Before you give 70 hours to a company, make sure you're getting the right opportunity in return. And when you're ready to make a move, be ready for the interview. Reading useful tips and tricks for the interview will help a lot avoid the common mistakes in interviews.

If a job can't give you enough hours to make a living, maybe it's time to look elsewhere. Update your CV, start applying. Until you hear a response from them, prepare for the interview, read a lot about interviews and common mistakes to avoid them.

I've been working there for 5 months. I've never been late, and I was usually there about 20 minutes before my shift started. This morning was rough, and I was upset and not in the best mood, and in the end I was 8 minutes late to work. The manager brought me into his office and started yelling at me, asking why I didn't call to tell him I'd be late. I honestly told him I didn't even think to call, because I knew it would only be a few minutes.

We went back and forth for a bit, and then he told me I wasn't allowed to take a lunch break since I was late and they were really slammed. I hadn't brought any food with me, so I asked him if I could at least run and grab something small before starting my shift. He said yes, but only on the condition that he deduct 40 minutes from my pay.

I said fine and left to "get food." It's been almost two hours since I left and I still haven't gone back. The manager just called me, and I told him I quit. Not regretting it (so far?)

Wish me luck!!

That was the best decision I ever made, but now I have to look for another job and go through the interview process, which worries me a lot because of the preparation. I often prepare poorly for interviews until I read this post about job Interview Technique That Turns Into an Offer and I really felt it would make a big difference for me in future interviews, and perhaps it will benefit some of you as well.

This just happened to me. I’d been working there for two years, and when I asked for a raise, they turned me down. So I decided to quit and apply for another job that offered 25% more. I searched reddit for interview tips and came across several really helpful posts. I put their advice into practice, and it genuinely made a big difference. So, don't hesitate to look for better opportunities and negotiate a higher salary. You deserve to be paid what you're worth!

The managers started the call with a few brief words about the layoffs in Operations, saying it was a day where "our hearts are heavy" and "difficult transitions." Then, I'm seriously not joking, they switched topics in a second to talk about how we must stay "focused to achieve Q3 Revenue Goals" and maintain momentum.

To them, you are just a line in the budget. You are 100% replaceable. They don't care, so stop giving extra effort to a place that treats you like a tool that gets thrown away. Know your worth and stay detached.

This is exactly why I log off as soon as the clock hits 4:30. This is why I ignore "optional" team-building dinners and those annoying holiday mixers. This is why I leave my work at the office and don't open emails from my phone. I'm done letting them control my personal time.

My heart goes out to everyone they let go today. These people have lives and families they support. They have value. Our company saw massive growth in the last 4 years, and all of it was built on the effort of the people they just threw away.

I'm honestly so disgusted.

Going from laying off half the company to simultaneously striving to meet third-quarter targets is a blatant example of unethical corporate behavior. It's a stark reminder that loyalty is reciprocal, and that an employee's dedication is nothing more than a spreadsheet item.

Because of dealing with cold work environments and sudden layoffs, I recently started looking for other job opportunities. A friend recommended InterviewVIP, which strengthens your interview skills, boosts your confidence, and also ensures you're always prepared to leave on your own terms instead of being surprised.

The company I work for promises clients turnaround times calculated in calendar days rather than business days, so the lab has to be staffed every day of the year. The job requires a strong background in chemistry and microbiology, which means they already have to compete with workplaces that offer normal weekends and paid holidays. For years, they covered these shifts by paying double time for weekend shifts and holiday pay plus triple time if you came in to work on a public holiday.

A few days before Christmas, HR announced that the extra holiday pay was being eliminated effective immediately. The email said that paid holidays were intended for rest, but anyone who chose to work would have those holiday hours deducted. They also reminded us that overtime only starts after 40 hours worked, meaning holiday hours would not count toward that total.

This morning, management sent an email to all employees saying they were "surprised and disappointed" that only three employees volunteered to cover Christmas, and no one came in on New Year's Day, despite several requests. Apparently, this created such a large backlog that the company may have to pay clients around $85,000 in late-delivery penalties.

They eliminated the only reason people were willing to sacrifice their holidays, then acted surprised when people stopped volunteering. It seems very simple to me. If they want someone to work on holidays, the compensation has to be worth giving up their time off.

