Original thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/jobs/comments/1w3tq3i/started_a_job_two_weeks_ago_now_being_pulled_in/

Well, I just received the call.

The director told me that I've made essentially no progress since I started. I have between 4-6 weeks of total training time, but after 6 shifts, I was let go. The people who mentioned I was fired were unfortunately correct.

I told him that I've been seeing patients on my own, and all the feedback I've received was overwhelming positive. He told me that they ultimately report back to him, and that's not what they told him (this right here is a HUGE red flag for me.)

I'm just so shocked. On my first day, I was told that the expectation was for me to do nothing and just observe. By the end of the first day, I was seeing patients on my own already. During my last few shifts, I saw more patients than my trainers did. My trainers sat on their cell phones browsing tiktok.

Welp, blessing in disguise. I'm happy to answer any questions.

I'm 25 years old and I currently work a sales job that pays really well but it's a dead end. You don't learn anything, you don't get challenged to grow, you're not doing anything. It's a zombie's job.

I show up to work, I check-in and I take a quick 10 minutes to do an inventory report and after that... Nothing. That's it. Customers barely come in and when they do, they already know exactly what they want so they buy and leave in 30 seconds. I don't have to actually do anything until my shift's over and I go home so I spend the entire 9 hours just on my phone.

I've seen every movie, I've watched every TV show, every anime, played a ton of games, I also walk a lot in the store too I have like 10,000+ steps a day purely from work cuz I don't wanna sit down (I have too much energy).

And it all sounds like heaven right? Get paid more than any other sales job in the entire city just to sit and chill? But.... I'm not happy.

The shifts are absolutely terrible. It's a rotation it changes every 1-2 weeks but 90% of the time my shifts are 2pm - 11pm and other times 3pm - 12AM. So I get home very late at night and I go to sleep and wake up late, like before lunch type of wake up. So I don't actually have a personal life, I go to work, I come back home and sleep, I wake up and eat something and I go back to work.

Aside from the fact that I don't have any personal time to do anything, I'm also not learning anything. I have so much energy and motivation to grow and learn stuff that will improve my character and skills but this job is a dead end.

On one hand I wanna leave and go to a new job, even if it's a startup I don't mind I just wanna learn something and create a future for myself. But on the other hand my salary is far too good for me to quit, especially in this bad job market I'm not sure if I'll ever get paid like this again and i regret it.

I'm stuck and I need some advice from you guys on what to do.

Just started this job last month, my first ever corporate job. I make a coffee every morning using the coffee machine and provided k-cups and creamers. One k-cup, one creamer and I use milk I bring in every week along with sugar I bought that I keep at my desk. I was called in by the floor manager (not my manager) and he essentially told me I was using up the company provided materials too quickly and it is not typical to drink a coffee every single morning. Am I tripping?

Edit: Thank you everyone for your feedback and reassurance. I am a bit overwhelmed by it all so sorry I’m not replying to much but I also don’t want to disappoint everyone but I will not be reporting it or even telling my boss, I’m sorry😔. I don’t imagine my boss having anything to say that would make this situation better and I think it would just be unnecessary trouble. I do not want to be seen as someone who picks problems with people for small things. I will be bringing my own k-cups & creamers from now on as well as documenting my interactions with him (which is literally just this one interaction since we do not cross paths at all). I just started and don’t plan on making any issues or any moves now or ever. I need this job more than anything right now so I’m willing to look the other way since I’m not in the position at the moment to make any demands. Thank you to everyone again!

I'm 30 and somewhere along the way my job became something I just mechanically complete every day. If someone looked at my job from the outside they'd probably tell me I have nothing to complain about.

That's partly why I'm confused.

I've been with the same company for almost 6 years and I used to actually care about what we were doing. I'd have ideas, disagree with decisions, volunteer for things. Now I mostly do what's asked, close the laptop and collect the paycheck. In meetings I've noticed I barely even have an opinion anymore.

I can't tell whether I've simply outgrown this particular job or whether this is what work eventually becomes once the novelty wears off.

I've thought about looking elsewhere. I think what I'm struggling with is figuring out what actually needs to change before I start changing things.

