r/jobs

My very small team just lost a crucial team member, naturally, the workload has gotten heavier and overwhelming at times.

HR pulled my coworkers in one by one today, thought he was just checking in with us but I was wrong. He spent the entire time telling me that Gen Z feels entitled to money and that we should focus on taking on as much work as possible with no extra money. I understand working hard and seeing reward later down the road but he seemed to be personally offended by my generation.

I expressed feeling overwhelmed but hanging in there and he proceeded to say that he disagreed with my feelings of overwhelm, basically that one person leaving should be seen as an opportunity to take on more work and learn.

He also showed me a graph of what makes an "A player", and told me to focus on improving and giving him and manager a roadmap to becoming a better employee. He concluded by saying "your manager and the sales director don’t have amazing things to say about any of guys so know that you guys aren’t irreplaceable”. He said “I hope you don’t hate me but I figured I’d give you million dollar advice.

I was honestly shocked.. I cried in the bathroom after, I wasn’t even sure why but I felt like turning my passive job search into an active one.

I’m new to the corporate world, please enlighten me. Did I take it all the way wrong? My coworker said he felt no ways about his meeting although we were told the same thing. I’ll get over it but just needed to cry it out first lol

I work a 9-5 office job in person M-F. Almost all of my work is reactionary. I typically get my work done by 9:30. We have an open office space and both my bosses/owners sit in the desks right beside me. I’m not supposed to go on my phone or use my work computer for things besides work. I can’t read or craft etc. the expectation is that I remain busy. Literally what am I supposed to do for 7.5 hours? We have a cleaning lady who comes everyday so I can’t just go clean. I have nothing to organize. I do small tasks when I can like take the trash out, restock TP/paper towels, restock drinks in the fridge… but those don’t need to be done daily. Literally what am I supposed to do- sit here and click around on word documents for 8 hours?

My bosses are fully aware I don’t have much to do. Sometimes they give me the option of leaving early but I’m paid hourly so that’s not always a good choice for me. I’m genuinely asking wtf am I supposed to do besides look for another job (which I won’t be doing so please don’t suggest it)?

I logged into my team meeting this morning like any other day. I usually just throw on a decent shirt since it's just from the waist up. Today was different though. Our manager started the meeting by announcing a new company-wide policy. Apparently, HR decided that to foster a more professional environment, we need a 'business casual' dress code for all virtual meetings.

So now I need to wear button-downs or blouses and slacks or skirts while sitting in my home office. For a job I've been doing remotely for three years. I literally haven't worn anything but sweats or shorts since early 2023. I'm honestly flabbergasted. Do they think this will magically make us more productive? Or is it just another way to assert control?

I just don't get it. We're all hitting our targets and working hard. This feels like such a strange, unnecessary micromanagement move. Anyone else experienced anything like this? I'm debating whether to push back or just start looking for a new job.

I recently moved to a new area and needed to find a new job and it has been seriously frustrating. I have applied every place in town. I call countless times over and over and over and they tell me they will call me back or they’ll look into it and never do. I wear nice clothes, I come in for my interviews, I will have all the qualifications and experience for the job, AND I HAVE NO CRIMINAL RECORD!!!! Am I just ugly or something???? People say nobody wants to work nowadays but nobody will literally hire anyone it’s so frustrating. THEY DON’T EVEN GIVE ME AN ANSWER!! At least say no or something.

I seriously wonder how some of these places even stay open when they’re obviously struggling and have hiring signs everywhere then they don’t do SHIT!!!! You have to apply to 200 places before u even get an interview sometimes. Pittsburgh area needs to seriously get their shit together!!

The position I applied for was with a staffing company partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield. The position seemed legit; the company looks legit. The recruiter went in depth on the role and the hiring process. I saw all green flags until the last part of my phone call, where they wanted the last 5 digits of my SSN.

I declined to do that, and they were understanding. Sent me an email to send it over via DocuSign once I felt comfortable.

Just asking for anyone to confirm if this is something safe and/or common. Especially when it comes to Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Because all of this looks good. Legit company, real position, recruiter went in depth on position, recruiter has a real LinkedIn with their face. I just don't go out handing my SSN numbers when asked, is all.

If anyone could give me some advice, that would be much appreciated.

