years, and I have no contact with the HR team anymore. I only have my offer letter, first month’s salary slip, and relieving letter. Now they’re asking for HR contact details and an experience letter, and I’m honestly getting a bit scared about what to do.

I recently had one of the most disappointing interview experiences of my career, and I just need to vent.
I was interviewing for a Senior Product Analyst position at a fintech company. Before the interview, the recruiter sent me a detailed breakdown of the 60-minute session:
10 minutes of introductions.
15–20 minutes presenting a case study I’d completed beforehand, followed by questions.
Product problem-solving and scenario-based questions.
5–10 minutes for my own questions.
I spent hours analysing the data, building visualisations, developing recommendations and preparing what I was going to say during my presentation.
Then the actual interview happened.
After around five minutes of introductions, the interviewer told me I wouldn’t need to present my case study. Instead, we went straight into a live SQL exercise.
I was working through the question, building my query step by step. I wasn’t as quick as I’d hoped (I got nervous) and I fully understand that technical skills are important for the role.
However, after approximately ten minutes, the interviewer ended the assessment. The feedback felt quite dismissive of my SQL abilities, and the remaining interview sections never happened.
I completely understand that companies have technical standards and that not every candidate will meet them. I’m not arguing that I deserved to pass.
What bothers me is being explicitly asked to invest hours preparing a case study and presentation, only to have that work completely skipped.
I walked away feeling incredibly deflated. I’ve been working in analytics for years, and I don’t think I’ve ever left an interview feeling quite like this.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? Is it common for interviewers to abandon the scheduled format and end an interview early after a technical exercise?

This one surprised me. A company sought me out because of my experience and education in the AML and fraud space, which was exciting because the requisition wasn’t even open yet. Someone asked for my resume and forwarded it to HR. Within 13 minutes, HR emailed me asking to schedule an interview. They said they weren’t sure how soon the requisition would open but they definitely wanted me to meet with the VP. They scheduled that conversation, it turned out they were opening a role and the interview went well. Afterward HR let me know I was moving forward to the assignment round.

I started working on the assignment and asked a clarifying question about the data. It turned out they wanted me to evaluate everything as of April rather than the current date, which changed my approach enough that I needed to restart. There wasn’t a deadline but I still let them know I would need one additional day. Instead of submitting it the next day, I submitted it the following day. I also had a few people review my work to see whether my reasoning and conclusions made sense to them before turning it in.

Then late on a Saturday, I received an automated rejection. That was the entire follow-up after a company had proactively sought me out, quickly arranged an interview with its VP and asked me to complete an assignment. I have substantial experience with the work the assignment covered, completed it quickly even with the clarification and have done roughly 25 interview assignments over the last two years. Until this one I had never been rejected immediately after the assignment round.

I’m not saying that means my work couldn’t have missed the mark or that I was entitled to move forward. But the sequence feels strange, and I’m left wondering what happened. Did the assignment change their assessment? Had they already decided against moving forward while I was still working on it? Did something change internally? I don’t know, and an automated rejection gives me nothing to work with. Going from being actively recruited before a role was even open to receiving a Saturday rejection after completing their assignment feels like a pretty abrupt shift. This one honestly feels fishy, even though I don’t have enough information to say why.

Hi all! I’ve been so nervous since my interview because this is my dream company, and honestly, just getting the opportunity to interview felt like a big deal to me.
I prepared my ass off, and I felt like 3 out of the 4 interviews went pretty well.

My recruiter said I should hear back by Thursday or Friday, but I haven’t heard anything from them since. I had also emailed the hiring manager after the interview, and although it took a while, they surprisingly replied on Friday with this message:

“Hello Again! Appreciate this note and thank you very much for your interest in the role and for participating. We just met to review the panel feedback after additional interviews yesterday. I will keep you posted, but I’ve heard good things, and we may have you try for one of my other open roles. Stay tuned and have a great weekend!”

I know this sounds somewhat positive, but my anxious brain is reading between the lines and telling me they’ve probably selected someone else for the role I interviewed for, and they might consider me for another position if they don’t find someone else.

I honestly don’t know how to interpret this. Does “I’ve heard good things” mean I’m still in the running, or does mentioning other open roles usually mean they’re leaning toward another candidate for this one?

I know nobody can know for sure, but I’d really appreciate some perspective from anyone who’s been in a similar situation. The waiting and overthinking are killing me! 😭

I spent almost a month going through their hiring process. Four interview rounds, including a panel with the whole team. The final step was a paid take-home project. It was time-consuming, about 6 hours of my weekend. I finished it and submitted on time.

The recruiter said they’d get back to me within one week. One week passed, nothing. I followed up twice, no reply. Total ghosting. I moved on, assumed the role was filled.

Fast forward two months. I get a LinkedIn message from the same recruiter. They act like we never spoke. They ask if I’m interested in this exact same opening again. No apology, no explanation for the radio silence, no mention of the project I already completed.

I replied politely and told them I already did their take-home work and got ghosted. Their response? Just “oh okay, good luck with your search.” That’s it.

What frustrates me most is how normalized this is. They ask candidates to sacrifice personal time, then ignore us. Then they circle back months later like nothing happened.

Has anyone else had recruiters reuse the same job opening and pretend they never ghosted you after a full interview loop? I’m curious how many people have wasted hours on take-home assignments just to get ignored.

Looking for advice on handling an employment history question on a HireRight background check.

I worked in a university research lab for about two years and listed it as a single entry on my resume covering that full span. The reality is more layered:

• First ~10 months(2 semesters): Informal involvement as a student, no appointment, no pay. I was around the lab working with my professor, and did an independent study course with him for one semester as well .
• Next ~12 months: Formal volunteer appointment (I have a department letter covering these exact dates).
• Within that year: Two separate paid spells as a Research Assistant (on payroll, verifiable through the university payroll system).

My plan for the HireRight form is three entries matching the documents exactly: the volunteer appointment plus the two paid spells. Everything ties to a verifying document.

Two questions:

1. Is there a better way to structure this overall on the HireRight form?
2. Mainly: what do I do about the informal ~10 months at the start? Should it be its own entry even though there's no HR or payroll record? I'm worried an entry HireRight can't verify comes back "unable to verify" and looks worse than leaving it off, but I'm also worried the resume showing an earlier start date than the form looks like a discrepancy.

Has anyone dealt with something like this? Did explaining it proactively to the hiring manager help?

Thanks!