Um, hi guys. \o

This morning, I quit my job. Without going into too much detail: I was being overworked, I wasn't being paid in accordance with my industry award, and my boss was refusing to issue me with either a copy of my employment contract or any pay advice on pay days. I was employed as a casual but my boss admitted to not paying me the casual loading. My superannuation (I think in America that's called a 401k? Maybe...?) wasn't being paid. I worked for this specific company for six months, and when I had a meeting with my boss to request a change in my hours (50-60 hours a week, 12 days in a row, every fortnight) or to move onto a contract which would allow me to accrue entitlements. My boss refused and accused me of credit card theft (which I just, what? What?), so I left my job on negative terms.

I don't want to request a reference. I know that even if they agreed, it would be a poor one - however, I still want to put this position on my resume. I was with them for half a year, and I have no other way to explain a half-year gap in my resume (I have no desire to lie outright, I don't have children and I'm not studying). I fully expect prospective employers to ask me why I left this company, and to ask me why I'm not supplying them with a reference. What should I say without looking like a sook? I put up with illegal working conditions for six months, and I tried to resolve it first. I didn't just have a hissy fit, but I feel like that's how a future employer may see it - or they'll think that I'm too much of a risk if I know my working rights.

I have no idea how I'd answer questions about it. Any advice?

Well, I'm out of work again, have been since December. And I can't find anything decent that will hire me. Either my resume is blown off, or I don't get past the interview, or the job is dodgy crap (yay for scammy magazine phone work) or a fake. I'm broke, so learning new skills offered in classes is out. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm trying to escape call centers for good, but recently realized I'm stuck with them until I can develop more office type skills.

I sent my resume to one that sounded really awesome--the company sells educational science toys for kids--and I didn't get past the phone interview. I told them when asked where I saw myself in five years that I wanted to move into QA or a team lead position. I didn't get the job because apparently, they want people with no ambition who want to just take calls forever. I'm more than happy to earn it, but that doesn't mean I want to be on the phones forever.

I'm losing patience and hope. Can anyone recommend anything that will get me some money coming in (I don't have a car, I don't have my own space where I live either, and I don't get on with kids or dogs) that isn't the usual grind? I fail at corporate America forever.

Hi, all! Newbie here. I have two "fired from jobs" questions that maybe I can get some help with and a question about a spotty job history.

1 - I was fired from my last job with a big name company two jobs back (making it my third most recent job). I found a gift card on the property, used my employee number to check it and then used it, not knowing that company policy was to turn it in to my supervisor. So when I was fired I was fired for theft. I learned my lesson from it and will immediately turn over anything I may find to my supervisor. But how do I explain this to potential employers?

2 - My last two jobs were seasonal employment at a homeless shelter. In the 2010-2011 year I completed the entire job. During the 2011-2012 season I got let go (I was sick, didn't want to get anyone else sick, so I asked if I could have the day to get better...no replacement was found through the people who got me the job so everyone who was hired by my church was fired). When I interviewed for my last job they didn't seem to hold that one against me because everyone was let go. Should I go into detail when I mention it?

3 - The last few applications I've filled out I've put these jobs but then put not to contact. But before them I hadn't had a job in seven years, having attempted to go to school and had a child in that time. If there's more room for jobs, should I put the one I had before the seven year break? I left that company on good terms, so I'm wondering if it would look good. I know the first job I talked about here won't say why I was fired, just the dates I worked, but I'm not sure what the homeless shelter job would say.

I have two.

One job fired me and several co-workers because we'd preferred to have lunch on our own as opposed to with the Borg Collective (aka our co-workers who did everything together in lockstep) combined with firing us because they'd fired the guy who'd hired us.

The second firing was because the temp agency who'd hired me for a call center job got in trouble because someone they'd also hired came to work drunk. So they told the agency to fire all of us, because apparently. you can get drunk just by osmosis.

The first was in 2003, and the second happened in 1999. Anyone else want to share stories of being fired over stupid things?

Is anyone here narrowing their searching to strictly full-time or strictly part-time, or is everyone pretty much going for everything they somewhat qualify for? I'm in a transitional, unemployment dilemma.

