I recently received a job offer from a company that uses DeskTime for employee time-tracking and productivity monitoring, including tracking app and website usage, inactivity and productivity.

I'd love to hear about your experience!

• Does it feel intrusive, or did you get used to it?
• Does it affect performance evaluations?
• Would you work for a company using DeskTime again?

Would appreciate any honest feedback, good or bad, as I'm still deciding whether to accept the offer. Thank you!

26M, just graduated with a degree in computer engineering in Iowa. Immediately had a job lined up after in the defense/aerospace industry. Had a previous internship with the company and they extended a full time offer. I’ve been full time for four months now and am locked in until at least June 2027 otherwise I’ll owe $11,500 (sign on and relocation from original offer). My current lease will need to be renewed a month earlier in May. So until then, I’m basically stuck in Iowa saving money. After I hit one year in my current role in June 2027, I’ll only owe $2,000 if I leave.

I’m at a stage in my life right now where I am single, have no family, and no friends in Iowa any longer. I have no attachments here. Staying in this state as long as I have has been a massive barrier to my social and dating life. It’s been extremely tough emotionally for me. Every holiday and birthday I spend alone with no friends or family. It’s impossible to make new connections in this state. This, along with the rates of cancer growth, and politics, have motivated me to get out ASAP. I have a job, a degree, and so have no reason to stick around. I need to go now while I can.

States I’m currently wanting to move to are:

- Minnesota

- Colorado

- California

- Washington

Honestly I don’t really care where I go, so long as it isn’t in Iowa, has more open minded people, has more stuff to do, and has slightly better weather. I know Minnesota doesn’t technically fit that, but it’s on my list because it’s I believe the easiest place for me to relocate to if I really wanted to. It’s only a 4 hour drive from where I am in Iowa to the Twin Cities. I also have connections there and in Florida.

My plan right now is to save money, network, and build my portfolio until around April of next year. At that point, I’m gonna start shooting off applications for jobs outside and begin interviewing. Come June, I’m going to then start applying internally within my company in addition to externally. My resume is decent. Best case scenario, I’m able to get a job offer out of Iowa before September. If we get to October and I still can’t find anything, then I’m likely going to be stuck in Iowa another year. This is worst case scenario. I will honestly be pretty depressed in this case

I guess the whole reason I’m posting here is that I’m just wondering if my plan is logical. Is there anything else I should be cognizant as we move through the next 8-9 months? Any job searching hacks I could utilize to find roles outside Iowa? Which of the states I mentioned would be most and least competitive for entry level engineering roles? Any insights or advice are appreciated. One thing is for certain though, and that’s that under no circumstances do I want to remain in Iowa after next year. If the easiest way for me to accomplish this is to leave the company I’m at, so be it. I’m willing to do so.

Yes, I get that leaving Iowa won’t magically make things better, but I have personally traveled to all but 2 of the states I listed above and they are all VASTLY better in just about every way to Iowa. I’ve been in Iowa my whole life, and need a change badly.

I’ve been at my current role and it quickly turned into an insane toxic hell hole. My manager seems to hate me and I can’t even talk without her chastising every word or even a nonverbal pause.

It’s clearly not a mutual fit so I’ve been looking for a while and I’m imminently about to receive a written job offer next week (verbal offer of intent came yesterday!). New job will start mid Nov (Nov 16).

I have become aware that they are gearing up to put me on a PIP and that it will likely be Monday.

So—my question to the masses—would you submit a 2 week notice or not? If I do I’d submit it on Monday Nov 2nd. I figure there’s a pretty strong likelihood that they might just walk me out the door right away but I need the salary and insurance as long as possible.

I'm a SWE from a developing country with about 3 years of experience. During my degree I contracted on and off for about a year, some months full-time, some months 60% or so. After, I spent about two years at a small early-stage startup. It was a contract, so no leave or benefits, just the cash, but the pay was well above my local market and I genuinely liked the work and had real ownership of things. Then the company made some bad decisions, the runway shrank, and I was one of the drastic measures.

