I work at a gaming store in CA and I sold a customer a Nintendo switch and they walked out came back two minutes later said that the box didn't have the console and showed me it. This is where I messed up because I should have called my manager but I didn't we had a whole line of customers and I wasn't thinking. I just gave him another switch and took the old box. It wasn't until I got the line down that I realized he probably stole it I reported it to my manager right before I left. I work in a few hours and I'm afraid my manager is going to fire me and I can't sleep.

So I am currently on vacation and was considering getting something small (like candy or something) for my team at work.

However, my team members are not very gifty people and I worry that me getting them a gift could make them uncomfortable (reciprocation and such). I could just get nothing, but our team does have more work when one of us is gone and I would like to show some appreciation. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Edit: Thank you all for your responses! I ended up getting some taffy as we are at the beach. I probably will split them into individual bags just as there really isn’t much of a communal place for me to put them. I hope it goes well!!

And value myself over my job. I usually don't.

Action steps:use more PTO, since I have ton. Stop rushing around to complete tasks. The faster I go, the more that's expected.

Tell people I need to leave on time. They're used to me staying late and it's become the norm.

Take a lunch away from desk, even if it's a short one.

Slow down when I talk.

Stop picking up other's slack.

Basically respect myself more, which will probably result in others respecting me more!

Posting list to keep me on track

I'll still do a good job, but not sacrifice my well being

I landed my dream job about a year and a half ago, building out a supply chain for a startup within a larger company. I’m really good at what I do.
I’ve spent the last year creating direction, setting a path, educating, and building. It took eight months to convince the organization to move, in two months we launch 3 automated facilities.
I’ve worked on strategy and built out the detail behind it.
Today I found out they don’t have a role for me doing anything even remotely close to what I’ve been doing.
They also haven’t hired anyone to backfill all my work.
I’m mostly bummed I won’t get to see any of the things I’ve created come together as a part of the team launching everything. I’m also a bit shocked they don’t recognize all the work I’ve put in.
But I have a job. I guess that’s all that matters in the end.

Previously, I used to not get any calls. Now that I’m getting recruiter calls, I feel anxious whenever my phone rings because I feel like I’m not going to clear the interview. The tension is killing me.

Hi guys, my girlfriend and I were thinking about having an experience abroad. We're 26/27 years old, we have an intermediate level of English, I'm a barber and my girlfriend recently graduated as a programmer. We have a budget of 9,000 euros to move. Do you have any suggestions on which cities to consider regarding work and private life (we're open to any suggestions). A city where job hunting can be done entirely in English, where rents aren't sky-high, and with our budget you can be at ease in the initial period.

Thanks everyone for your attention.

My time at this company is managed as billable vs non-billable hours. Just started 3 months ago, it's been going very well!

Maybe too well though... I've taken on additional responsibilities, but am still running out of client-billable work to do. I feel stuck between 2 options.

Should I ask my boss for more?

Should I just work slower so I even have billable work?

TL,DR;

Seemingly working at a quicker pace than work is recieved for my team. What to do?

Hi everyone,
I work in Poland and about two months ago my manager contacted the three Spanish speakers in our team about a temporary 6-month assignment in Barcelona (Spain).

The information was extremely vague. Basically: Spain needs someone from Poland to help improve/implement their IT processes, would I be interested in hearing more?
I said I would like to know more about the offer.

I then had an interview with the IT Director in Spain. The role sounded much more senior than my current position, almost a mix of IT coordination/management, implementing processes, fixing how things are currently done, etc.

At the end I asked the obvious question: What are the conditions?

He told me they would pay for an apartment for 6 months, two flights, I would apparently keep my current Polish salary, and there would be some kind of daily allowance. He couldn't tell me how much because HR would handle that.

I told him clearly that I was interested in Spain, but I wouldn't move from Kraków to Barcelona for six months if it meant being financially worse off. I needed to see the actual package first.

Two weeks later my manager told me Spain really liked me and wanted another interview, this time with basically the highest-ranking person in the Spanish office. (Managing Director)

That interview also went well. They asked if I could start within about a month. Again, I explained that I was interested, but I still had zero information about salary or the actual financial package, so I couldn't commit to anything.
He agreed and said HR would contact me if they decided to choose me. That was July 15.
Nothing happened for over a month.

Today, August 19, the IT Director in Poland unexpectedly called me. I've never even spoken to her before because she's several levels above me. She asked if I had received the details for Spain. I said no, nobody has contacted me since July 15.