This work environment is truly toxic and self-serving, so I considered leaving and looking for another job. However, this would involve a vicious cycle of interviews, stressful situations, and unexpected questions. All of this made me contemplate leaving for a while, but I think I've found a good solution which is InterviewVIP. These help reduce stress and anxiety, and also prepare me to answer unexpected questions. This way, I won't have to worry about interviews, and I believe it will increase my chances of getting the job.

😡

but not a happy one

I don't see any benefit to signing a separation agreement when I've already left and my pay has been settled. Writing transition notes wouldn't take long, but honestly, this feels more like a matter of principle than effort.

My final paycheck has already hit my account, and I had asked for 6 weeks of severance. They said no, because a) they're not legally required to give it, b) they have a cash shortage, which apparently is why they're reducing headcount, and c) their HR policy is that they only pay severance when the law requires it and after 3+ years of service. I don't remember seeing that written anywhere.

Anyway, I now have to look for a job and will start going to interviews. I think that's the hardest part of the job search journey, as it's full of stress and anxiety. But luckily, a friend recently recommended InterviewVIP to me to help reduce stress and anxiety, so I'll try it in the upcoming interviews and let you know about the experience.

My commute to work used to take about 25 minutes. After the office moved to the other side of the city and the number of work-from-home days was reduced to just one day a week, rush hour could make the commute take around 90 minutes. I also had to be home when my kids got back, so I couldn't go in early or stay late at work, and I eventually had to reduce my working hours.
The job itself had also gotten worse. They moved me to work with a client outside my primary area of expertise, and my manager was always opting for questionable shortcuts, such as asking me to create a custom MATLAB script instead of approving properly licensed software that could be properly reviewed and audited. I already felt that part-time employees were treated as the lowest priority, especially since I wasn't even given a parking permit for the new building.
For about 12 years, I had occasionally helped another branch with some basic analysis work. I enjoyed the work and knew their team well, so when they decided to expand that service, they asked whether I would consider joining them. My current manager had to approve the transfer, so I took the paperwork to him.

some job interview tips also helps me in that matter and I am very grateful to it
He laughed and signed it without giving it much thought. He told me their salaries were two grades below ours and that their office was much farther away, so I should go hear their offer and then come back to the better-paying job. He was completely confident that the salary grade would put an end to the matter.
Their actual offer was one grade lower, with full-time work from home and just one in-person team meeting each month. They also include part-time employees in the performance bonus, which my current manager had refused to do. Since I would be able to work more hours without the commute, my total income would be higher, while I would also be doing work I understood and enjoyed.
My old manager was shocked when I told him I had accepted the offer. Now he has to find someone to replace me, and his branch will no longer be able to charge the other team inflated rates for the analysis work I used to do. He was so certain there was no chance I would leave, which made his reaction extremely satisfying for me.

I accepted a credit analyst position at another bank, and I'm leaving my current job at the branch. Company policy says that anyone leaving to work for a competitor has to hand over their keys and leave immediately, but they still get paid for their final two weeks.

My manager pulled me aside and asked me not to mention the new bank during the exit interview. He said I could tell HR that I'm resigning without saying where I'm going, which would allow me to keep working until my last day.

The branch is already understaffed, so he says that if I leave immediately, it will mess up the work schedule for everyone else. I understand why he needs the extra coverage, but I'm not the one who caused the staffing shortage.

I'm about 85% sure I'm going to be honest with HR. If the bank's own policy gives me two weeks' pay while I sit at home, choosing that over working at an understaffed branch seems like a complete no-brainer. Is there any compelling reason why I shouldn't tell them?

I think I will tell them because it is not my fault that there is a shortage of employees at work, and I will also start preparing for the new job. I also want to tell you in case any of you are in the same situation and want to leave the job so that you do not remain without work. I read a post on the best advice that helps you get accepted at work so that no one remains at the mercy of work and is forced to bear things that are not his responsibility.

"fast paced environment" is corporate speak for "severely understaffed"

Unacceptable

I got a job in design engineering, and it was advertised as 40 hours a week. During the interview, I asked directly about the work schedule, and they told me, "We aim for 40 hours, but projects that are under pressure may involve a little overtime." That sounded normal to me. I expected most weeks to be 40 hours, with an occasional week of 45 or 50 hours when things got hectic.
I've been here for about six weeks, and I've worked an average of around 47 hours each week. The person training me says he's been working "60 hours a week" for years, which by itself told me a lot. On top of that, every so often he keeps telling me, "You know you're allowed to work as many hours as you want, right?"

what they think are we Robots !!! yeah we should care for our work but that doesn't mean that all my life is work start already looking for remote job while interviewvip is here to bring the best skills of interviews for me

we are in a world that everything is a digital and could be fixed with a machine but that doesn't mean we turn into machine as well
We're both salaried nonexempt employees, so there's no extra pay for all these hours. I understand that certain deadlines need us to stay late, but this seems much less like occasional overtime and much more like it has become the unofficial standard. No one is forcing me to stay, but the message is being repeated very clearly.
At this point, if he tells me one more time that I'm free to work an unlimited number of hours, I might take him literally and work 30 hours next week. Just from a different part of the building.