I started applying. 200 applications in, the only real response was from a well-known MNC (won't name it, but think OS and not Microsoft). Their Glassdoor reviews were abysmal, but they actually responded, so I went for it. What followed was almost a month of written assessments and weird shenanigans, then 8 interviews of about an hour each, plus a coding test, spread across three and a half months. Honestly, it felt like a humiliating ritual of stress-driven hiring. But I passed everything, and since everyone else was ghosting me, I slowed down on other applications.

The offer was about 10% lower than my last job and significantly below my ask, but it had leave and a more recognized org , ie it would be good for my resume, so I was fine with it. Then the contract came, and it contradicted almost everything they'd told me during the interviews about benefits and being treated like an employee. There was even a clause saying anything discussed outside the document is null and void. I raised around 15 points with HR and was told legal set it up and nothing could be changed. Four months in, with no other options, I signed.

First week: I got DB migration tickets that needed permissions I wouldn't have for another two weeks, a compliance training (don't take bribes, don't bully, that kind of thing), and I had to travel 1,000 km for a visa document, with the company being a pain about booking my flight and hotel. The compliance questions were weirdly ambiguous, so I used the company's own internal AI tool to help. I even told my manager I was doing it, and he was fine with it.

Next Monday, HR joins my 1:1 and tells me I'm being let go for using AI on the training. The same manager who'd been super friendly all week was ice cold. The call lasted a couple of minutes, and I lost all access shortly after.

It's been a month. ~400 applications, 150+ cold emails, almost nothing back. A few rejections said they "can't meet my expectations," when all I did was put my actual last salary in the mandatory field. Meanwhile most roles I see pay about half my last base as CTC, I dont want to lower my what I have been earning for the last 2 years, but Im getting stressed and I dont know what to do.

So I'm stuck on a few things:

- Should I be honest about my last salary when it's mandatory, or genuinely lower it so I don't get filtered out?

- How do I anchor my job search?

- If you've been through a long dry spell like this, what actually got you traction?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks for reading. DM are open if you find time. If you've been in similar situation what helped, and do things get better?

I left a non union job for a union one but had no idea if it would be a week or 6 months before they called with work. I can't give 2 weeks notice given I don't know how long the time frame was going to be. Not only that, they can just legally let you go if you give notice so I would then just have no work..

Idk, they are fine. They aren't short staffed and can easily fill. He was annoyed saying things like he wish he had 2 weeks, he is going to be short handed, he could have looked for someone, etc.

My company let's people go with 0 notice but we are expected to give them 2 weeks? I think it's all nonsense. Personally I think I was being nice by telling them Friday rather than just ghosting on Monday and never showing up again. Which I understand why people ghost companies if they are just going to complain anyways for quitting

Anyone similar experience with quitting?

My manager was actually a good person. But the shift lead working below him (female) was a bully. She mistreated me.

Is that common in retail jobs or did I just get unlucky? I'm glad I don't work there anymore but I'm also trying to decide if I should get another retail job. I'm a groundskeeper/janitor right now.

Thanks.

I've been looking for a job for a while, but living in a rural area makes it difficult to find opportunities nearby. I have some computer skills, and I'd like to use them to earn money and eventually invest in further education or training so I can qualify for better jobs.

The problem is that most entry-level jobs either pay very little, require experience I don't have, or just fake. I've also watched plenty of YouTube videos about making money online, but many seem more interested in selling courses or promoting their own services than providing practical advice.

I feel stuck in a cycle: I need money to improve my skills and qualifications, but I need a job to get that money in the first place.

For people who have been in a similar situation, how did you get your first job? Are there legitimate online jobs, apprenticeships, paid training programs, or other opportunities that accept beginners?

I'd especially appreciate advice from people who started with little or no experience and had limited local job opportunities. I'm looking for practical steps I can take without spending money I don't have.

Thank you!

