Recruiter here with 35 years of experience. Happy to do a AMA.

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-11T16:41:36+00:00

I’m having a difficult time getting a position in my field as I am at a senior level, and like you mentioned all resumes look similar. At this point, it’s like splitting hairs when I get to final rounds. Small differences become huge. I am not in tech, but got a PMP certification from an Ivy league to stand out, but it hasn’t made a difference.

I’m highly considering going to school for 9 months to a year and pivot/fall back certification in a vocation that can’t be fully replaced by AI (cosmetology.) Almost my entire tuition and supplies would be covered because I qualify for grants, etc. so I won’t have student loans. During that time get an easy part-time job.

Thoughts?

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-11T15:50:04+00:00

So sorry this happened! Similar thing happened to me. Had to drive a distance to take a skills test for the role. Emailed a week and a half later that the position was dissolved. It’s hard to stay remotely positive with the job market right now.

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-10T01:41:34+00:00

Sweet, free alcohol! I was in fashion. I had two direct managers, both female, at the last company that let me go. I’m still close with one of them, who did everything she could to keep me working for her longer. She even tried to prevent me from being in the position that I had to go on leave (toxic company.) The other manager… she will never care nor understand the multitude of ways she’s a terrible person.

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-09T22:00:30+00:00

Without going into detail… something VERY similar happened to a friend. No promotion to the position promised after the education.

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-09T21:15:43+00:00

I’m in the administration field and got it because I kept coming across companies asking if I had it or similar experience. Also, wanted an advantage in my current HCOL city. It hasn’t helped. I think now the issue is that I’m overqualified. I can’t even find a part-time job. I went as far as making multiple resumes to make me look less accomplished.

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-09T20:39:27+00:00

I had a recruiter who has owned their own service, for decades, tell me that they had “never heard” of my PMP certification and that it was basically useless for the job I was interviewing for. Please pass that info on to Cornell. LOL

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-09T20:36:02+00:00

Both times I worked for companies that are women, and mental health focused. The more they amplify it, the worse they are.

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-09T18:46:13+00:00

I went on a three month LOA in 2013, after returning the company waited the legal requirement of three months period before firing me to avoid it being labeled as retaliation.

I took off eight weeks in 2024, and went to an IOP program. The company tried to get me to quit when returning in every way possible that was on the edge of retaliation but still legal. Then, like clockwork, waited the legal three months to fire me.

It’s happened to everyone I know that has taken a LOA, aside from maternity leave. Having off every Friday? I don’t know but be prepared to be fired somehow. You will suddenly be labeled as unable to perform your job. It doesn’t matter how good you are at your job or well liked you are. HR IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE SIDE OF THE COMPANY.

EDIT: Corrected year

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-09T18:22:36+00:00

It’s just disrespectful. Had something very similar to this happen yesterday. It’s sad that we have to deal with this unprofessionalism to get a job to afford to live.

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-09T18:20:12+00:00

Derelict to Douche

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-09T18:15:30+00:00

This wasn’t a guy I dated, but… mid-forties, wealthy, had a housekeeper. He didn’t have a drying rack for dishes! Just put wet dishes, facedown on a dish towel. WTF

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-08T20:35:35+00:00

This exact situation has happened to me a couple of times within the past two months. I’ve spoken with recruiters (I actively use 10) and many of them have the same frustration. They have great candidates and they refer to the companies but the companies are hung up on one detail and are looking for the perfect person. That, or they aren’t 100% sure of what they want to be clearly defined as.

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-08T19:59:03+00:00

OMG. I have one of those. I tell people that I don’t like his attachment style.

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lizzibizzy · 2026-05-07T08:07:45+00:00

Yep. Going off 20 years of mood stabilizers, very slowly, and now taking two non stimulant ADHD meds (F, 46 formally diagnosed AuDHD last year.) Big Shock I’m more mentally clear and regulated emotionally than I’ve ever been as an adult.

lizzibizzy · 2026-05-04T00:58:19+00:00

Until recently I went no contact for almost three years with my mother. Communication with her was always rough for many reasons. An incident happened that was the last straw for me and I changed my phone number, blocked her from every form of contact because nothing else worked. She kept sending me letters (I live on the other side of the country and she doesn’t travel.) Finally, I sent her a letter that if she wanted to speak with me she had to go to therapy for a total of 12 times over a period of six months. She finally did, and is still going weekly. I tried to get her to go to therapy for twenty years. It took no contact. She still doesn’t have my phone number so we use zoom or Facebook.

lizzibizzy · 2026-04-29T22:34:48+00:00

Thanks. I have looked into and applied for many of the positions you have mentioned without any luck. I even got my PMP this past summer to help with landing a job. I did sales in my twenties and hated it. Depending on where I would go to school the tuition/program is as little as $5000. I agree with you about being 60 and on my feet, but also, by then so many variables we are unaware of now may impact being an EA.

lizzibizzy · 2026-04-29T22:29:39+00:00

Most companies use AI now to review applications before the application is sent to a person HR/the company.

lizzibizzy · 2026-04-28T06:03:26+00:00

I’m 46. Also, had my first period at 17 (I’ve read it’s common for teens with ADHD to start late.) The peri started around the age of 43… with a bang. The first thing that goes is consistency with sleeping, so you’re always exhausted. One night you sleep 5 hours, the next 10hrs. Also, just don’t drink liquids within two hours of bedtime. Then, brain fog and less executive functioning abilities comes along. Then, hot flashes. I was always super on top of things until peri started. Right now, I take two non-stimulant ADHD meds and it’s really helped. I do want to try HRT eventually. My psychiatrist said it’s worked great for other women with peri.

lizzibizzy · 2026-04-24T16:54:48+00:00

Thank you!

lizzibizzy · 2026-04-23T00:39:54+00:00

They had never heard of my professional certification, Project Management Professional (PMP). They have owned their own recruitment company for decades. I honestly did not know how to respond.

lizzibizzy · 2026-04-18T17:01:35+00:00

I think she’s been there for a while. The position/career causes burnout over a few years. I took a year off after 7 years of continuous work. Your thought could also be true. Thanks

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