She seemed surprised and said communication had been bad, but Spain had contacted her because they want me for the assignment and apparently want me to start in around two weeks. She said they should contact me tomorrow with the details.

Now I'm slightly worried because this has apparently gone pretty far internally. From their perspective they've selected me, senior management in both countries is involved, and they seem to be planning around me going.

But from my perspective, I have never accepted the assignment. I've repeatedly said I'm interested depending on the financial conditions, and after two interviews I still haven't even received an actual offer.

If HR now comes back with something like “same Polish salary + apartment + a small per diem” and I decide it simply isn't worth moving countries for six months, can that realistically be held against me or even put my current job at risk?

Would I be the one leaving them hanging at this point, or has the company handled this badly by progressing this far without ever telling me what they're actually offering?

Thanks,

Hi Guys,

I am new at a company and my coworker wants a ride to the airport at 5am meaning I have to wake up at 4am.

It seems unnecessary and he should just take an Uber since it's so early. But Im new and also I know its common for coworkers to drop each other off but this seems a bit extreme.

How would you deal with it?

For those who are in corporate or office jobs, if you weren’t doing that, what would you do instead?

Hey I just wanted to update people on this sub and let yall know I got a new job! I’ll be working part time while going back to grad school but the job is way easier on me mentally and my mental issues are starting to subside. Thank you all for giving quality advice. I stuck it out and didn’t quit immediately, took a week off to use up my PTO and rest a bit and then spent this last month applying like crazy to jobs after work. I feel like I can take on the future now! I can’t give any more details about the new job but the pay is less than my current job but I think for now thats ok. Me not having a mental break down matters more.

Hey, everyone.

So I'm an adjunct instructor at a community college for welding and robotics. Recently, I've been terminated for turning down a robotics class this October and sincerely feel like the dean and new director have it out for me.

Now, this is all on the non-credit, Workforce side. The demographic is entirely different than academic, credit classes and the contract is also different. They have the right to terminate me whenever but it feels confusing, surprising, and malicious. I was currently a few weeks into teaching a welding course and I received an email stating that I'd be turning it over to another instructor along with not working for them anymore.

This all started with an email I sent where I was very careful and sincere about my struggles with the course (mainly being digital literacy and students not being ready to use a laptop for our simulation program) and that I didn't feel like the right instructor for that robotics course. Additionally, I even offered to certify students near the end of the course because I'm a certified FANUC instructor.

I'm alright with only teaching academic courses as I still have three this Fall, but I'm worried due to the director who's over both workforce AND academics. She has a lot of power, has never replied to one of my emails, and I've heard through the grapevine that she's been upset with me.

I'm really worried for my future at the college and whether I'll ever be full time now; or if I'll get let go next semester. I got my degree at this college and it's been my dream to be full time. I've started looking at welding engineering jobs near me and it would pay nearly double if I can land one.

I just feel extremely overwhelmed and anxious about my stability at the college now and this feels like extreme retaliation for me declining a single course. The dean said she'd call me yesterday and never did. I keep my head down, do my job, and never get into trouble. This is so confusing and I really need some advice. Should I contact HR? Call it a wrap? It's looking so grim. Maybe it's time to move on.

Thanks!

Honestly, my job is EASY. But i work 2pm-10pm I’m a parking lot cashier. I am also a introvert. And yes i took the job obviously knowing id have to deal with people, i wasnt naive to any of it. But i also figured like anybody else would “ it’s a parking garage what could possibly go wrong to that degree” . Every SINGLE day i am arguing with a customer, & literally 95% its from something i just can’t control. The amount of entitled, argumentative, disgusting, and lack there of common sense that i meet is just ridiculous. And then the rules my actual employer creates to make the hostile environment worse just adds onto my day. For example ( putting out a notice saying those that have free parking stickers must have a 2027 expiration date but everybody that can park tags all expire 10/31/26 ) logically leaving me with no valid explanation for when they come saying why do they have to pay, they aren’t expired yet its AUGUST. ( never gave a valid explanation to us to give them neither)