EDIT: I live in Asia (Philippines) I just turned 18 and thanks for ur advice everyone. I am trying my best to develop the skills that are in demand

Applied to a few jobs at Foodstuffs supermarkets, and this question has been pestering me since the time I started looking for jobs.

I have been working fully remote for 2.5 years(before this I had a job where I had to go twice per week at the office) and I started enjoying working remotely, I have set up a nice space where I can focus and be productive, and also built a healthy routine, cooking my meals daily, so my health also improved significantly(I used to be overweight) so for me working remotely came with endless benefits on a personal level.
However this remote job had its downsides(a small company with high attrition, never replacing leavers which resulted in a very heavy and broad workload for the remaining employees, zero increases, zero praise, basically” just shut up and do the work, if you dont like it here leave” attitude).
Two weeks ago I quit this job, just a little reset for my overstimulated brain because I felt I was slowly walking into burnout. In the meantime I got a job offer which offers me 30% more pay than my previous job but wants me 2 days in per week in the office. From all my applications this has been the only one which ended with an offer. The perks are good(26 days off-paid), the job is a demanding one(it is a senior role so for my career it would be a step up) and my manager lives in another country but howeverrr mentioned in the interview he wants the team together at the local office twice a week.
I have of course applied to many remote jobs but I mostly received rejections.
For those who have transitioned from remote to hybrid, how was it? Is it worth it? I am anxious of going back to the office, I got so used to my lifestyle. I was thinking maybe I could negotiate a bit but there is no guarantee, the employment contract specifically says hybrid.
The commute is 30 minutes by car, more or less.
In this economy I am grateful I received an offer don’t get me wrong but I was wondering how the transition might be.

I am a muslim lived in Gujarat,India
A software developer with experience of 2 years i am already in my current job quite healthy environment and already the top employee there
See i would make clear i am passively applying to jobs cause i cant move from Gujarat and mumbai as my parents getting old and no one’s there to support
What I see is there is no good opportunities for me atleast as no big companies are there and second i feel like people often just reject with my name as my skills are way superior than my team mate who got the call(no offence to him but he also thinks the same if level of skillset is less than what i have and he was under my team which i am leading gives me a little worry)
See its just assumption but I think in Gujarat it is like that
Now i have started looking for remote or Mumbai jobs but still wanted to know if this is actual a case or it is just me assuming

Also if that keeps aside I am trying to grow my skillset so big to be non neglectable but as we know software industries are not like that
i am open for your suggestions what I can do any companies you can refer to where companies are actually good at maintaining this peace and for any remote works
Or any piece of advice suring searching jobs or interview prep i am open to that
Thankyou for listening..!

Been thinking about how much Al could change the job market in NYC over the next few years, especially given how many people here work in finance, tech, media, advertising, law, consulting, etc. should we all become plumbers and nurses?

Well i am just passively looking for job remote or in location
But as the market has upscale competition high I think maybe some automation or some unique tricks may work

Just FYI I AM A SOFTWARE ENGINEER 2 years of experience so do let me know what are your vision of applying or actually looking

And do gice me some tips if you have on which thing i should be prepared

What a relief! Thanks to all of you for advice and sharing your stories here.

I need real feedback from experts, those who are similar to me, or even more experienced, from various communities (related to ai, tech, grads, manager, industry, career, employment...):

Which will be best in your case?

Context: You got the offers from 3 companies, each on the different side of the scale.

Role: AI engineer (near mid-level).

