Author's Note:
7700 words, broke Reddit's character limit, so you know the drill. Will be split into two parts, both posted today. Enjoy!
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"Stop! STOP!"
The terror in Kismet's voice rose higher as death drew nearer. He fled from Rob's grasping hand, but a Purge Divinity-infused fingernail managed to graze him, carving out a scoop of divine essence as if flaying a mortal's skin.
Kismet let out a screech as the Purging energy added to his growing collection of scars. A dozen small holes now dotted the surface of his mana-body, looking like he'd been pockmarked by wasting disease. Each wound represented a moment where the god had narrowly escaped with his life.
If those injuries had been inflicted by any other ability, then he could have rejuvenated himself in the time it took to blink. Purging energy was not so kind as that. It was purifying wrath in the shape of a Skill; their vengeance given form. Whatever divinity it touched, it extinguished.
As if cleansing the universe of a sickness that had infected it for far too long.
The BERSERKER continued his unrelenting advance. In response, Kismet threw up a frantic barrier of mana. It was strong enough to deflect one of Ragnavi's Annihilation beams–
And Rob blasted through it like paper mache. His charge sent broken shards of energy scattering across the divine realms. More mid-air rifts tore open, the HUMAN's aura strangling the surrounding area in a vice grip of power. Purge Divinity seemed to glow with light emanating straight from the pits of hell.
None of which was anywhere near as unnerving as the murder contained within his piercing gaze. When Kismet met Rob's eyes, he saw the end of eternity fast approaching.
The god's next barrier was just as frantic. However, this one was not comprised of mana, but of solid matter. Kismet summoned the hardest, most dense substance known to the mortal realms, then transmuted it into something that otherwise could only have been forged inside the heart of a dying star. It was many times more durable than the impossibly tough walls of an aberrant Dungeon.
So when Rob demolished it with a single punch, he actually had to put a bit of elbow grease into his windup.
Another wall materialized in front of him. He crushed it, then the one after, and the one after that, lashing out with bestial ferocity. The BERSERKER plowed through Kismet's hastily-built defenses like a bulldozer of fists and savagery. Rob was knocking them down as quickly as the god could make them, relishing the sensation of being able to vent his anger on targets that weren't fucking running away.
Then the twelfth wall fell – revealing a monstrous, spiky, fanged behemoth concealed behind.
Rob paused, momentarily taken aback at the sight of a mundane creature within the divine realms. 'Mundane' in relative terms, anyway. This monster was on par with a newborn Blight, radiating power that would have sent ordinary fighters sprinting for the hills.
It was also barely cognizant of its surroundings. The monster stared at him with unblinking, vacant eyes, just the tiniest glimmer of awareness present in its gaze. Rob noted that segments of its flesh were bubbling, as if the creature was fresh out of the oven and still needed to settle.
He couldn't help but feel a modicum of pity. This was yet another thoughtless creation, condemned to existence by an uncaring maker. Even monsters deserved better than that.
Rob caved the beast's head in before it could realize that it was alive. Pity was not the same as hesitation, and this was the only mercy he could afford to grant right now.
Didn't matter. Kismet's pawn served its purpose. In the brief instant that Rob spent getting over his initial surprise, the god had teleported to safety. He was already planning his next stunt that could buy him a few precious seconds of survival.
The HUMAN grimaced as he turned to give chase, unable to suppress the burgeoning sense of unease growing within his chest.
It almost didn't seem fair to feel that way. Rob knew he was winning – at least on the surface. Any outside observer would've bet their life savings on him, especially after the show of overwhelming superiority he'd just displayed. Kismet had been at a disadvantage before Never Forget Your Rage's recent upswing, and now it was no contest. Rob was confident that he would still be stronger even if the eight gods merged into one super-deity.
He also knew that he was living on borrowed time.
Whenever he moved, or activated a Skill, or even breathed...the sensation was there. Strength accompanied by incongruous frailty. Like background noise that kept getting louder with every action he took. His body felt close to pulling itself apart, as if his very molecules were a hairsbreadth away from coming undone.
It was different from Soul Instability. Whereas that threatened to collapse his soul, this frailty was an affliction of the flesh. The longer he fought, the more his physical form was at risk of popping like a balloon.
Such was the price of constraining godlike power within a mortal shell.
"Stay back!" Unaware of the turmoil fermenting in his assailant's mind, Kismet threw up his hands and...inverted...space? Rob didn't have a name for what he was seeing. Rather than stopping to puzzle out this latest brand of divine bullshit, he sent out a pulse of Purge Divinity, canceling whatever esoteric effect Kismet had been attempting to produce.
His Purging energy scraped against the divine realms like a cheese grater. Five rifts immediately tore open near both Rob and Kismet, with the god anxiously retreating from one that appeared just inches away from him. A low rumble echoed around them, and for a moment, they felt struck by an abrupt feeling of vertigo – until the realms gradually stabilized, righting once more.
For now.
Rob eyed the rifts with a detached, clinical gaze. An endless sea of mana resided behind them; the bedrock of the system itself. While he recognized that the rifts tearing open was bad news, he also couldn't really muster the energy to care. Between his overflowing rage, overtaxed body, and overburdened soul, minor details like the impending destruction of reality were hard to give much focus.
There was a way to fix all of that, of course. Rob couldn't outright deactivate Never Forget Your Rage – not without losing its bonus stats. But he could attempt to ease the storm of fury in his heart. By lessening his anger to more reasonable levels, Never Forget Your Rage would put less strain on both his body and the divine realms.
The notion forced a peal of hideous laughter to claw out of his throat. Lessen his anger? He'd have better luck trying to douse a volcano with a garden hose. No. For a wildfire that had grown this out of control, the only thing to do was stand aside and let it burn, burn, burn.
Until naught remained.
"I said stay back!" Kismet bellowed. He lifted his arms into the air. "Begone!" One moment later, Rob's vision was filled with scorching light. An apocalyptic geyser of mana burst forth from underfoot, intense and searing. It stripped the flesh from his bones in no time flat, powering through Almighty Resistance with pure, unmitigated violence.