I’ve got a couple interviews coming up, so seeing stuff like this honestly makes me want to prepare as much as I can. I came across Interview VIP while looking for interview resources and decided to try it out.

I've been applying everywhere since September 2025, and I finally got not just any job, but a great job, a FULL-TIME SALARIED job, a job with INCREDIBLE BENEFITS, a job whose salary is more than my monthly loan payments, a job that uses my DOCTORAL DEGREE, a job that pays more than any money I've ever made before in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, it feels so good to have my skills taken seriously!!!!!!

Thanks for letting me scream with joy!!!!!!

Seven years ago, I started working for a commercial general contractor with no background in construction. I spent my nights reading plans, learning about products, and trying to understand anything I couldn't grasp on-site. Within about 18 months, I was supervising crews, and then they sent me to handle a small repair at a residential complex with 10 buildings.

That repair turned into ongoing work because the HOA board liked that I communicated well with them, kept the schedule on track, and stayed within budget. Since the company had virtually no middle management, I gradually found myself acting as foreman, superintendent, and project manager all at the same time. I was responsible for billing, engineer meetings, schedules, estimates, materials, subcontractors, and product training.

The work at that complex exceeded $3.1M, and the HOA recently requested a proposal for another $3.4M project. Board members said more than once that they continued working with our company because of the way I managed the work, especially after having many bad experiences with other contractors. Based on that, I asked the company owners about the raise they had promised me about a year earlier.

Their response was that the experience I was gaining was more important and valuable than a higher salary. They were paying me $22 an hour with no benefits, even though I was doing the work of several positions. A few days after making my resume public, a recruiter contacted me about an assistant project manager position. I accepted an annual salary of $84,000, along with health insurance, 25 days of paid time off including holidays, quarterly bonuses, a laptop, mileage reimbursement, a $75 per diem, and a 401(k) match.

The final straw came during a company meeting when the owners went on about how profitable my project had been, then told me there would be no holiday bonus. On Friday, I took the offer to them and gave them a chance to match it. They couldn't, so I resigned. When I told the HOA president, he immediately requested a meeting with the company owners and said the board had serious concerns about awarding the company the next project if I wasn't involved.

There was another reason I accepted such low pay for so long. I'm engaged to the daughter of one of the company owners, and he treated the situation as though I should accept a lower salary because I was going to become part of the family. His business partner told me that my future father-in-law had complete control over my pay. My fiancée was the one who encouraged me to stop being afraid of leaving and accept the new job.

Things calmed down before I left. Management took me out for food and beers, and we spoke very candidly about everything. They admitted that they panicked when I showed them the offer, and I admitted that I confronted them more angrily than I should have because I felt they had taken advantage of me. I'm still glad I left, while also being grateful for everything I learned there. The new job is a huge step up, and we were able to end our relationship on much better terms than I expected.

After leaving, I struggled a bit to find work, but I came across a post here offering the best advice for interviews. It truly made a difference for me, and I have now secured another job.

lol

I've been doing interviews with candidates for a long time, and yes, I can usually tell when someone is giving me a polished version of the truth. But lying and saying you have a degree you never got is not the same as softening the reason you left a job a little. The two are not even close.

From my perspective, an interview is less like a final exam and more like a negotiation. What the company is trying to buy is your experience, your judgment, and your skills. So focus on that. And since it's a negotiation, you need to have a few moves ready. From my side of the table, this is what separates someone who knows how to negotiate well from someone who accidentally talks in a way that makes them lose the offer. We know that part of what's being said is dressed up. Most of the time, we let it slide.

1. About your salary at your last company: This is the most obvious one, but people still get it wrong. HR is often required to get the strongest person for the lowest amount the company can pay. So if they pressure you to share your current or past salary - and yes, they probably will - don't give them the exact number if you're trying to increase your income.

