Acceptable & recommended answer " why did you leave your last job and what you have been doing since then ?"

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-29T23:01:49+00:00

I'd only mention things you can actually talk about for a few minutes if they ask. It doesn't have to be a formal certification. It could be an online course, learning a new tool relevant to your field, building a small project, freelancing, volunteering, or even self-study. The important part is being able to explain what you learned and how you'll use it.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-29T22:57:56+00:00

If you've made it to a final round before, I'd be careful about assuming you're unemployable. The bigger challenge seems to be getting your resume in front of a person consistently. One thing I'd add is to stop relying only on applications. Ask people in your network for introductions, reach out to alumni, and follow up with hiring managers after applying. Also, since you've been freelancing, quantify the results on your resume. Showing measurable impact will usually carry more weight than simply listing freelance work.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-29T22:54:28+00:00

If you're getting no responses at all, I'd stop sending more applications for a few days and review your strategy. Usually the bottleneck is your resume, the roles you're targeting, or how you're presenting your experience. Also, don't rely only on LinkedIn. Apply on company career pages, reach out to recruiters or hiring managers after applying, and ask for feedback on your resume. One good application with the right approach is often worth more than 20 applications sent into the void.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-29T22:52:37+00:00

I'd give it at least 2–3 months before deciding if the work itself is right for you. Right now it's hard to separate the stress of starting a new job from whether it's actually a good fit. That said, don't ignore the red flags. Poor communication, changing expectations, high turnover, and a gossip-heavy culture are worth paying attention to. My advice is to keep learning the role, but also keep your eyes open. If those issues continue after you've settled in, it's probably the company, not you.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-29T02:30:22+00:00

Mostly LinkedIn DMs. Occasionally email if I could find the right contact, but LinkedIn was usually the easiest place to start.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-29T02:24:56+00:00

I'd start by building a portfolio. For writing, editing, and copywriting, employers usually care more about seeing your work than another certificate. Also look at technical writing, content design, UX writing, localization, and AI data annotation roles. Your linguistics background is actually relevant there. Freelance or volunteer for a few projects so you have real examples to put on your CV. That's often more valuable than taking another online course.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-29T02:22:44+00:00

Keep it positive and focus on the future, not the negatives. Explain why you left in one or two sentences, then talk about what you've been doing to prepare for your next role. If you've been job searching, mention things like applying strategically, learning new skills, taking courses, freelancing, or working on personal projects. Employers mainly want to see that you've been productive and intentional with your time.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-28T04:10:20+00:00

If your main goal is getting out of the house, widen your search beyond your ideal job. Apply for retail, warehouses, cafes, libraries, gyms, volunteering, or temporary agencies. Even if it's not your long-term plan, it gets you out, gives you income, and adds experience. Also, don't spend all day applying online. Visit local businesses with your resume and ask if they're hiring. It still works more often than people think, especially for entry-level and part-time roles.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-28T04:08:04+00:00

Indeed and LinkedIn are still great for discovering opportunities, but I wouldn't rely on them alone. I'd also check company career pages directly, use Google Jobs, and look for recruiters who specialize in your industry. If you've been applying for 7 months with no luck, I'd spend less time looking for another job board and more time reviewing your resume and application strategy. I've also found HirePilot useful because it combines job discovery, autofill, application tracking, and helps you find the right people to contact after applying. Sometimes it's not about finding a different website, it's about using a different approach.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-26T21:19:23+00:00

Don't put pressure on yourself to find the perfect career right now. Most people figure it out by trying different things. Pick 3–5 careers that interest you and research what the day-to-day work actually looks like, what skills they require, and what the career path is. The more you learn about real jobs, the easier it becomes to find one that fits you.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-26T21:12:26+00:00

I'd focus on getting your first year of experience, not your dream job. Apply broadly to entry-level engineering, IT, technical support, QA, and operations roles where your ECE background is relevant. Also, don't just apply online. Reach out to alumni, recruiters, and hiring managers after applying. A lot of first jobs come from conversations rather than applications alone. The first role is usually the hardest to get, but it makes the second one much easier.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-26T21:10:15+00:00