And it still wasn't fast enough. Rob flickered a Purge Divinity shield for just an instant, allowing him to escape the geyser with his upper body – and most of his HP – intact. Lifesurge swiftly patched him up, leaving both combatants right back where they'd started.
Slowly, Kismet lowered his hands. They were shivering. "What are you?" he whispered. "Why are all my efforts in vain?"
To be honest, Rob was mildly impressed that Kismet had held on for this long. The god's combat efficacy was increasing as time passed, improving from panic-spamming teleports to more inventive maneuvers – as if he was learning how to fight on-the-job. He'd also stopped draining the other gods to supplement his power, having found an alternative source of fuel: mana seeping out from the sporadically-opening rifts.
It was the one silver lining to fighting an implacable BERSERKER so powerful that he fractured reality. Whenever Rob utilized Purge Divinity, more rifts opened up in the realms, and more mana leaked out from inside. The gods had invested that energy into the system millennia ago, and it typically would've been off-limits until they closed up shop and left Elatra. Kismet was making use of it now, absorbing the extra mana to strengthen himself, like a lifeline barely keeping him afloat.
The god's tenacity was...calling it 'admirable' would be going too far, but it did warrant a sort of begrudging respect. As someone who'd tangoed with multiple Blights, Rob knew what it was like to square off against a frenzied beast that could end him with a touch.
Being the scary one was a nice change of pace.
In exchange, Kismet had graciously donned the role of their battle's Combat Class user; fragile, outgunned, and pulling improvised maneuvers out of his ass for a chance at victory. The god could finally feel what it was like to be vulnerable. How exciting! Rob was more than happy to assist. Learning experiences such as these only came around once an eternity or so.
Flippancy aside – while Kismet still possessed room for improvement, this was the most that could be asked of a deity who hadn't seen combat in literal eons. His biggest fuckup had been taunting Rob in the wrong ways, but he couldn't have known about Never Forget Your Rage, that was an excusable oversight. By all other accounts, Kismet was performing adequately.
Even so...
"YoU aRE noTHinG."
The sound of Rob's voice caused two fresh rifts to open up. Kismet flinched, casting a teleportation spell out of pure reflex. Without pause, the HUMAN resumed his hunt.
Nothing. Perhaps that statement was hyperbole – yet it rang true nonetheless. While Kismet may have been a creature of supreme divinity, on the field of battle, his pedigree meant nothing. In the face of an implacable, unstoppable foe, his power was worth nothing. Very soon, he would be nothing, consigned to oblivion by Purging energy.
Rob couldn't help but unfavorably compare Kismet to the final Blight. Weren't these supposed to be two sides of the same coin? Each one-half of an original transcendent Will? Yet the Second Will had brought Rob to the edge of despair...and Kismet was fleeing like a cornered rodent. It was difficult to reconcile the two divinities as theoretical equals.
Although he knew that was an unfair comparison. Rob had fought the Blight before learning Limit Break and Never Forget Your Rage. Kismet wasn't weak.
The HUMAN was just far too strong.
If he rematched the Second Will today, he would beat it to death with his bare hands.
"Look at what you've wrought!" Kismet swept an arm out, gesturing towards some of the many rifts that Rob's presence was tearing open. "Do you understand what will transpire if you persist in this folly?! If the divine realms shatter, then so will all of Elatra! You are on the brink of destroying everything which you have striven to protect! Cease this–"
"CAN'T."
In a flash, Rob dashed forward and scooped out a chunk of the god's mana-body with Purge Divinity. Before he could do more, Kismet shrieked with pain and teleported away, leaving the BERSERKER to crush his prize between five clenched fingers.
"FoRCed mY HAnD." He located Kismet again. "NO GOING BACK."
Stopping wasn't an option. If the divine realms crumbled and Elatra imploded...well, that would be a faster end than what the gods had in store for its people. At least this way their deaths would be quick and hopefully painless – and his friends wouldn't be turned into Skills tortured for all eternity.
Still, Kismet did have a point. Destroying reality wasn't exactly the ideal outcome. There had to be a way to speed up the conclusion of their fight. Rob was certain he would win if given enough time, but he couldn't guarantee it would be before either his body or the divine realms collapsed.
{Ascend.}
Like a snake slithering through a minefield, Leveling High skirted past the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions raging within Rob's mind. He attempted to tune out its voice, yet Humanity's curse refused to be denied, the static loudening until he was compelled to respond. Quit distracting me, he snapped. In case you haven't noticed, I'm FUCKING. BUSY.
{You seek to ensure victory over those who rule above,} Leveling High continued, without missing a step. {As do I.}
Then sit back, shut up, and–
{Ignoring your deficiencies will not make them disappear. This body is...feeble. Incomplete. Unfit to wield the power contained therein. Like a polished sword attached to a brittle hilt, liable to snap in twain at any moment.}
Rob grit his teeth. He couldn't deny Leveling High's assertions. Normally he'd just tell it to piss off, but considering how much was at stake here...
With a feeling like he'd sat down to deal with the devil, Rob sighed. Then what do you propose? That we upgrade my body somehow? I don't think putting more points into Vitality would help, even if I had any to spare. Me being so juiced up on stats is half the problem.
It shook its head. {You have far surpassed the limitations of mortality. Strengthening your power further would be akin to pouring water into an overflowing cup.}
So we...what, increase the size of the cup?
Static akin to laughter echoed inside his head. {We do away with it entirely.}
An icy chill began creeping up Rob's spine, as if the cold hands of fate were working their way towards his neck. He recalled a system notification from days before – 'Your Race has morphed from Human (?) to: Ascending HUMAN'.
Not Ascended. Ascending.
Weeks-old memories came surging to the forefront. 'The Heartkiller is closer to our form of life than those you call friends,' the Blight-child of Elysium had once said. 'As long as you continue to live, eventually, you will become an existence with the power to crush the Others and free the Skills from their shackles. You are no longer one of the Ephemeral. Now, you are a cocoon, metamorphosing into something grander. When you emerge, you will be as the Eternal.'
The Blight-child had laughed at him, then. 'After joining us, preserving these worlds will no longer be your desire.'