For people who have experienced this, did changing companies help, changing roles, changing careers or was the answer somewhere outside work entirely?

Is anyone else completely fucking exhausted by the job application process? Because this shit has gone way beyond ridiculous.
I’m 20 years old, trying to find a job in Florida, and I genuinely cannot understand how we got to a point where applying for a basic entry-level or minimum-wage job requires this much fucking work. None of this feels normal. None of this feels reasonable. And honestly, none of this feels right. You’re not just applying for a job anymore—you’re being dragged through an entire fucking gauntlet before a company will even consider looking at you. You create an account. You make a password. You verify your email. You enter your information. Then you have to enter the exact same information AGAIN manually, even though your résumé is sitting right there. Then comes the personality assessment. Then another assessment. Then questions that make you feel like you’re being psychologically dissected for a job that pays barely above minimum wage. Then sometimes they want a fucking video interview before you’ve even spoken to an actual human being. And after you spend all that time doing everything they demanded, you get to sit there and wait for an “update” that may never come.
And then you have to do it all over again.
And again.
And again.
For every fucking company.
You go on Indeed. You search Google. You ask AI. You look everywhere you possibly can, and half the listings either pay like shit, have ridiculous requirements, are already filled, seem completely inactive, or look like fucking ghost jobs. Some listings make it seem like companies are desperately hiring, but then you apply and disappear into some automated black hole where nobody ever contacts you. And somehow, after all of this, you’re still expected to believe that if you’re struggling to find work, the problem must be that you’re “not trying hard enough.” How much harder are people supposed to fucking try? Applying to jobs has practically become a job in itself—except you don’t get paid for doing it.
What makes me especially angry is that companies are asking people to jump through increasingly ridiculous hoops for positions that are not even offering life-changing money. We are talking about ordinary jobs. Entry-level jobs. Jobs where people are simply trying to earn a paycheck, support themselves, gain experience, and get their fucking lives moving. Why does someone need to complete multiple assessments, personality tests, automated screenings, and sometimes a video interview just to have a chance at a basic job? Why does every company need a completely different account, application system, password, assessment, and process? Why does applying for work have to consume this much time, energy, and mental capacity?
At some point, this stops feeling like a reasonable hiring process and starts feeling fucking absurd. It feels like applicants are being forced to prove themselves over and over and over again before they’re even allowed through the front door. And the worst part is that there are real people on the other side of these applications who are exhausted, broke, stressed, desperate to work, and just trying to find something that pays enough to live. People are spending hours applying for jobs and getting absolutely nothing back.
I’m fucking tired of it. I’m tired of re-entering the same information. I’m tired of making new accounts. I’m tired of verifying emails. I’m tired of personality tests. I’m tired of assessments. I’m tired of video interviews for jobs that shouldn’t require them. I’m tired of applying to jobs that look legitimate only to wonder whether anyone is even hiring for them. I’m tired of wasting hours of my life just to receive an automated rejection—or worse, absolutely nothing.
This entire system feels fucking broken. And I refuse to believe I’m the only person who is completely mentally and emotionally exhausted by it. Because at this point, I’m not even asking for some dream career. I’m asking for a fucking job, a decent paycheck, and a fair opportunity to work. Why has even that become this goddamn difficult?

This is some additional info to my previous post about the interviewer asking for my salary history in California, and then telling me, “I’m probably more American than you” after I told him employers in CA aren’t supposed to ask that.

My previous post ➡️ https://www.reddit.com/r/recruitinghell/s/frgnFeWXOy

During the interview, he kept asking who I had sold to, what distributors I knew, what trade shows I had attended. Names. He wanted names.
When I mentioned a specific trade show where I had met big box buyers, he immediately wrote it down. That was actually the only time I saw him take notes during the entire interview.

Then he kept asking me about different supermarkets’ margins.
I told him I don’t know their actual margins. I only had pricing for different customer tiers. Retailers have retail pricing, distributors have distributor pricing. That doesn’t mean I know exactly what margin every customer is making.
Then he said something like, “You sold to 99 Ranch. If you go to 99 Ranch and look at their selling price, you should be able to figure out their margin.”