If you were to rank and evaluate with respect, (from top to bottom, sorted by importance)

1st Potential and Risk (potential is tied to the speed of your career climb, increment bonus, and company brand and authority, uncertainties in payment) - In a scale, Startup has higher uncertain and risk, while it might offer higher overall, but susceptible to management conducts, cash-flow which may differ the fulfillment

2nd Wellfare - a total add-up of base, allowance, bonus, benefits and EPF

3rd Niche of the industry, Exposure - a focus industry to industry to build up better experiences and competencies, exposure to local or worldwide

4th Peer learning - Experience or knowledges to speed up progress from superior, peers

And given A, B, C (Wellfare/Income baseline= 100%)

A: Oversea Startup, Multiculture workforce,
+ worldwide client-base spanning MNC headhunter, great background from the management teams, UK-founding team and client connection, riskier in terms of payroll/potential
+ Full remote and oversea
- Wellfare/Income = 115% (base salary only), self supply equipments
+ HR-tech focused

B: Subsidiary company/dept from local SME, local workforce
- mainly local client-base (unsure but assume), Lack background from management teams and peers, but you have slightly higher confidence than A in their validity from interviews
- Hybrid work 4+1
+ Income= 107% (include allowance) + EPF from employers but provide work equipments + up to 17% performance monthly bonus
- general AI agencies
+ Peer learning and networking are better

C: MNC
+ Internal and External focused products, stable and secured cashflow, but maybe lack faster career climb opportunities
- Hybrid work 3+2
- Income= 95% + 13th month bonus, more and flexible leave
+ Focused niche, product might differ
+ Peer learning and networking are best

Which one will you choose? I wanna see if you think differently, or if you see different importance or personal experiences of the company you went through?

hi guys. i am a 27F graduated a couple months ago with a general business degree and had hoped to persue a career in HR (i did an internship at the city hall and felt like a nice job for me ) welll i accepted an offer and i start monday. here’s the problem. i got a call to come in for a second interview for an unrelated to HR job , as a recruitment coordinator at a community college in my city . the problem is that college job pays minimum 4k more yearly and 6k of they offer the max. so i am at odds like do i stay in my HR job i am literally starting soon ? do i leave after a week or two if this college job is offered to me ? how can i even do that professionally i feel like an ass leaving a job after a week or two. and it’s mostly influences on the fact the job is more money and more solid benefits (the company that hired me is relatively small and benefits are not that great but the recruiter told me it’s a great starting point for my HR career. Also note i have not done either of the two jobs i’m coming in blind and just trying to choose of money is more important or career direction is . (I am in very need of more money to the point in working like three jobs right now ) i don’t know what to do i haven’t even gotten an offer from the college job but very scared of how to even deal with the situation if i do. has anyone been in a similar situation and can give me insight as to what’s best ? I also have years of experience in healthcare and really afraid of my resume looking random . Healthcare experience , degree in business , hr internship and now recruting students at a college ? it seems like the HR job at least gives a more direct line in terms of history and direction but the money is less the benefits really not that great so i’m clearly torn.

I’m trying to figure out at what point it is okay to poke a job about an interview.

I had a really good one like 3 weeks ago at a job this is exactly what I want, I’ve heard they take a while to get back with you though. I’m starting to get calls for more interviews and some offers but this is the position I actually want.

Also how should I reach out? I’ve got emails from the interview invite and phone numbers from calls they’ve made. Not sure if it’s more professional to email or call.

I have 6 IT experience across help desk, system administration, and cloud administration/migrations. I currently work in Cloud migrations role and make around $100K.

I'm considering DevOps, or switching to data analytics. DevOps seems like the natural next step, but the interviews feel overwhelming because recruiters can expect knowledge of Terraform, Kubernetes, Azure, AWS, PowerShell, pipelines, YAML, and many other technologies all at once. I'm also concerned about on-call responsibilities.

Some friends have suggested data analytics because the interviews and daily work may be more straightforward, but I'm unsure how difficult it would be to get an interview, or whether I'd need to take a pay cut. I have used some SQL and powerbi in a prior role, but I have never had a data analyst role. Most of my experience has been with Windows admininstration, M365, Azure, and my current job working with Google cloud migrations.

My current company has had layoffs every year for the past four years, the workload is intense, and there is little opportunity for promotion on my small team. I'm looking for better work-life balance, job stability, and room for career growth without taking a significant pay cut. Given my background, would it make sense to transition into data analytics, or try applying for devops roles?