I recently left a fully remote job I’v had for a couple years. The reason I left the job were sound: there was no more room for advancement, no opportunity for growth in paycheck or title, and yet the workload kept increasing. I loved my team, the flexibility of schedule, being home with my family and fully remote, but I began to get frustrated with the amount of work I was putting in and how it wasn’t reflected in pay or title.
Despite all the pros, I had trouble seeing beyond those cons. Then came a new job opportunity: in-office, more demanding, higher pay, higher title, better company. I debated the decision and when I went to my then company and asked if there was anything they could do to keep me or match and they didn’t, I felt I had my decision. Even if they couldn’t match the offer but could at least offer something, I’d have stayed but the truth is they didn’t make a single effort to keep me and that spoke volumes.

I’m now one month into this new job and all I can think about is what I’ve given up. My husband tells me the gains will eventually reveal themselves but so far, it’s all loss. Loss of autonomy, loss of freedom, loss of personal time for my own creative projects, loss of time with family, loss of interest in my work. I’m so upset with myself. I wake up and wonder how I could have done this to myself? Why I gave up a situation that afforded me freedom and flexibility to trudge back to the corporate world and office space? I look back now and wonder, were those cons in the old job really that bad?

I’m told to hang in there. Wait until 3 months or 6 months and reassess. Don’t live and die by the job if I decide it’s not a fit. But I’ve always been the kind of person to care too much (if I wasn’t, I’d have stayed in my old job and just coasted).

I don’t know how to deal with this. It’s a champagne problem and one I’m embarrassed to confide in friends living paycheck to paycheck. There are people with harder and more time-consuming work, I’m embarrassed to tell family that I feel overwhelmed. It’s a matter of perspective I know (it’s temporary, not a permanent situation) and yet I wake up feeling so frustrated with myself about this decision and dreading my work. I could quit but I’m afraid of quitting a high profile job after just one month.

And so I turn to you, dear strangers. What would you do?

Just wanted to express my thanks to this guy for the helpful write-up. It's steadily bringing in around $165 a day for me. Full info is available on profile: [ usernameeeeee12 ]

I’m 24F and I’ve never had a job before, so I’ve never really had a boss or worked in a professional environment. Honestly, I can be pretty clumsy and disorganized sometimes. I’m trying to work on myself, though.

I recently got my first job as an administrative assistant, and I feel incredibly lucky. I’m actually excited because I know this job will teach me how to be more organized, responsible, and confident. I’ll be working directly under the business manager, which is also what makes me so nervous.

During the interview, I think I made a really good impression, and they want to move forward with hiring me. The manager told me that she is currently going through cancer treatment. Her doctors have told her that she should be okay, but she needs someone to help her manage the day-to-day responsibilities of the business. She said she wants me to help her with pretty much everything.
I’m genuinely honored that she trusts me enough to give me this opportunity, but now I’m terrified.
I keep thinking, What if she realizes I’m not as capable as she thought I was? What if I make a bunch of mistakes? What if I let her down when she already has so much going on?

I haven’t even started yet, and I’m already worrying that I’m going to fail her. Part of me almost wants to quit before I even start so she doesn’t have to find out how inexperienced and clumsy I am.

I know this probably sounds irrational, but this is my first job and I really want to do well. How do you get over this fear when starting your first job? And what can I do to make sure I’m actually useful and reliable to my manager?

It's in person, so not a scam. Thank you so much!

I know this career will never make me rich, but it's like these employers want their staff living on the street alongside the people I'm paid to help get off the street.

I’ve been applying to jobs everywhere (because if I do get the job I have intentions on moving there). Also the job market for IT where I am is non existent. I got laid off last year. When I started the job I got laid off at I made 65k, and when I got promoted I made 70k (this was in a no state income tax state). The job that wants to interview me, doesn’t want to do a virtual interview because people been using ai and he believes this is the best way to combat that. So he wants me to drive 10 hours (20 there and back home) for a job that the highest pay is 57k and the lowest is 41k. The job doesn’t even offer relocation (my previous employer did). I feel like the job title or responsibilities would help me in the future for jobs… but idk if it’s worth almost a $300 road trip and I only have 3k left in my bank account. That’s like over 1k in mileage on my car as well. And this job is not in a big city either, it’s a college town, so I would have to leave once I get my experience because the college is the huge employer in that area. I have money for relocation, not relocation and job interview roadtrips (the money I have for relocation I can’t access immediately, so it can’t be used for the road trip). Is it worth it to go?