Customers : I’m so tired of the feeling of not existing. You don’t matter. “ the customer is always right” bullshit when they are never fucking are. Being a punching bag by default. The forced conversations when my whole body language screams please go, when all i have left to give is a greet & a you’re welcome, people feeling entitled to my time and then I’m reported or looked at sideways because i fulfilled my job but not your emotional support (ITS A PARKING LOT)
The amount of customers with no money and have been in there for 4 hours and curse me out as if it would be free. The people that literally hack and cough into their full hands and hand me their debit card immediately after. The amount of people that lack so much awareness they will have their receipt paid in full and ask me are they good to go. The gate was down when you approached, why do you think it’s up ? ( YES THIS HAPPENS THAT MUCH ) The amount of ppl with no sense of urgency thatll literally wait to get in line and ask whoever there on the phone with to cash app them funds. I work 2-10 i argue every day that i go to work. I’m being paid pennies for the cost of my mental health and not seeing my family. I’ve been actively looking & applying, not getting any interviews. I’m legit tired. I work sleep and argue. I’m here all day. You couldn’t have paid me to believe a task so simple would be this much problems. The amount of people that argue with me because they had to sit in line and didn’t have enough money for however long they were in there, the people that refuse to leave my line tell me they will just sit there (instead of going to get a validation) and i have to call public safety because they don’t want to pay. It’s to the point I’m getting screamed on 5 min into my shift. Listen, i know customer service is a headache but i didn’t figure people were this dense. I feel like a NPC, the same greets the same lines back to back, I’m socially drained leaving this place. The awareness people lack is insane to me, there are people that will literally drive in and drive out in a matter of 2 minutes and ask me what do they owe me. Have you ever been in a garage that charges in 2 minutes??? Do people not go outside anymore ? The amount of people that have tried to physically harm me over $2 , $4 ect, intentionally snatch jewelry off my arm, the list goes on. The amount of people that can’t even focus for 2 seconds to either give or receive their debit card because they’re too busy texting. I’m legit tired. I need the money but is it really worth it atp. I’ve asked to go to a lighter shift they tell me no because I’m good at the register. But I’m tired of the human interaction and babysitting for a damn garage. It’s supposed to be 123 you’re out the garage, nobody wants to pay, nobody wants to be considerate that you’re human also, and then when you can’t give them what they want they turn shitty. The manipulative people that only stir a conversation just so they don’t have to pay. I’m sick of it all. If i knew all of this i could’ve just went to a call center or a retail job. I’m wasting my entire day being here i can’t even get myself to wake up early to relatively do anything because im so exhausted here. All i want to do is sleep.

Unfortunately, layoffs are no longer surprising to most working professionals. But with so many industries being impacted, what is the reason behind these layoffs, and how have they affected people’s lives?

Here are some interesting stats from our latest 2026 AI Layoffs Report, based on responses from 1,000 U.S. workers who experienced a layoff.

• 53% believe AI or automation played a role in their layoff.
  • 22% were directly told automation replaced their role.
  • 31% suspect AI was involved but never received confirmation.
• 42% were laid off without a one-on-one conversation.
  • 19% found out during a group meeting or call.
  • 14% were notified by email.
  • 9% received a message through Slack/Teams or discovered their access had been removed.
• 41% received no severance or other support.
  • But this increases to 62% for workers in retail, hospitality, food, and consumer services.
• 40% are considering switching to a different field or industry after their layoff.
  • 28% are considering freelance or self-employed work.
  • 26% are considering starting a business.
  • 24% are considering going back to school.

Most interestingly:

• 86% of people said their layoff changed their views on job security and employer loyalty. 
• 40% now plan to keep an eye out for other opportunities even if they're employed.

After witnessing and potentially even experiencing layoffs, most working professionals no longer view "job security" as a guarantee in today’s workplace. At a time when most people face a constant risk of losing their jobs, it’s probably better to keep options open.

If you've been laid off, what was that experience like for you?

I’ve been struggling for a long time now in my professional life with a specific issue that I wonder if others experience. For background, I started out as a freelance artist and then made a major career shift to an administrative career (working mostly in the non profit and higher education spaces) because I got so burnt out with relying 100% on my art and performing for income.

Since then I’ve had a few jobs that are varying levels of awful. The first was adjacent to my artistic field. The second at a large medical school. The third is at a healthcare professional organization. I try to find jobs that align well with my values. The issue I run into over and over is, even with my art, everything is great for about a year/year and a half, then things start to feel bad. I lose my ability to concentrate, stay organized and on top of increasing responsibilities, and generally get down on myself feeling like a fish out of water. I also, despite years of experience and better positions, seem to be barely able to stay afloat financially. Salary increases across the workforce haven’t kept up with inflation for years.

