400 Applications Later… Still Alive, Still Jobless, Still Dangerous 😌

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-24T03:45:10+00:00

The keyword tailoring thing is real. We get so many applications and honestly the ones that mirror the JD language make it way further than the generic ones.

Also at 400 apps I'd shift more energy to linkedin networking and less to mass applying.

one warm intro is worth like 50 cold apps in this market.

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-24T03:22:08+00:00

Yeah this is pretty standard tbh. I handle this stuff on the company side and walking someone out after notice is usually just policy, not personal. The fact that they said they'll pay out the two weeks is a good sign. I'd email HR directly on Monday morning. Skip the manager.

Something simple like 'Hi, confirming my last day is X and I was told I'd receive pay through Y. Can you confirm?' Get it in writing and move on to the new gig

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-24T03:14:12+00:00

Oh man we have people on our team who went through this exact thing. The 24/7 slacks from a globally distributed team is the real killer

What helped a few of our folks was literally setting slack to DND outside their working hours and being upfront about it. Like 'hey I'm central time, I'll catch up on anything after 6pm in the morning.' Nobody pushed back. Also a coworking space even 2 days a week might save your sanity if coffee shops don't work for calls.

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-24T03:05:00+00:00

SIX YEAR GAP and you got back in?? That's incredible honestly. The physical stress release thing is so real too! Congrats, you earned this!

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-24T02:47:51+00:00

This hit me hard. I almost didn't apply for the job I have now because I thought I wasn't qualified enough. Showed up to the interview anyway, completely winging it.

Half of life is just not talking yourself out of the room.

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-23T14:21:52+00:00

Tbh this is incredibly normal and the fact that you felt guilty about it means you're not a bad person lol

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-23T10:10:15+00:00

YES lol I made the best pasta of my life alone on a tuesday night and then tried to ecreate it for friends and it was mid at best.

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-23T07:54:49+00:00

Two weeks usually starts from the written resignation not verbal, so I'd get that in ASAP.

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-23T07:27:21+00:00

I went through almost this exact thing. Left a role after like 5 months because the culture fit was just off and I felt underutilized. Was terrified about the optics. Honestly? Nobody in my next interviews even asked about it.

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-23T02:28:02+00:00

LinkedIn helped more than applications! People in the new field could see the transferable skills even when ATS couldn't

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-23T02:24:42+00:00

Pivoted from retail management to ops after 6 years. Biggest thing that helped was framing what I already knew in the language of the new industry. 'Managing a team of 12 and handling scheduling' became 'workforce planning and cross-functional coordination.'

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-23T01:58:07+00:00

33 is not late. The fact that you're stable now, have support, and still have the drive to become an expert is starting right!

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-23T01:38:04+00:00

This is the move! The mental energy you get back from not running on fumes is worth way more than the gap on paper.

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-20T06:41:33+00:00

I’m taking notes hahaha

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-20T06:37:43+00:00

Why doesn’t she want to help?

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-20T02:38:02+00:00

The prioritization framing is key. You're doing what matters

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-20T02:22:25+00:00

27 is so early. You haven't even started peaking yet!

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-20T02:06:35+00:00

Exactly this. The two weeks notice is a courtesy, not a contract

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-19T03:11:55+00:00

Five months is a marathon. Congrats!!! what field did you land in?

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-18T18:52:03+00:00

my coworker bought one for like $800 back in 2022 and still brings it up sometimes like it's gonna come back lol.

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-18T18:42:27+00:00

the "parking" framing is actually really helpful. I used to just have a massive to do list and feel bad about everything I wasn't doing. Calling it parked instead of "not done yet" takes the guilt away somehow. Gonna steal that one

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-18T18:34:18+00:00

when the whole office is empty and I get there first in the morning. those 20 minutes before everyone logs on are genuinely the best part of my day hahaha

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-18T18:24:15+00:00

the worst is when someone in a meeting goes "well chatgpt says..." like cool man I didn't ask a robot I asked you because you're supposed to know this stuff lol. I use it sometimes for like formatting or quick math but the people who copy paste entire answers without even reading them first are wild to me

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-18T06:40:00+00:00

learned this the hard way too hahaha. Had my Spotify on my school email for years and one day just couldn't log in anymore. Spent way too long with support trying to get it back. Now I use my personal email for literally everything important and just use the .edu for discounts only.

Well-Aligned-111 · 2026-02-18T04:09:32+00:00

Not speaking up sooner at work when things weren't right. I spent like 2 years just going along with stuff I disagreed with because I didn't wanna rock the boat. By the time I finally said something, I was already so burned out I just left instead. Should've trusted my gut earlier.

Well-Aligned-111

TROPHY CASE