u/Pee_A_Poo

I was laid off from my job of 8+ years as a environmental data analyst in January. After 5 months of exhausting job search in frankly the worst job market I’ve ever seen, I finally landed 2 offers.

On one hand, I got a PhD scholarship in data science for 60k a year. I’ve always wanted a PhD as a child but as a first-gen university-goer with ADHD, it didn’t seem possible. It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

On the other hand, I have a job offer. It’s a horizontal move from my last job with the exact same title and pay about the same (90-100k). It’s hard to feel excited about it, in the context of all these seemingly random mass layoffs. Under this job market, having a new job doesn’t even guarantee short-term security.

Pros:
- it is my dream and my heart tells me to do it
- a PhD in data science from a top100 university in the world is bound to open doors.
- I’ll have 3 years to build connections.
- My partner is willing to cover for my reduced income.

Cons:
- I’m already “overqualified” for many jobs I apply for, with a master’s degree.
- My income will be slashed from 100k to 60k for 3 years.
- There is never any guarantee that you can finish a PhD.

What would you do?

As titled. 35M married gaysian living in Europe with homophobic family back home in Asia.

I went no contact 3 years ago after my father’s death, and my extended family harassing me to move back to the point of indirectly getting me fired due to the harassment.

I’ve since rebuilt my life and career. I feel really bad for my mother, who cannot take care of herself emotionally (she can afford to hire a live-in caretaker but chooses to guilt trip me instead). But I don’t see myself having a happy life with her in it.

I’m going back to school to do a PhD in data science. I’ve always wanted to earn a PhD but family expectations discouraged me from it (they only cared about money). My mother always called me lazy and an underachiever. So I wanted to show her she was wrong.

What should I do? Should I just temporarily unblock her from my phone and send an SMS? I don’t expect a congratulations or anything. But I’d like some closure since our last conversation ended with me unemployed and distressed.

Has anyone been shortlisted but never got to interview stage? How was your experience and did you end up getting it?

One school I’m applying to has 2 rounds of shortlisting. I got through the first round 3 months ago, and second round 3 weeks ago.

The professor there who would be my supervisor told me that they are sending out interview invites next week, and asked me if I got it. I didn’t. So I emailed the coordinator and received no response (it’s only been a day).

I have an upcoming final interview at another programme at a difficult faculty, same school and may receive a decision soon. This other faculty went from shortlisting to final interview (there were 2) in under a month.

The fact that they take their sweet time like this is really anxiety-inducing :(

No shade just want/need to vent.

I’ve been laid off from my senior analyst/controller job for 4 months. My 6 month’s severance is running out and I am an expat required to find a job by end of the year. So I’ve been looking for jobs I’m overqualified for just to be able to stay in the country.

This is a 12-month temp job that requires 2-4 years of experience. I went and had a positive interview. They were concerned about me being “too skilled” because my tech tool kit is more than required. I explained honestly that I wanted to be in the industry and company and they seemed happy with my answer.

The hiring manager called me to give rejection, gave positive feedback, and even added me on LinkedIn. I moved on from it.

1 month later, I found out who got the job. She is part of my network. She only had one job in our field for 6 months and was laid off 6 months ago.

I had 2 LinkedIn conversations with her. She reached out because I had a small LinkedIn following in our field. The first when she was graduating and asking for advice her breaking into the industry; the second when she got laid off and was uncertain about the future.

I’m genuinely happy for her. But at the same time, I can’t help but feeling really sad about my own situation.

I understand that European companies will prefer someone local than an expat but I speak the language, am married to a local, and have a full working permit. The only other advantage I can think of that she has over me is that she requires less pay.

Either way it doesn’t bode well for my prospects. It was just such a hit to my self-esteem.

When boomers say “why don’t you get any job to stay afloat”, this is why. I am willing to take any job. But can’t get hired.

Unemployed since 2 Jan. 2 master degrees (MSc + MA) plus 8 YOE in my field. 150+ applications, 15+ interviews later, still no offer.

I ask for feedback after each rejection and it’s almost always some variation of,

“We have PhDs applying for this temp position”

Or

“You’re oVeRqUaLiFiEd”

My partner booked us one week in Paris for his birthday, which, being on holiday while unemployed and not having any pocket money to spend crashed me with guilt and shames. I ended up taking 4 job interviews while in Paris. So I barely even left my hotel room.

Each interview ended with me feeling a crushing sense of self-doubt and dread.

I use Claude to help me rehearse answers. I feel that I’m a better interviewee than I’ve ever been. But I’m just not getting offers and I don’t know what else I can do to improve my chances.

Just like how I did such a good job that my manager promised me a promotion in Dec, and still got laid off the next week. I show up and do everything correct. And I still don’t/won’t get the job.

Being unemployed has completely sucked any joy out of my life and I honestly hate me right now.