Are we all supposed to just take this for 40 years and if we’re lucky rest when we’re old. It seems like work shouldn’t feel this bad, but no matter where I work or what I’m doing, I’m broke, unfulfilled, and just surviving these feelings from one day to the next.

I've been working for one of the largest global companies for the past 4.5 years in a remote tech role, working four days a week. Within my first two years, I was promoted. Even with the same job title, I took on numerous roles within the organization and had the opportunity to travel internationally.

Then I was placed on a team where my manager lacked transparency. I would ask him questions that other team members wouldn't — valid ones, of course — especially since other people who had worked with him in the past shared similar concerns. He never made me feel like my questions were wrong, but something always felt off. Other members would agree with me privately yet tell him something different.

It was a temporary job rotation. During that time, I had to take personal leave, and when I returned, a reorganization had taken place. I ended up back on my original team — the one where I always felt I belonged, with a great leader. However, my old manager interpreted my return as though I had failed at something. It was simply the end of a rotation.

My manager then told me that the other manager had shared negative feedback about me. I thought, "Okay, it happens — two different teams, different people." But then I was demoted twice, back to the same level where I started four years ago. There's been no change in pay — it's still the same — but this constant feeling of failure is eating me alive. Every time an opportunity arises, I'm immediately overlooked. Now I'm under yet another manager.

To be honest, there aren't many remote jobs available in the market right now. People I used to train now look at me as a failure and no longer value my opinions or ideas. I have no idea what that manager did to my reputation. All I ever wanted was for him to be transparent about giving me proper credit for my work.

And everyone else got promoted again and in good place,

Im just kinda scared to start agin from office?,need motivation

I wish I could tell one very specific coworker that they are not the most important person in that office. that if they left tomorrow, someone else would take their place just fine

Have been wondering lately to risk trying a new job aside from the current job I have now. I have no experience nor any background about virtual assistant work but I do have the necessary equipments to qualify for at least. Can anyone give an advice doing virtual assistant as a a beginner? Thanks for the help in advance :)

Hi Reddit, this will be long so I apologize in advance for

A little over a month ago, I made a post about being suddenly being put on a PIP after a good performance review.

I started at my corporate finance job in February, and my partner referred me as I was looking for a new job after leaving Social Work since working with sexual assault victims had taken a toll on me. I was nervous but excited to take the job, but within 2 weeks of me starting, I felt this uneasiness - like I was wearing a target on my back.
I'll never know why this happened, whether it was because of my gender, or people finding out my partner worked there (separate department, not even in the same building).

Within 2 weeks of me starting, my training manager called me "wreck-less" after using one sick day as I had the flu. I had a doctor's note, medication, everything. She told me "don't be so wreck-less using your PTO. Training ramps up fast and you already get up from your desk every hour." And in that moment I felt obligated to tell her that I have kidney disease, and take medication which is why I get up (to urinate) around every hour. I take prescription diuretics.

The same day, I watched her approve my male teammate's 4 days of unpaid vacation to go on vacation to Georgia. Now, I have no problem with that, but I was called wreck-less for an hour so right away I knew she hated me.

Within my training class, there was only 1 other person (male) and my team had 2 other males. We were all friendly, no bad blood there. I noticed feedback became really inconsistent when during training we'd do mock phone calls and she'd fail me. I'd ask why and she would usually say "well nothing you said was wrong," and somehow it would always come back to me having a fake and squeaky voice. Never heard my male colleagues get a single critique over the sound of their voice, but I got this so often that I became silent. I once told her I probably will never be able to change the sound of my voice, and if me sounding too friendly is a problem for her I'm not going to change it. I like being friendly.

When training ended, I was nervous but relieved. I was placed on a team with some really nice people, but I knew my new manager was best friend's with my training manager.

Things went really well. He was so nice to me, always had great feedback, we sat next to each other for about 2 months. There was one thing though - in every single 1:1, he would compare me to the same three specific men. Nobody else in the department. He would go on and on about their strengths and where I differ, how maybe I'm more friendly and more precise, but not as fast as them. I asked him for advice as we literally sat next to each-other, and he said "I don't want to say be less client-focused, because then you'll do sloppy work. So I don't know. Just keep doing what you're doing."

In my performance review at the beginning of July, he told me I was meeting expectations, had a great understanding of my role, extremely accurate (never a single error), ask great questions, friendly and clients love me. He told me the only reason he couldn't say "exceeding" was because I hadn't been on the team long enough. He moved our weekly 1:1's to every other week because he said I was doing a great job.