WTF. Since when does a job interview require the candidate to go figure out a potential employer’s customer margin?
At that point it really started feeling less like an interview and more like free market research.

I’m not saying I know for sure the job was fake. Maybe they really are hiring. But I’m 100% sure he was also using the interview to get market info from me.

This is the second Chinese company I’ve dealt with in the last few months where the interview felt like this. Constant questions about customer names, distributors, pricing, market info, contacts.
Basically treating applicants like free market consultants.

I also emailed their corporate offices in China/Hong Kong and told them exactly what happened and what the interviewer said. No response. Not even an acknowledgment of receipt.
So whatever. The company is Master Kong 康師傅.

If you ever interview with them for a U.S. market role, just know what you may be walking into.

28 and been unemployed for over a year and have a B.A and M.A and can't get much. despite applying and even going to recruiters

had 2 interviews this year and both rejections and one was an internship and depressed as what the hell is wrong with me that I can't get an internship

I feel like my 20s are wasted due to this as peers advance around me as I stagnate

I’ve been unemployed for 16 months (personal stuff happened, not getting into details. Any inquires about it I will not answer). I am a software engineer I was in the field for 5 years. I feel like I am kinda screwed, as I am starting to get back into applying for jobs. I’ve heard this process takes like a year, so imagine if that goes well I’ll be 28 months without a job. That’s almost 3 years. There’s no way I’m getting another job right? Like it’s just not happening? I mean a job in my field, sure I can probably get something at mcdonald’s. I’d love to be a software engineer again, but I don’t know if that’s possible anymore.

I've been thinking about leaving my job due to some personal reasons for a while now, but I've ran into a hiccup.

I'm on a two person team doing monthly regulatory work for a highly regulated company. Used to be three people, but there was 'no more budget' to replace the second person. The work legally has to be done for the company to operate. I'm a "Key Person" risk.

My manager, the other person on the team, has put in their own two weeks for their own reasons and is serving it out. I don't have the capacity to take on their work (which is the straw that's encouraged me to finally put in my resignation).

My timing is the problem, and I'm probably overthinking it. I'd like to get them through this upcoming month.

I've been with the company for over a decade, and have a good working relationship with my manager's manager. They've gone out of my way to make exceptions and give me benefits others don't have. I'd like to give them as much as time as possible to look for a new person or hire a temp since I'm leaving this critical dept empty. But on the other hand, a two-week 'not my circus, not my monkeys, shoulda given me that third person' is a strong thought.

Advice? Anyone else resigned while being the last man standing?

Edit to add: I'm not leaving to another job - I have over a year's savings and I'm not concerned about future employment prospects in my field. Also my SO will still be working full-time and has our health insurance and is supportive of the change. Burnout is just one reason I'm leaving but not the full picture and the rest are not related to work.

I want to give them time to figure things out, but I don't want to be shadowed for a whole month.

Edit 2: Lmao, genuinely appreciate everyone knocking some sense into my head! I knew I was overthinking it, but I needed y'all's objective voices to help me see through the fog. Please keep yelling at me for both myself and anyone else who ends up in my position or a similar one in the future.

Edit 24h: This has gotten way more attention than I expected. But seriously, thank you each and every one of you for taking the time to comment and being in my corner. I've been reading every comment and I'm taking it all to heart.

I really struggle with vague interview questions.

I promise I'm a really good worker once hired, but I can still never seem to get past the interview. (Only have a job because some place was desperate, and then they are surprised to find I produce good numbers).

But when Im asked a vague generic question, it's hard for me to not give a vague generic answer.

Question: how would you solve a problem?

My brain's first thought: by solving it.

Question: how would you handle a difficult situation with a coworker?

My brain's first thought: I would handle it. (How I would handle it depends on the type of situation)

I know they want examples of situations from the past, but my brain just freezes up with these generic answers, scrambling for an example of a situation.

Question: tell me of a time when you had to handle a difficult coworker?