Rob grimaced. Denied, he flatly told Leveling High. Whatever you're about to suggest isn't happening.
It scoffed at him. {Your prejudices blind you. Do you think the gods have need of physical bodies? Does it hinder them in any capacity? No – the opposite. By definition, infinity cannot be constrained. Discard this useless flesh, and your conquest of the divine realms is assured.}
Maybe you didn't hear me when I said–
{By all means. Spurn my counsel...and condemn your friends to death. Shall their lives be worth it, in the end?}
Rob sucked in air through clenched teeth.
{Ascend.} Leveling High purred with anticipation. {You are bound by a prison of meat, bone, and blood. Break free. Finish what has already begun. Gaze upon the tapestry of infinity in all its dreadful splendor. Seize victory not as a Human, but as a completed, transcendent HUMAN.}
With a scream to drown out the static, Rob chased after Kismet again and again. The god was in full-on panic mode, eschewing offensive attacks in favor of perpetual retreat, focused wholly on keeping the BERSERKER as far away as possible. He would teleport the instant that Rob laid eyes on him, frantically stalling for his life.
It was – quite unintentionally – providing evidence to Leveling High's claims. If Kismet was on the defensive, catching him would take time they might not have.
I... Rob narrowed his eyes. How would I finish Ascending, anyway? It isn't like I can just flip a switch and make it happen.
{Incorrect.}
He blinked. WHAT?
{You have long since achieved the qualifications for true godhood,} Leveling High explained, in a lecturing tone. {There is no milestone that remains necessary to achieve. Rather than needing to overcome some hurdle of strength or power, the obstacle barring your path is more...arbitrary. Self-imposed.}
Humanity's curse seemed to peer into his soul. When it spoke next, its voice was filled with disgust. {You remain mortal because you wish to do so – both consciously and subconsciously. The Ascension of a nascent deity has been obstructed by cheap sentimentality.}
Rob almost started an argument over its usage of 'cheap', but he exercised restraint, keenly aware that there was bigger fish to fry. Can't do anything about the subconscious. I am \not* activating Melancholy Resistance.*
{Nor should you,} Leveling High remarked, shuddering at the prospect. {A grand statement of intent will be sufficient to shift your mentality. I believe...yes.}
The static churned like a hive of buzzing wasps. {When you next tear off a piece of the leader god's mana...even if just a sliver...devour it. Gorge yourself on their essence.}
Bile threatened to rise to the top of Rob's throat. Seems excessive, he mused, trying and failing to keep his tone lighthearted. To become a god, I eat a god? Wouldn't that make me a divine cannibal?
{You ARE a cannibal.} Leveling High's voice wavered, its veneer of helpfulness slipping to reveal the madness that lay beneath. {What do you think you've been DOING for nearly a YEAR? You kill, ingest your prey's Experience, and MAKE THEIR POWER YOUR OWN. This world is one of consumption and parasitism – devouring a god's essence is merely a more HONEST variant of THE SAME actions.}
...You clearly weren't paying attention during Diplomacy's PR lessons. Rob pursued Kismet once again, pressing his fingernails into his palms when the god hurriedly teleported away. There is such a thing as being too straightforward. If you want people to listen to you, then maybe dress up your words so they don't sound so horrifying.
{BUT AM I WRONG?}
Rob had no answer to that.
Bolts of divine mana peppered his skin. Kismet had barely managed to squeeze an attack in-between his escapes. The bolts ricocheted off Rob's skin like ping-pong balls, leaving minor scrapes and nothing more. It wasn't anywhere close to bypassing Almighty Resistance and his massive HP pool.
Yet it also reminded him of the mana-spears that Kismet had sent towards the rest of Riardin's Rangers. His Party members only possessed a shared, diluted version of Almighty Resistance, and their HP was a fraction of his. If Kismet aimed another attack of that caliber at them...how many would perish, right then and there?
Was Leveling High correct? What point was there to sentimentality if it just got his friends killed?
In truth, Rob knew that it didn't really matter if he completed his Ascension. Based on what he had planned for himself after the gods were dead, little would change either way. Still...he also knew that Ascending would be a one-way trip. No take-backs. If he went through with it, a fundamental part of him would be irrevocably altered.
Something twinged in a corner of his mind. It wasn't Leveling High, or his rage, or any of the other emotions currently dominating his headspace. This was a familiar friend; perhaps Rob's #1 most trusted confidant since he'd first set foot in Elatra. One that had rarely ever steered him wrong.
Paranoia.
And at the moment, it was telling him to be very careful before jumping into the deep end.
Ten teleports.
{What?}
Give it ten more Kismet teleports, Rob said. If I haven't dealt him a serious injury by then....I'll do what I need to do. He grimaced as Kismet vanished before he'd even finished the thought. Ten starting now.
Leveling High's static quieted. It resembled a patron at a restaurant who'd ordered their meal, and was waiting patiently for the main course to arrive.
Rob didn't waste time being offended over its nonchalance. Free of distractions, he immediately swept his gaze across the divine realms, pinpointing his quarry in a micro-instant. The BERSERKER dashed forward, pushing his body as far as he could, layering Rampages on top of Dexterity that made the laws of physics want to curl up and weep.
Kismet was prepared. He'd drawn more mana from the fractured rifts, quickening his speed and reactions. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep his head above water, not yet outpaced by their continually escalating arms race.
The HUMAN struck, the god fled, and both were left in the same position as before.
{One.}
Rob turned on a dime, charging without needing to look. He'd heard the moment that Kismet's teleport ended. It afforded him a split-second head start.
A gravity well suddenly appeared below his feet, as if a miniaturized black hole was weighing him down. Apparently, Kismet had set it up ahead of time as a just-in-case trap. Rob pierced through the spell's area of effect before it could ramp up to something dangerous, but his pace was slowed by a hair in the process, and his prey escaped.
{Two.}
You know what? Screw this. Rob whirled away from Kismet's newest location and blasted straight towards one of the lesser deities that his Party members were fighting.
He'd been too hung up on getting even with a hated foe – when there were seven other juicy morsels for him to play with. This way, Kismet would either sit back and watch as his allies were massacred, or the god would be forced to act instead of running like a goddamn cowar–
Sense Mana alerted Rob to magic gathering behind.