Update: I forgot to add that interviewer moved from out of state for his job and I asked how long would I have if I received the job and relocate. He said that he would be willing and flexible to work with the right candidate. So idk if that will change y’all’s opinion

I just want to know what actually is working for everyone who are job hunting (in USA)? So far, I’ve tried direct applications through company portals, reaching out to people on LinkedIn, cold emailing, contacting legit staffing agencies that help with contract and contract-to-hire positions, different job boards, and a few other things.
All these things and I still haven't had much luck. For those of you who are actually getting interviews, what’s working for you?

I just started a new job in June. I’m working with developmentally challenged individuals. Training them for jobs. I love helping people and making a difference. And it can feel rewarding.

I work with all women in my office and I didn’t think that would be an issue. I’m a guy and I like working with women have in past jobs. For some reason in a lot of these human services type jobs, they seem to be female dominated. 

I get along with female coworkers and will use my sense of humor. They’ll like my jokes and kind nature. Unfortunately with this new job, these women have gotten rude and bossy and untrusting. I want to trust who I work with but I really feel like I have to watch my back here. 

I also have an older female coworker making comments to me in front of these people we are helping. She also makes blatant sexist comments. Last week she said men don’t have a brain. Aloud. My desk is next to hers. It’s an open office I share with the ladies. I was like what the heck in my head. 

I said nothing like sexism in the morning sarcastically. Can we have a positive morning?  She didn’t say anything. I walked out of the room and made a phone call to one of the individuals I pick up. She also said this comment with my supervisor in the room. 

I couldn’t believe it. She didn’t care. I guess she doesn’t love me being a guy there. It doesn’t make it okay with how she acts. She’s been making rude and condescending comments to me. Also trying to boss me around and correct her. I’ve had to be firm with her. She’s not my survivor or any higher level than me. 

She started a month earlier than me. Just because she’s older, I guess she thinks she knows it all and will give her piece to you. I don’t even ask. I don’t think she likes that our supervisor is younger. She’s made comments about her. She complains a lot and has a negative attitude. I don’t want to be around it. One of these ladies also complained about me for some reason and tried to get written up. 

I spoke with my head supervisor and she could see from my face I was being honest with what I was telling her. I told her all about the comments. She waived the write-up and we had a Zoom meeting the next day with her boss. I didn’t think this would go to that level.

She’s still making comments and my supervisors said to keep them updated. They expected she would. If she ends up losing her job, that’s her own fault. I didn’t do anything wrong to these women. I just want to do my job. What’s the point in creating this atmosphere?

Others I talked to about this said working with all women is never a good thing. I’ve had positive experiences in the past but also negative. This one lady and the other older woman in my office don’t even always get along. It’s usually over dumb things. My supervisors are now moving me to another department. Hopefully it’s better. 

So I accepted a senior analyst role two weeks ago. Signed the contract, put in my two weeks at my old company, and submitted all my documents to their third-party screening vendor. I got married two years ago and took my husband's last name, so I made sure to upload our official marriage certificate and my updated Social Security card directly into their portal on day one.

yesterday morning I get an automated email from the screening company marking my file as "high risk" for fraudulent credentials. The vendor flagged my entire bachelor's degree and four years of prior work history as unverified because my diploma and older tax records are under my maiden name. Their automated scraper just ignored the marriage certificate I attached to the original submission.

When I called their customer service line, the representative told me that their system does not process name-change attachments if the initial match fails. She told me I need to contact my university registrar and ask them to re-issue my 2017 degree under my married name so their software can scan it properly. That is literally not how university records work.

Now the hiring manager has pushed my start date back by two weeks with zero pay while compliance reviews the case. I should of just kept my maiden name professionally, but this whole system is ABSOLUTELY ridiculous. Has anyone dealt with this kind of automated vendor glitch before, and how did you get actual human eyes on your documents?

So my previous employer was a complete nightmare. Toxic environment micromanagement the works. I ended up quitting without another job lined up just to save my sanity. Now I'm in interviews and they always ask why I left. I don't want to badmouth my old boss obviously. But saying I quit because it was bad sounds unprofessional. Should I just make up a story like I moved or something?