Answer: theres this one team lead at my current job that hates me for no reason, and sets double standards. I just do the task anyway.

Maybe the problem is, I just don't have a big emotional reaction to most situations. I'm kinda just used to being treated like shit by coworkers and leads sometimes, and I just suck it up and do my job anyway. It's not my job to handle a lead with an attitude, so I just ignore it basically.

I guess all I can tell them is, I'm just chill. I don't really show a reaction if someone decides they want to be an ass. That's their problem not mine.

I probably went a little off topic. (Also might be AuDHD, Autistic+ADHD).

Question is, how do I answer these vague questions without giving vague answers?

And it's hard for me to plan ahead and script answers for later, because my brain just freezes up and I forgot everything I was going to say because of my anxiety in job interviews.

First corporate job ever. Looking for tips to make life in the office and in general better. Thanks!

Hi all,

I started a healthcare job recently at a local outpatient facility. I'm almost halfway through my training period and I've received nothing but positive feedback from my coworkers and my manager.

However, I just received text from my director instructing me to not come in this week until I receive a phone call from him because he wants to "go over some things." I told him "sure! Is everything okay?" and he just said "yes".

My anxiety is eating me alive and I don't know if I can sleep tonight. I don't think I've done anything wrong, and my coworkers told me if I ever did, the director would just pull me into his office and let me know. No one has heard of being told not to come to work pending a conversation with the director.

Just wanted to vent this out. I'm shaking from anxiety.

I start orientation tomorrow at my new, much needed, job! Since I got the call with the job offer, onboarding process and schedule given I’ve felt more excited than nervous, however first orientation day is tomorrow and the nerves have arrived.

Thankfully, maybe lol, my husband said many of our coworkers have started working there since the other plant shut down earlier this year.

It is a warehouse job which I think is where I do well in. It didn’t inform me on what to wear, I did ask about safety shoes and my composite toe boots arrive today. I don’t know what basic but appropriate thing to wear is but I believe they will also have a shirt & pants that go over our clothes like my former job did. So I’m trying not to panic there.

I feel like I’m gonna make a fool of myself. It’s a must for me to ask questions that’s how I learn a lot. When I got the call back with the job offer they said they were impressed with my attention to detail which has come from asking a lot of questions about what I’m learning😅

I’m in my mid 20s, I don’t think I should feel nervous but it’s new people and maybe some I haven’t seen in over 2 years from my former job.

How do I combat some of these nerves? I am so excited for this opportunities nonetheless

I've been unemployed for multiple years and despite volunteering I can't seem to get a job. To make matters worse I have a physical disability and can't go into the trades. Is it worth doing like a certificate for medical billing and coding or something?

hi everyone! so aritzia is currently hiring ahead of the holiday season and i had my interview on Wednesday. it was a hiring event so a lot of girls were getting interviewed at the same time. unfortunately it didn’t seem well planned bc there were supposed to be three rounds of interviews but the hiring team was too busy and i only ended up interviewing with two people.

the second person literally took 2mins with me after spending longer with the candidate right before me (literally sitting next to me on the couch so i was like why is she so short with me?) and then told all of us the third person wouldn’t have time to speak with us bc she had a conference call:/

i was told id get an answer by email on Monday EOD. however i haven’t received anything and the careers website still shows assessment in progress.

for anyone who has gone thru the hiring process, especially recently, should i follow up with an email by the end of the week or just accept the L?

I’m just curious cuz I’m an anxious person. I wish I knew someone to help me practice so I turn to AI to help me but idk if it’s actually effective. Has anyone successfully landed an interview from practicing with ChatGPT or other chatbots?

For almost a year I've worked at this place and I don't talk to anyone. There have been three people who have said more than a few words to me and they're gone.

I work in a department with maybe 10 people and then everyone else in the facility. They don't speak to me and walk past me. If I get asked a question relating to work then that's my only interaction for the day.

The person who was supposed to train me doesn't want to give me all of my responsibilities and never trained me properly, just half-assed. When there's a problem she'll throw me under the bus. My supervisor doesn't supervise and just takes her word.