Pivoting, he leapt into the air. Rob superimposed himself in front of Kismet, bodyblocking the rainstorm of destructive mana that was about to be unleashed upon Riardin's Rangers.
Due to his swift response, the attack was released early. A simple Purge Divinity shield prevented him from incurring any damage. Rob still felt no sense of triumph as the mana dissipated around him. He just wasn't fast enough to kill the lesser gods and protect his Party at the same time – or at least not fast enough that he should gamble their lives on it.
Kismet disappearing a moment later didn't help matters either.
{Three.}
Frontal assaults weren't guaranteed to succeed, and targeting the other gods was a no-go. Could he take Kismet by surprise? Increase his Dexterity?
Rob contemplated mining Never Forget Your Rage for more stats, but swiftly vetoed the idea. His body was already struggling to hold itself together. Putting additional strain on a shaky foundation seemed...unwise.
Plus – at the risk of eating crow in the near future – he didn't actually think it was possible to feel angrier at the gods than he was right now. Seriously, what was left?
He hated them for sending him to a fantasy deathworld. He hated them for tormenting his friends and family. He hated them for being partially responsible for the Blight. He hated them for what they'd done to Elatra and Earth. He hated them for all the lives they'd stolen. He hated them for being the living embodiments of indifference and cruelty. He hated that they fostered good PR among the people they oppressed. He hated how monsters of such craven hypocrisy were also immeasurably powerful. He hated the sensation of divine mana crawling on his skin. He hated the unsettling sound of their voices. He hated their bizarre formless appearances. He hated them for being pompous pricks. He hated whenever they tried to relate to him. He hated whenever they didn't.
Most of all, he hated that they were still alive.
Even if he found out that they'd personally antagonized him since birth or some petty nonsense like that, it wouldn't measure up to the litany of transgressions they'd committed thus far. The blazing inferno within his soul could burn no hotter. Should burn no hotter. For his sanity's sake, if nothing else.
Kismet teleported. It wasn't in response to anything. He'd merely anticipated some sort of action – and was then baffled afterwards when he noticed the rampaging BERSERKER standing quietly in deep thought.
{Four.}
Rob advanced. While he didn't have a plan yet, he'd also learned that if he gave Kismet the slightest amount of breathing room, bad things tended to happen.
Can any of my Skills give me an edge? Unfortunately, he didn't think so. As usual, his lack of ranged options was biting him in the ass when it mattered most. Almost everything he could use required getting in close – which was the whole freaking problem – and none would be more effective than Purge Divinity, regardless.
Maybe I could set up a Waymark point, then catch Kismet's teleport with one of mine...no, that won't work either. The odds of him popping in next to a random Waymark point are slim. Could fill the battlefield with lots of Marks, but even then I have to consider the Skill's activation time. With my current Dexterity, it'd honestly be faster just to run at him.
The vast majority of his abilities simply weren't up to par in a clash with divinity. Limit Break, Purge Divinity, and Never Forget Your Rage had been specifically designed by the Skills to facilitate deicide. Something like Power Slash couldn't possibly compare to jailbroken stats and a touch of death.
As an act of defiance against his own logic, he cast Enmity, the only ability that could feasibly hit Kismet at range. The god casually shrugged off its effect before promptly escaping.
{Five.}
Like a frustrated animal, Rob snarled and gave chase. Just need to keep trying. Kismet isn't perfect.
{Six.}
Sooner or later, he's going to mess up.
{Seven.}
He's going to mess up.
{Eight.}
HE HAS TO MESS UP.
Suddenly, Kismet transformed his right hand into a blade of mana. With one harsh motion, he sliced open his own left arm.
By now, Rob had conditioned himself to never stop moving forward, even if something shocked him – which this sight very much did. His mouth dropped open, and Leveling High paused in the middle of eating its metaphorical popcorn. They still kept advancing without an iota of hesitation.
And ran straight into the mana cloud leaking out from Kismet's wound.
Rob blinked, opening his eyes to a wonderful day. The twisting plains looked dazzlingly beautiful, with fauna and plantlife lit by rays of effervescent light from the twin stars shining above. People cheerfully went about their day, happily shaking their trunks in shows of greeting, or rattling their scales to initiate merry games.
All was at peace.
Until – in unison – everyone froze. The tumult of life went quiet in an instant, replaced with pensive silence.
As if they'd been struck by the creeping, pervasive sensation of being watched.
A sound rang out. Half of them immediately fell over dead, fluids gushing from their ruined bodies.
The survivors could only lay there, crippled and in pain, as more people slowly rose into the air. Invisible fingers seemed to pluck them from the ground – and then began ripping off their limbs, one at a time, like a child dissecting butterflies–
Rob dragged himself back to the present.
It had taken much less time than before to recognize what was happening. Now that he knew what to expect, experiencing the remnant souls' lives wasn't so different from the dreamlike quality of an Attunement vision. Although...realizing that he'd witnessed the end of a world preceding Elatra did cause his thoughts to hitch for a single moment.
Which was just enough for Kismet to forge a spear of mana, then send it plunging through Rob's eye, skull, and brain. Its tip was forged to shred anything it touched, no matter how durable or Resistant.
The god whooped with glee – only to wince as the HUMAN's sole reaction was a long, drawn-out sigh. With an air of exasperation, he reached up and yanked the divine spear free with a nauseating splorch.
His eye had been reduced to a seeping red mess. He closed its eyelid. When he opened it again, the orb within had already Regenerated, now sporting an unamused glare.
It was something of a unique moment. Mid-battle events didn't typically leave both combatants feeling disheartened. The all-powerful god was losing faith that he could ever hope to stop Rob's onslaught...
And the BERSERKER didn't know if he could justify continuing on like this. His body still felt like it was pulling itself apart; if anything, the sensation was growing more pronounced as their battle progressed. While Kismet would make a fatal mistake eventually, Rob couldn't guarantee that he would last long enough to capitalize on it.
Unless he followed Leveling High's advice and–
With a howl that shook the divine realms, Rob launched his stolen spear at Kismet. His aim was true, yet it sailed through empty air, the god's afterimage tauntingly fading away.
{Nine.}
Final chance.
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Link to Part 2