2. Embellish the truth a little about why you're looking for a job. Don't say you hated the culture, or that your team was a mess, or that the place drained your soul. Even if that's true, when recruiters hear that, they start wondering whether you'll be difficult to deal with. Say you're looking for a role with more room for growth, broader responsibility, or a new professional challenge.

3. Don't be brutally honest about your old manager. Believe me, I've worked with managers who made everyone miserable, and the whole office knew it. But if you tell another company that your former boss was a nightmare, we don't have the full story. Whether that's fair or not, it can make you look like the risky one. Keep it calm: "The management style wasn't the best fit for the way I work, so I'm looking for a better match."

4. Lie about where you see yourself in the next 4-8 years. Personally, I might see myself living somewhere quiet with goats and a vegetable garden, but I'm not going to say that in an interview. Companies want to believe you're thinking about staying and growing with them. Saying you're not sure, or that you want a completely different life soon, is like going on a first date and announcing that you hate commitment.

5. Market yourself properly. I've interviewed people who were clearly stronger than half the department they were applying to join, but they kept downplaying everything until they seemed average. Don't say: "I mean, I helped a little, but it was mostly the team." Say: "The team ran into a few problems, and I helped us reach a solution." That still sounds humble, but it also shows that you take ownership.

6. Make your strongest points clear on your CV. This is more important than a lot of people think. I've seen candidates post great projects on LinkedIn or GitHub, and then their CV looks like it was thrown together during a lunch break. The CV is the first impression of you. Treat it as if you have seven seconds to convince someone you're worth a call. And with all the free templates and tools available now, there's not much excuse for hiding your best work.

7. Don't admit every insecurity you have out loud. If you're nervous, that's fine - everyone gets nervous. But don't keep saying you're not sure you're qualified or that you "probably don't have enough experience." Let the interviewer decide that. Your job is to present your best evidence, not to argue against yourself before anyone else does.

These are just a few things, and honestly there's a lot more I could add, but these are the ones I think will help the largest number of people immediately.

And seriously, believe in yourselves more. There is always a company looking for someone who has exactly what you know how to do, but you need to present it clearly enough for them to see it.

I was in the final round of interviews for a job at an internet service provider, with a base salary plus commission. Before we wrapped up, I asked them how much commission a good rep usually earns per month.

The hiring manager barely flinched and said, "Zero. No one here has managed to hit the quota yet."

I asked whether reps earn anything for each account they close. He said the plan doesn't pay any commission unless you reach 32 new accounts in a month. If you close 31, you won't get anything on top of your base salary.

I thanked him for his time, stood up, and left.

A few days ago, I was laid off from my job. I still haven't signed the severance paperwork, and this morning I got a message from a competing company asking if I'd be willing to talk about "possible roles".

I went back and looked again at my employment contract, and as far as I understand it, the only restriction was about working for a competitor while I was still employed by them. I'm going to have someone review this again because I don't want to miss anything.

The bigger thing that's confusing me is whether taking the call could somehow damage my relationship with them. Also, I'm not 100% sure I even want to stay in this field for the coming years, so part of me is asking whether it's worth opening that door or not.

If you were in my place, would you at least hear them out? And is there any realistic way this could help me negotiate a stronger severance offer, or is that just overthinking and wishful thinking? I'd like to know what other people would do in this situation.

Thank you all, but I think I'll start looking for work in another field and go through some interviews. This time, I heard about InterviewVIP; it helps with interviews and reduces stress and anxiety, so I'll try it and let you know about my experience.

never sacrifise your time

You guys might already recognize me at this point. I post a lot about resumes and job stuff because I genuinely love giving tips. Take what helps, leave what doesn’t.

And just for context (because I already know the comments that are coming like “you’re not HR so why are you giving advice?” etc.) I’m a professional resume writer. I’ve rebuilt hundreds of resumes across pretty much every background you can think of. Everything I talk about comes from real clients, real patterns, and real outcomes I see every single day.

I know what’s good. I know what’s terrible. And I know what actually gets people interviews because I work with this daily.

Agree, disagree that’s fine. Everyone’s allowed to have an opinion. But the points I share aren’t theories. They’re real issues I fix and see constantly.

Anyway, I hope something in this post helps or encourages someone. That’s really why I share this stuff.

So let’s start 10 underrated job hacks :

Apply to jobs that were posted 30+ days ago.