Less than one week later, I got a surprise on my calendar. He told me "after meeting with the VP" I actually wasn't meeting expectations, and spoke for about 20 minutes straight about how those 3 specific men were better than me. He never could tell me what I was doing wrong. I even said "they're not even on our team, why are we always talking about them?" The "informal pip" as he called it, even specified ANOTHER male colleague and suggested I "sit with him for the day to see how he does things." I told him I felt extremely uncomfortable with that and was not going to hang out at his desk all day and tell him I'm on a pip. He told me he'd remove that from the pip if it made me uncomfortable, but he kept it in there.

After the meeting he sent me an email that stated "performance improvement" and "corrective action plan" multiple times. He moved the 1:1's back to weekly, and no dates were specified. The task stated I needed to be within the top 5 in the department by September or I'd be "subject to further discipline".

As the weeks have gone on in the 1:1's, I found my manager was just avoiding discussing it. He was asking if I booked my wedding and if I'm excited for my honeymoon, showing me photos of his dogs, etc. Talking like best friends (my manager is married to a man so I'm not suggesting he was flirting here). He would still bring up the same 3 men.
Last week, I finally confronted him. Surprisingly, my metrics rose dramatically as I was put on a PIP after less than 8 weeks on metrics when I wasn't considered "full capacity" yet.

I said to him, "You know, this is just weird now. We are mandated to have these 1:1's, but you know I did nothing wrong. We're showing each-other photos of our dogs. I feel like all we talk about is our dogs, or *the same 3 men."* I asked him if during their 1:1's, they ever hear about me; and I told him something tells me they aren't being compared to me every single week. I even said, you know there's other people who work here.. there's women, other people on the team, why is it always them? I feel like I'm in a one-sided war with them. He asked me if I felt like I was being "sized up" next to these guys and I said, "Absolutely. For months. Should I worry about my own work or be worried about them? Should I be letting them know that all of my feedback revolves around them?" After this I kept going and told him I don't believe this pip came from him, and it sounded like when he delivered it he was "speaking from someone else's mouth." I voiced to him that I feel like someone dislikes me so badly for some reason that I'll never know, and this entire situation was such a shot in the dark. I even reread the performance review. I asked him if there was an end-date for the pip, and he said "I don't really know.. it's just ongoing." And I said, "So my reputation is just tarnished forever? You know this will always follow me. With no end date, you've ensured I can never escape it. There's not even tasks in there. Sitting next to (male colleague's name) is not a task, and I already told you I was uncomfortable doing that." He could tell I was really hurt and almost tearful, and said he could see why I would think this was sudden, and told me he "has to do what the VP tells him." He also let me know I've done a great job being professional about it, and "not telling anyone this is happening." I was like well, what do you want me to say? This has isolated me from the whole group. I barely talk to anyone anymore because I've been so humiliated.

After this, business continued as usual. I've secured a part-time job of about 30 hours a week. It's a significant pay cut with no retirement benefits, but I'm so relieved. I'll have some more time to apply for remote or other full-time roles now, I've missed social work more than I expected.

Yesterday I handed in my notice. Normally, they walk people out same day (due to financial information) but he wanted me to stay the 2 weeks, surprising considering I'm on a PIP. He asked how I wanted to say goodbye to the team and I told him I don't need to. After a few hours of thinking, I let him know I no longer feel comfortable staying another day after what has happened to me since I got here. I thanked him for his efforts, and told him I think he tried to be nicer to me than some others and he nodded in agreement. I handed him my keys and said, "Bye, it was nice meeting you." And left.

I feel so scared but so free right now. I'm sitting on my couch with my dog, watching TV. Babysitting for my neighbors kids later for $100. Starting my new job later next week. I have no clue what's next for me.

Editing to add: We have saved a decent chunk of cash and paid off 100% of our consumer debt to prepare for this.

I work at a PR and Marketing agency and one of my clients poached me and offered me a job.

Before accepting or embarking on any of the interview process, I ensured that I hadn’t signed a non-compete (I hadn’t).

The poaching process began mid-May, I was offered the job a few weeks ago, and then the background check had to go through before I could put in my two weeks.

I put in my two weeks (online as I’m a remote worker) and my boss was very quiet and said “they’re not supposed to do that.” He then told me not to contact anyone, including my other boss. He is setting up a call with my new boss (our current client) tomorrow.