I graduated with an Associate's degree from community college more than a decade ago in a field completely unrelated to any jobs I'm applying to (Associate of Arts). Currently in university finishing up my Bachelor's in computer science.
A little more context: In the short term, I'm applying to pretty much any kind of job just to survive, mostly restaurant jobs at this point. But I'm also applying to basically any entry-level position remotely related to computer science as well.
Currently on my resume, I have both the graduation year listed on my Associate's degree (2012), and I have the Bachelors degree I'm pursuing listed as "In progress"
I was leaving off my education section for restaurant jobs initially, but I've put it back on. Any thoughts?
Initially I was thinking of leaving off the graduation date on the Associates degree and just listing "In progress" for Bachelors degree, but I feel that might look strange.

I’m an international student and recently started looking for some casual work. My visa allows for unrestricted work hours in Australia.
So after uploading and applying for more than 100s of job on Indeed, Seek and dropping resume in-person to nearby cafes and restaurants, I noticed that the few places willing to accept me is paying 16$ per hour or less.
The Fair Trade Australia website shows “As of 1 July 2023 the National Minimum Wage is $23.23 per hour”.
Is it normal and allowed here in Sydney to pay less than the minimum wage? The trend seems to be same everywhere near my place not just one or two restaurants/cafes.

I (21f) have recently started a job as a hostess at a nice little restaurant that is more upscale. So far it’s been a really nice job and I have enjoyed working there a lot. It’s just part time since I have a full time job I do already. Anyways, the head chef (29m) at the restaurant is very attractive. I don’t know what it is about him but I just can’t stop thinking about him. For the most part our interactions have been somewhat brief but whenever I have the chance to talk to him, I do. He is very hard to read and seems very serious but at the same time definitely has a goofier side. I also feel like most of the time he’s being kind of sarcastic but I never know if he is or not. I’ve gotten to know him a little bit but he definitely does not always like to answer some of my questions, I feel like he tries to remain more mysterious and closed off but I’ve gotten him to share something’s with me. Sometimes I feel like I could be possibly annoying him but I don’t even know. I just really want to get to know him and talk to him. I feel like there has been a few instances when I’m either back in the kitchen or he is out front where our eyes will meet but I don’t know if my mind is over thinking it and he has zero interest in me at all. I don’t know how to go out this because for one he is my coworker and he is a little older, so I know it’s probably not the best idea, but there’s just something about him that I just can’t stop thinking about and I just want him to think about me too ya know? What would be the best way to approach this and should I even try given the situation? Any help would be appreciated!