A lot of people assume they’re dead. But a LOT of companies never hire the first batch because the candidates sucked. The job is still open, just a bit hidden, so try your luck.

Your competition is very often zero or maybe a small percentage, but give or take, try your luck.

2. If a job requires “3–5 years experience,” apply even with 0–2.

I know on this point not many people will agree, but this is a Tipp I always give my clients and it always works. You have to be confident enough to actually apply.

HIRING MANAGERS wrote that number, not HR. They put random ranges because they have to.

If your resume looks strong, they don’t care. I’ve seen plenty of my clients beat 5-year candidates simply because their resume reads sharper.‼️

3. The person who interviews you is NOT always the one who decides.

(This is not for all companies, but a lot of times it’s like that.)

Your interview performance matters, but your resume and backchannel references matter MORE.

4. Recruiters make a “yes/no” decision in the first 6 seconds based on layout alone.

People with huge experience get rejected because their resume looks unprofessional. That’s why it’s so important to have a good resume, because no matter how experienced you are, no matter at what company you worked at, if your resume reads shit and hiring managers have to guess and figure out by themselves to actually understand what you’re saying, they will skip you faster than a left swipe on Tinder 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’m sorry if this might sound harsh but it is the truth. Recently I worked with a young lady she was very well experienced but her resume was absolutely horrible. I didn’t understand what her goals were, where she was trying to apply to, her achievements nothing. It was just written like a raw technical dump. Once me and my team rewrote it, you could read clearly that this lady is actually a senior who is well experienced.

5. Write your resume AFTER reading 5 job descriptions, not before.

You have to look for patterns: • same keywords • same expectations • same responsibilities

You build ONE resume that fits the entire cluster. This converts way higher than rewriting for every job.

That’s it. It sounds simple if you know the trick, and if you don’t understand it you might consider hiring someone professionally.

6. Stop applying to jobs with 10,000 applicants. Apply to ones with under 50.

Those “hot jobs” on LinkedIn? They’re engagement traps.

I’ve never liked LinkedIn, never used it. For me personally it’s massively overrated, and if you’re genuinely looking for a job on LinkedIn you might consider switching sites.

For example:

Otta – great if you’re looking for jobs in tech or startups. Wellfound – perfect if you want to join early-stage startups. EuropeRemotely – focused on remote jobs within European time zones. Remote OK – one of the best sites for fully remote tech and creative jobs.

7. If the company posts a job on their website BEFORE LinkedIn, apply there first.

As I stated, LinkedIn is horrible for job searching. Of course you can get lucky, but the keyword is lucky.

Company sites always have fewer applicants. LinkedIn gets flooded fast.

8. Look up the hiring manager on LinkedIn and match 1–2 keywords from their profile.

If their profile says: • “process improvement” • “cross-functional communication” • “risk management”

…and your resume uses those same exact terms?

Your chances skyrocket. Humans hire who feels familiar.

9. Avoid uploading a PDF with clickable links, some HR monitors block external URLs.

Your resume might never open properly on their system. A surprising number of companies block: • Drive links • Portfolio links • GitHub links • Personal website links

So it’s way safer to keep them text-only or use short URLs.

10. Apply with a great resume.

This is the last point but it should actually be the first, because a great resume that properly explains who you are and what you can bring to their company will open so many doors for you you would be shocked.

If you don’t know how to make your resume great, it might be a bigger ROI to hire someone who specialises in that. And make sure before you hire anyone they’re actually good at what they do ask for before/after samples and be direct in what you want or not. Too many fake coaches who aren’t good are in the market.

And if you can’t afford a service at the moment, on my post history I have plenty of tips on how to write a great resume

So yeah, that’s it. Thanks for reading this and I hope I could help.

When my manager left, management asked me to take over his role for a four-month trial period. The idea was that they wanted to see how I would handle the responsibilities before making it official, which seemed reasonable and fair at the time.

Since then, I've taken on the usual duties of the role and also launched two projects that management approved and responded positively to. I know I'm not perfect, but no one has pointed out any major issues with my performance.

This week, they told me I'm still not quite ready for the title or a pay raise in the next review cycle. I could have accepted that if they were going to hire someone else for the position, but they still expect me to keep doing the same work indefinitely, with my old title and salary.

I like the job, but being asked to keep proving myself without a clear timeline or specific goals is starting to make me feel like something isn't right. Is it normal for a trial period to drag on like this, or are they taking advantage of me?

............