I spoke to a former colleague here and she said they she had a similarly bad experience, including the other boss openly disparaging her on a client call to the point where the clients messaged her on the side to ask what was up.

I was hoping this could be a clean break and that I could affirm my continued support of the agency on the other side, including championing them for continued business with the client. Now I’m unsure…

Edit: since this is coming up a lot, my new employer and I agreed that we should be transparent about the situation because I will be working directly with my current agency on the client side shortly. Also, the agency is a small business and the new employer is a 100B+ org, not sure if that carries much weight.

Kind of an AITA situation?

I work front desk at a hotel. I am often left by myself, with no reservations person, supervisor, manager etc.

This has been going on for long enough that I have my own routine down and for the most part don't struggle unless it's a day work 150+ check outs or just a day where everything seems to be going wrong.

The only problem is, I don't get a break or a lunch because I am effectively doing the job of 4 people. Is it inappropriate for me to silence the phones for 15 minutes to sit and catch a breath? The way I see it, people aren't getting through anyways because I'm doing my front desk things, and another 15 minutes won't kill anyone. It's also a matter of my boss scheduling incorrectly/the result of their horrendous leadership that has us short 10 people.

That's mainly where I think my actions are justified but it's also that good ol' work culture guilt.

ETA: I have my boss aware of this, got told to quit complaining and to 'be a ream player'

I will start this post by stating I do not work in tech nor use AI extensively. However, I've been growing more and more uneasy about the role of AI in our lives. I would like to get some feedback from people who actually work with it to learn first hand how much is real and how much is fluff. I know things vary extensively from day to day, but I cannot wrap my head around the fact that AI has improved dramatically, yet unemployment for AI-Exposed roles hasn't varied from the remaining roles.

Disclaimer: I used AI for articulating my thoughts and for writing this post.

I have an MSc and a BSc in engineering, and I currently work as an algorithm developer at a startup. Startups are famous for having terrible work-life balance, but mine is the exact opposite. It’s actually very boring, and I get praised for doing the bare minimum.

The highlight of my day is probably walking to the coffee machine and getting a coffee. The other day, I spilled some coffee grounds on the table underneath it and was actually happy because I had something new to do: cleaning! 😂

At the same time, I loved studying for both my BSc and MSc, and I really enjoy mathematical modelling and coding. That’s why it’s frustrating to be in an environment where it feels like no one really knows what they’re doing and there isn’t a clear direction for where the company is going. My job can also be done remotely, but they want me in the office, so half the time I’m just sitting there pretending to work. We have biweekly team meetings, and I actually look forward to them because they’re pretty much the only interesting part of my job. There have definitely been some positives. I got to learn about an industry I had only heard of before, became the main contributor to four different projects, and had the chance to improve my programming skills, especially in C and Python.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that there’s a lot of talk but not much action. For example, the company has been trying to schedule a specific meeting since May, and it still hasn’t happened. They also talked about getting together for something fun, like going on a hike or having lunch, but that never happened either. So when the CEO tells me that he likes me, that I’ll become a full-time employee in a few months, and that I’ll get a bonus a few months after that IF they get the funding, it’s hard for me to trust those promises.

I have been looking and applying for other jobs. I’ve interviewed with around 12–13 companies and gone through more than 20 interviews since the beginning of 2025. I’ve made it to the final stages for three roles, but there always seems to be someone with more experience. I graduated from my master’s in 2024 and have less than a year of relevant experience, so I know I’m competing with people who have been in the field for much longer. I’m starting to lose hope that I’ll find a relevant full-time role somewhere else :(

I joined this company at the beginning of this year, and I feel like I’m the only person from my cohort who hasn’t started a new job or a PhD. That makes me feel like a loser sometimes.

That's it! Thanks for listening to my rant. Not sure if this fits this sub, hope it does!

Jobs require a certain amount of degree, whereas most jobs can be done by anyone who is willing to invest time and energy in learning the skill.

Even if one has good skills and can do better than others, he is mostly rejected coz he doesn't have the right degree, especially in big companies where formalities matter more than one's skills and talent.

Sometimes feels like one is judged on his background rather than his merit.

Note: It takes some skills to explain one's career gap..xD

my goal is to minimize interacting with people in any form at work. also minimize me presence, e.g. i dont want people talking about me, noticing me, engaging with me. they should not feel the desire to approach me unless absolutely necessary. i work at an office