Back story: I work in f&b as a department head (restaurant GM). I can transfer anywhere within my company’s 125 properties globally. I’ve had my sights on Philly for quite some time, and now my heart’s kind of set on it.
I’m ready to start the transfer process, and the only department head position available currently at the Philly property (lateral transfer) is IRD manager.
I’ve worked IRD before, and yuck. I feel like it’s got a black cloud over the whole department compared to all other departments in the hotel. Someone once told me, “IRD is where f&b talent goes to die.” Someone else told me, “IRD is where you go to get stuck.”
So, is it worth it? Having IRD on my resume will likely help me in the future when applying for director level positions, but it’s not necessary for growth, and it’s definitely not something I could get excited about.
But I want to be in PHILLY! What would you do?

I’m trying to keep an open mind.
Back story: I work in hotels in food and beverage. I LOVE my current role (GM of a restaurant). I can transfer anywhere my company has a property, and I’ve had my eyes on Philly for quite some time. I am ready to start applying for the transfer, but the only position available is In Room Dining Manager (room service). I’ve worked IRD before and it’s a sad, sad department within an otherwise dynamic and exciting division. Someone once told me, “in room dining is where f&b talent goes to die.”
So, is it worth it to take the shot? I would be accomplish my goal of transferring to Philly, and it would still be good for my career in the long run, giving me a diverse resume within F&B (could look good for future director positions).

So I (24F) work at a restaurant as a hostess and I have a gay male coworker around my age who is always “hyping me up” and “bantering” with me, but it always seems to be in an overly sexual way. I’m a DD and like to dress cute, and he’ll always say I look good or whatever when I come in but the whole shift whenever I talk to him he’ll intentionally stare at my boobs “as a joke”, or I’ll seat people in his section or whatever and he’ll make jokes like saying “good girl” or “I’m going to punish you for that” and then laughing. I know that the male servers and bartenders joke like that a lot with each other but I find it kind of weird that a man is making those jokes to me, a woman, I don’t feel like it’s the same and I don’t really say anything suggestive back to him. I’ve also never told him that anything he does makes me uncomfortable so it’s partially on me for not saying anything sooner but I didn’t realize how overly sexual everything was until a few days ago when he said something like that and I kind of snapped at him like “stop saying that it’s annoying and I don’t like it”, and he went “Daaaamn!” and walked away, which is normal, but the next day we worked together he didn’t say hi to me like he usually does and walked right past me without saying goodbye. Was I too mean? Or am I overreacting because he’s gay?

I need advice. While I’m in between major designer jobs I’m improving my portfolio and resume. I keep getting mixed opinions from family so wanted to make this post.
Should I include non-graphic design jobs on my resume or just keep them off it? My family thinks I shouldn’t, and my gf (also a designer) and her family thinks I should include them.
The other jobs I worked were restaurant and retail. I currently work freelance but it isn’t enough, so I am also working part time retail…..
Any advice is helpful!