I've been wanting to quit for awhile but they kept convincing me to stay. But I think I'm done now lol I can't take it anymore. I've saved up 10k to pay my rent and I'm going to keep looking in the meantime. I know I'm supposed to find a job before switching but my mental health is suffering majorly. I don't even get off in time to go to a therapist.

You know how at the end of an application, you always have to answer questions about your race and if you're a veteran and whatnot?

Well, I always click "prefer not to answer."

Would it benefit me to explicitly say I don't have any disabilities? Does it make a difference that I'm just a boring white guy or that I'm not a veteran? Would it make a difference if I were a veteran?

I also never agree to receiving texts or to follow them on LinkedIn or any of that other annoying stuff.

I'm just trying to figure out if this is the reason I always get rejected or ghosted or if I'm really just that horrible of an applicant.

For people who work crazy hours (think 60-100 hour weeks), what are your tips for surviving it?

I’m starting a new job in a couple of weeks, and it sounds like most employees put in around 70-80 hours a week. My previous job was more like 30-40 hours, so this is going to be a pretty big adjustment.

I’m being compensated well, so I have no complaints about the hours themselves. My goal is to perform well and be successful in the role, so I’m curious: what are some practical tips for managing a workload like this without completely burning yourself out and performing well?

For context, I’m 22F. I just recently graduated college with a degree in education - specifically, secondary social studies education, and a minor in sociology.

Over the summer, I took a job opportunity with my local school district I graduated from. It was a nice little gig, I made decent money from it, and all I really had to do was come up with activities to keep a small group of 11 and 12 year olds entertained. Ended up landing a job subbing in the district from it, even though I haven’t picked up any shifts yet with it being the beginning of the school year and all.

I wanted to use my free time through subbing as a means of getting my foot in the door and landing a full-time teaching job at said district. But now, I’m not so sure that’s what I want to do anymore.

I know I want to work in a school, or some kind of learning environment, but I don’t necessarily want to be a teacher. Hence, why I’ve come here. I’m currently trying to apply for some counseling or secretarial jobs, but the whole process seems overwhelming and tedious. Add to that, I don’t have regular access to a car, which complicates my ability to find full-time work. I just hate sitting around the house and feeling like I’m contributing nothing towards society.

Been debating about talking to my aunt, who owns a restaurant, and picking up evening or weekend shifts just so I have something going on in the meantime when I’m not subbing. Hopefully maybe that can be sustainable enough until I’m able to find more permanent work that’s relevant to what I want to do.

Is this a good plan going forward? Should I wait and see how I feel about subbing before I try jumping into something else?

I got an interview for a part time lead generator/brand ambassador job as I’ve been studying marketing and have experience in event planning (I would freelance under an LLC since I’ve been out of work for almost a year).

The job is for an HVAC company and I’ve done a similar job for a different HVAC company before for less pay.

They hired me on the spot. That didn’t surprise because of the nature of the position, but I also wonder if it was a red flag.

The company itself seems to have 50-200 employees and when I explained my experience to the DM he started talking about positions in marketing I could move up to when I graduated.

I got a shirt, filled out background check paperwork, was shown the materials I’d be working with, and explained how I’d be setting up to generate leads at networking events.

I am thinking, considering the size and nature of the events I’d be working at, that this would also be a good way of demonstrating my skills and networking personally. I’m very personable and know how to communicate well, I’ve just been struggling to even get an interview.

I just am concerned with how fast I was hired on. Did they really like me or are they desperate? The company itself is expanding out to nearby states so I’d imagine it’s a bit of both…

Either way, I need the work so I will stay put. But what are some things I should be looking for?

After a grueling month-long process and 3 interviews later, I am doing my final interview at a retail store that I applied for. I was originally told the process goes as: in person interview, district manager interview, and HR interview. However, after following up after my last conversation, I’m now meeting the store manager for the set location I applied for.

i’m curious what people interpret a final IN PERSON interview as? For context, I’ve had to follow up after every interview for a response. I have high hopes but at the same time, I’m not sure if I have it in the bag just yet... how should I interpret this? Do most employers bring multiple people to the final round and then decide from there?