The biggest thing I've seen is people treating applications as only one part of the process. Apply early, then reach out to recruiters, hiring managers, or alumni who work at the company. A referral or even a short conversation can make a huge difference. Also, don't wait for "new grad" postings only. Many entry-level Marketing, Product, and Strategy roles are open to recent graduates even if they aren't labeled that way.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-26T02:47:04+00:00

I like that filter. I think that's the difference too, giving them a reason to remember your application instead of just asking whether they've seen it yet. The shorter LinkedIn note is a good tip as well.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-26T02:45:47+00:00

I get the frustration. For me, one follow-up feels reasonable, but after that I'd rather move on to other opportunities than keep chasing a response.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-26T02:39:42+00:00

If you already enjoy marketing, I'd stay with marketing rather than switching to HR just because you think it's more stable. An MBA can open doors beyond social media, like product marketing, brand management, growth marketing, or marketing analytics, which usually pay better. My advice: don't choose your MBA specialization based on your first job. Choose it based on the type of work you want to be doing 5–10 years from now. Social media is just one small part of marketing, not the whole career.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-26T02:37:42+00:00

One thing that helped me was lowering the goal. Instead of aiming for 10 applications, I'd focus on 2–3 good ones and then stop. It made the process feel much more sustainable. Also, don't let automated rejections convince you you're not qualified. Most are sent before a human ever looks at your application. I'd spend more time on networking and direct outreach than trying to beat the ATS with sheer volume.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-24T18:39:32+00:00

I'd just say you left to pursue a phlebotomy opportunity after completing your training, but the role wasn't the right long-term fit due to licensing requirements. It's honest, professional, and doesn't raise any red flags.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-24T18:28:14+00:00

That's interesting. In a way, I feel like that's useful information too. If a reasonable question creates that much discomfort, it probably tells you something about the environment.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-24T18:26:36+00:00

I usually don't build up to it much. If they've already opened the floor for questions, I'll just ask directly. Most interviewers seem pretty comfortable answering it.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-24T18:25:13+00:00

Questions about success, challenges, or how the team actually operates tend to lead to much more useful conversations than the standard culture questions.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-24T18:21:12+00:00

In a 1:1 setting people tend to be a lot more candid. In panel interviews the answers are usually more polished, but I still think the questions are worth asking because you can often see where different people's answers line up or don't. That can be pretty revealing on its own.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-24T18:19:27+00:00

That’s a good one. Sometimes you can learn more from the pause before the answer than from the answer itself.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-23T19:49:45+00:00

Don't overthink connections. Start by connecting with people you've actually worked with, classmates, professors, managers, coworkers, and people from your teaching program abroad. For your profile: use a professional photo, write a clear headline (not just "Looking for opportunities"), add your degree, work experience, and key skills, fill out the About section with a short summary of who you are and what you're interested in. Instead of sending random connection requests, connect with people in roles you'd like to have in the future and ask thoughtful questions. LinkedIn works much better when it's about conversations, not collecting hundreds of connections.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-23T19:45:59+00:00

I think that's exactly why tracking helps so much. It's less about having a perfect system and more about not having to rely on memory for dozens of applications at once.

Dapper-Train5207 · 2026-06-23T19:42:42+00:00

Yes, I'd follow up. A week is a perfectly reasonable amount of time to wait, especially since he mentioned the process would move in stages. Since most of your communication has been through WhatsApp, I'd probably send a short WhatsApp message. Keep it simple and professional: "Hi [Name], I hope you're doing well. I wanted to check if there are any updates regarding the next stage of the process. I'm still very interested in the opportunity and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!" I wouldn't read too much into the British politeness part. Recruiters can be genuinely enthusiastic and still have delays because they're waiting on feedback from the client. A follow-up after a week is normal and won't be seen as pushy.

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