Where I am now:
I've kind of given up searching for a part-time job. I hate retail (after three retail jobs, I have learned to hate the entire retail world), and the only food service I have experience with and won't make me sick is a large coffee chain we all know, which won't hire me back despite my previous experience from a few years ago. My most recent employer, whose computer system fired me because I was listed as being seasonal, won't hire me back for the same position despite an obvious opening. (The hiring manager gave me the run-around and told me the position wasn't available AS SHE WAS INTERVIEWING ME.) It's a shame because I loved both of these jobs. It always seems like my part-time employers are just screwing with me, and I don't want to be unhappy anymore.

I've starting looking for full-time jobs in editing, plus any freelancing openings for anything editing realted. I've always liked editing. In fact, it was my first job and I wouldn't have applied to it if I hadn't actually wanted to do it (this was during Freshman year, when I had no pressure whatsoever to have money). I just don't have much experience besides my first job and writing my novels. (Writing full-time is a separate matter as it takes at least a year to produce a novel. I'm far away from submitting a manuscript.)

In the past two weeks, I've applied to seven editing jobs in several different states. I'm still waiting for replies from six of these. While I know it might be weeks before I hear back from any of the companies, I get depressed when waiting for supposed rejections. Should I decide to be broke while I wait?

As I live with my parents and they're all too happy to have me (I moved in with them this past August soon after graduating, finding myself without a job related to my major), I'm not too worried about money for living costs. However, my already low funds will reach their limit in exactly one month. I recently got hired by my old dance studio to help out with one class, which equals to $8/week. Obviously not enough, but they don't have other openings. Do I take a part-time gig just for some dough? I would feel guilty if my mom had to pay off my college loans and car because she had to pay for most of my tuition when I was still in school.

Speaking of school, I've been considering getting a certificate in something. Because of my dance background, Pilates has always been appealing and I enjoy doing it. Getting a teaching certificate takes about one year, would likely require me to briefly relocate for an out-of-town school, and costs money for exercise classes and related business management classes. I've also considered grad school for library science. I've always wanted to work for a library and would love to turn my young adult knowledge and guilty pleasure into something that could serve a community. Grad school would take about two years, would definitely require me to relocate unless I wanted to attend a second-rate, online program, and costs a lot more money. Every time I think about going to school for anything, two things come to mind: my hatred for writing papers (would apply only to the grad school option); and the voice of Suze Orman yelling, "Why are you doing this if you can't afford it?"

This week, I'll be applying for administrative jobs in medical offices even though I have no experience with either administration or medical anything. Their $10/hr paycheck looks more appealing than the ads themselves. I can't find any more editing jobs, unless you count technical writing or business letter proofreading. I have no idea what these are, but some days they look interesting. Does anyone else get into these applying spurts where everything looks interesting, followed by days of feeling inadequate?

Today, I was fired from my student job where I worked in the Duplication Center, picking up campus mail and doing the filing of work orders. Recently, I took out another student loan, and it ended up being a larger amount than I felt comfortable receiving in the mail. I inquired at the business office if the check had dispersed, and if so, could I have it instead of them mailing it out. The business office claims that I told them I was going to take the check, no matter what, and that they did not want me picking up their mail anymore.

I was called into the office this afternoon by my boss, and it had been decided that since I was not allowed to pick up mail for the business office anymore, that I was being let go. I feel like my question was completely misconstrued, and that it was not a fair basis for firing me. I simply asked a question, because I am an honest person. I could have easily taken the check and not said anything, but I chose honesty.

The questions I have are, who do I speak to at the college to get the situation straightened out? Was my boss in her rights to fire me? I don't necessarily want my job back, because I feel like I would just be mistrusted at this point. I was caught completely off guard, and I don't have the luxury of taking months to find another job. I feel like a warning would have been more appropriate in this situation.

Thank You In Advance

Just wanted to say HI...im new to the group. I was let go a week before christmas. How is everyone's job search going??? Mine is still going.

Just checking in on you lovely members.  I want to know how you all are doing!  How is your job search going?  How is the market in your area?  How are you feeling right now?

*group hug*

This is a three part post (I don't even know if I'm allowed, but I'll put them behind cuts.

( Introduction. )
( Take 1 )
( Take 2 )
Thank you :D

Hi, all. I'm filling out a form for a job with a British organization, and there's a huge section on it with questions about disabilities, race/ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. I'd really rather not fill this out because I object to being asked, but I'm used to seeing great big "You don't have to fill this out" notifications for this sort of question. Am I required to answer them? Will it affect my chances of getting the job if I don't answer them?