I am a 28 year old male, looking for help on a pathway toward a successful career or job.
Pre-COVID, I was a cook. Then I had to start finding jobs I could get like warehouse, and merchandising.
-28 years old

• high school diploma
• Line cook experience, delivery experience, warehouse experience, and merchandising experience

My most recent job was merchandising. I got fired shortly after I was injured at home. Now I have no insurance.
The area I live in has high competition in government, warehouse, and restaurant jobs. I do not qualify for even the most bottom level government jobs here. Due to my injury, warehouse is a not ideal, and I cannot go into cooking in this state because restaurants do not want to hire someone they have to accommodate for with allergies to gloves. High demand jobs here require experience, and a degree, which I do not have in those fields.
I do not qualify for job corpse anymore, I am too poor with no income to go back to college, and if I did, that would be a huge risk. I might even have to go to college to show on my resume that I am doing something with my time to improve my life. I also have to compete with the entry level position jobs because around this time of year, I believe a lot of kids are graduating high school, and they are flooding the market with resumes.
I am looking for advise in this tough situation I am in. I hope to hear any kind of advice you may have, and thank you for your time.

I tried going in person for a job resume drop off and was mostly told to apply online. Is this the standard now? Any tips on getting in?I have applied online multiple times with no success. I have over 8+ years of serving In Vancouver+Toronto in a high volume restaurant too. :( suggestions?

I'm 26, born in Canada, have a diploma and a post-graduate certificate in UX Design, but I can't get a job no matter how hard I try.
I was fresh out of school in April 2022 when I got hired at a company, worked in the industry for close to 2 years with a company that I loved working at, a dream job of sort, but then I was laid off in November 2023.
I'm from further up north in Ontario and I understood that living in Toronto was going to be hard, even with a job, but all I wanted to do was get my foot in the door and get some experience so that I could move to where I wanted outside of the GTA and still be in my career. Now my EI is going all to rent and I'm actually losing more money than I'm saving.
I have 3 years of education specifically in UX, and just under 2 years of experience in the industry. I know I don't have a University degree which a lot of companies want you to have, but bootcamps like Brainstation where you can do a 6 month course and become a UX Designer are essentially forcing me to go back to school, which I don't have the money for.
It is hurting my mental health significantly knowing someone with a degree in some random subject plus a Brainstation or Google UX certificate have higher priority than me for jobs.
I have a portfolio, excellent resume, have worked with a career counsellor, and tailor every cover letter (even paying for subscriptions for LinkedIn Premium and RocketReach to help boost my chances), but I can't afford them anymore and have no hope left to continue trying.
I have no idea what I can do anymore to get a job in my field. I'm not against full-time or part-time work in other fields like retail, restaurants, etc. but I feel like I've spent almost a full decade of my life planning my career path and I've failed.
I'm on the verge of a breakdown.

Saying that "better" jobs exist is used as a mere excuse for some people not willing to work, like at all. Since people in the West always say that, but the truth is that they DO NOT want to work or burn some sweat, workers from poorer countries immigrating to Western countries that are desperate for employment don't care if the job is manual labor or sitting in an office cubicle for a long time, as long as it gives them a stable salary, since they exchange dollars, euros or pounds back into their local currencies to send back to their loved ones back home, so they remain indifferent if they are paid small, as like any other human, you need money to survive the contemporary society.
So, to put it, there is no point for people to talk shit or berate people who work minimum wage jobs (at the end, they will waste their own time for doing that), as they also play a part on maintenance, cleaniness or customer service and relations, it'll be completely stupid to get rid of garbage collectors or cleaners for example, as who else would tidy all of the mess up either on the streets or in your office? Robots can't do literally everything for you, as some interactions require humans to be around, like lawyers or doctors, since they need HUMANS (not robots) to have a more personal or clearer interaction with other people.
How can a robot be able to read your human emotions when you are upset, can it predict or assume if you have committed a crime, or what the verdict would be before the judge announces it? Are you going to lay off all human surgeons, doctors and nurses just to replace all of it with AI and robotics? People got to understand that jobs regardless if they are manual labor or not, have a purpose in their own way. (As why else have humans evolved through out history, it started from "manual labor" so there is zero reason to despite it so much.)
You might be surprised that jobs people consider "shit" have large salaries, for this reason: "It's niche, and no one wants to do it, only those who are willing to." as they are looking for those who willing choose to work in professions people consider "shit" by the masses.There is literally no reason for people to berate or talk shit about any job regardless if it is manual labor, minimum wage, or a white collar one, since human history they existed for their purpose prior to the industrial revolution and digital age, don't forget not all jobs can be replaced by robots and AI:

• If there are no HUMAN builders, who will construct all of the property?
• If there are no HUMAN doctors or nurses, who will treat you?
• If there are no HUMAN cops, who will enforce the law and arrest people?
• If there are no HUMAN lawyers, who will repesent you in court?
• If there are no HUMAN judges and jury, who will be present in court?
• If there are no HUMAN leaders, would would be in charge?
• If there are no HUMAN armed forces, what will the military consist of?
• If there are no HUMAN teachers, who will teach the students?
• If there are no HUMAN technicians, who will fix and maintain the equipment?
• If there are no HUMAN plumbers, who will be able to sort out the piping?

