u/Sufficient-Web-7484

Mostly a rant because I am so tired of applying for jobs where on paper I am over-qualified (asking for 3-5 years when I have more than 10) but apparently that's not enough. I know so many people are out of work right now and every job app is even more flooded than usual but it's just exhausting.

Getting laid off is always a setback - it means you don't have the luxury of picking a role where you can move up or challenge yourself or grow because you pretty much have to take the first job you can get. So no flashy projects or resume-builders, no title or pay bump, no continuity or obvious career path unless you have tens of thousands of dollars saved up to wait for something good. Nobody has that.

Now I've had the same set back four frickin times and I'm tired. The last time I applied for a job I didn't need (one I actually wanted and was excited about) was in 2018. That job hunt was, not pleasant, but frankly luxurious in comparison. I did a trial day at a job, decided it wasn't a step up for me, and declined it. The job I ended up taking was exciting and challenging and I learned so much from it and it was actually putting me on a great path forward (thanks so much covid for ruining that). And ever since then it's been back-to-back "just stay here long enough that you don't look like a job hopper" and I haven't even been able to get that before another crisis or layoff.

I'm getting interviews, I know my resume is solid, I'm being told by the hiring manager that I'm getting passed over for the randomest stuff (last one was "the office manager component seems like it would bore you" and like yeah it would, work is boring sometimes, and you didn't even include that requirement in the job description). I know I'm great at this job, every manager and mentor I've had has said so, but it's so hard to feel like it's even worth it when I'm struggling like this. And it's so hard to get actually excited about the career again when I'm stuck just looking for a job to get me through.

This sucks. Just needed to get that out of my system <3

Hi! I've been job hunting after being laid off (for the 4th time in a row) and I'm getting a little anxious. Has anyone worked with a recruiter they actually liked? I've been burned before but I'm also feeling a little desperate since it's been over 200 applications and only 2 interviews (I made it to the final round on one so I'm also feeling bummed in general - trying not to let it get to me but it's easier said than done).

I've worked with Clarity LLC in the past but honestly both times I had a terrible experience (first time the recruiter was sending me places where I'd be commuting 3-4 hours a day AND one of her clients spilled to my current boss that I was job hunting. Second time I was given a "contract to perm" role that was actually an indefinite contract role, Clarity was taking a cut as the agency/employer of record, and yet when I got laid off I had to be the one to let Clarity know. They promised I'd be at the top of their list for anything that came in and then I never heard from them again)

I'm based in NYC but have a strong preference for remote work or hybrid with a max of 2 days in-office as I have a chronic condition it's easier to manage without 2 hours of commuting each day - if anyone has worked with a recruiter that specializes in remote roles that would be super helpful!

Hi! I have a screening interview for an EA role tomorrow and want to come prepared with a salary number since I expect they'll ask. I've been in the nonprofit world for a while where salary expectations are much lower, so I'm not sure where I should aim. For context:

• I have 10 years experience as an EA and project manager, including EA to the CEO of a startup for about a year
• It's a health tech company founded in 2019 with millions in funding (Series B) so they're well beyond the "scrappy" phase
• Neither Glassdoor nor Levels.fyi has salary info for an EA role on this org but they listed a senior software engineer as $189k and a marketing associate at $86k if it's possible to extrapolate from those.

I don't want to lowball myself but I also obviously don't want to give a number that's so high it's unrealistic. I was thinking $90k? Would that be reasonable for this kind of role/org in 2026?