For instance, if there was an employer who was like:

• I'll give you $150,000 annually if you work hard with all that labor 365 days a year.
• I'll give you $70,000 annually if you just sat inside the office all day staring at a screen.

So, which one are you tempted to take despite "manual labor" job having a higher salary by this employer, as they consider that people don't want to do it, or are looking for a specific canididate who remains indifferent to the public opinion on job seeking?

So, people would only understand if "you've been through their shoes" as saying that someone working for minimum wage or manual labor is a "inferior" person to in comparison to somebody who is employed at a white collar job with a suit and tie, is just plain stupid. It's either that:

• Those people NEVER worked in minimum wage job in their lives, so they make assumptions of it being terrible. Only people who have worked in minimum wage jobs will TRULY know and understand what it is like first hand, rather than what people generalize the definition of that word, as they have never worked in that field, so they don't really know until they step into the same shoes as people working in minimum wage to find out first hand.
• They don't know what customer service ACTUALLY means. Other than them repeating the dictionary meaning of that word, they know nothing at all about what it is like first hand to encounter customers and being the front spectable of the general public, either nice or rude.
• Raised in a upper or top class upbringing who are brainwashed to talk crap about others. As they are from a neighborhood or familial upbringing full of rich folks who are accustomed to consider the middle class as peseants.
• They have "work experience" and "studied" listed on paper, but how does it really apply IRL? I mean, make them prove they are telling thr truth from their resume by making them apply the skills they've listed in real life, eg. You listed that you've worked for a michelin star restaurant, right? Cook me something I don't regulary encounter, but it better be good and an original recipe. If they can't apply the 'skill' they listed right there, they are liars, don't hire them.

It's like saying to garbage collectors, store clerks, couriers, uber drivers, and etc. suck, if that was the case, then they'll just walk out and NEVER come back, nowadays especially with social media, they can just brag about how they are treated, it's like a cog in a machine, if they are going to find a new one, it may not be as easy once the word spreads that the companies treat them like slaves, then people would not be interested, as they want to be treated with respect, not like an animal chained to a post.
If no one replaced those who all left, overtime they'll start to lose money and the companies who employ those sectors become defunct, even for the highest paying ones that require specific skills, still need actual humans to fill in those spots, not robots. Have you ever encountered (any of) these in real life, like at all:

• Robotic doctor, nurse, or surgeron
• Robotic police officer on duty
• Robotic CEO of a [company]
• Robotic head of an [organization]
• Robotic [President] or [Prime Minister]

You can imagine what that would do to humans, as what would be the purpose of humans existing if everything was automated, machines like all technology break down, as of now, to fix and replace their physical components within a physical body, you still need a HUMAN technician. Even the female robot living in Saudi still has a HUMAN owner, as a HUMAN created her, she did not create herself.
Put it like this, if people despite minimum wage or labor jobs so much, consider these factors:

• If there were no garbage collectors, trash will just litter the streets making it dirty and smell bad
• If there were no custodians in any public facility or street, trash and debris will just remain there
• If there was no uber driver or an uber-robot (managed by humans), who will deliver your food
• If there were no bulilders or construction workers, that means land will just remain empty
• If there were no EMTs, who in the hell will operate an ambulance
• If there are no mechanics or automotive technicians, who will repair your vehicle

We went to a lake side restaurant last night. When we arrived at the hostess station, there were 4 boomers milling about in that area. I thought maybe they were leaving and waiting for someone to return with a to-go box or something. The hostess told us to sit wherever we would like, and she’d bring the menus in a minute. I started walking towards a table and the lead Boomer squeezed in front of me and planted his hand on the table I was getting ready to sit at. And then he just continued to stand there with his hand planted until his companions could catch up. If I knew we were racing, I would have made it a point to win 🙄 We sat at the table right next to it. Just as much by the water as the first.

Ok sooo I’ve been bartending at many upscale restaurants in downtown Toronto for years and anyone who lives here knows how hard it is to land a job in hospitality because it’s SOOOO over-saturated these days. My close friend and AGM at one of the busiest bars in Toronto says he gets around 100+ applications/resumes per day. He mentioned that 90% of the people who apply for bartending jobs have little to no experience whatsoever, and if they do have “experience” they come in for a stage and basically shit the bed because they straight up lied about their abilities. This is very common nowadays, and I find that many places by default will just hire their industry friends, people they’ve worked with in the past, or transfer from another venue within the same hospitality group. My question is do you think it’s harder for experienced bartenders like myself to land interviews because employers have just given up on new applicants that they don’t know personally? I’m afraid to leave my current place out of fear that I won’t find somewhere else. Has this been happening in anybody else’s city?

So I(24f) have a full time job that covers all my bills but I’m only left with like 400 at the end of the month to save and spend on myself so I got a hostess job for 13/hr and work 3 days a week (ab 15-20hrs) to make some cash. However, the customers are awful and I have to clean the bathrooms which are gross and I saw poop and bloody tampons today that I had to clean 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮. On top of the that the hours suck I work like 7 to 6 hr shifts and they don’t give me a snack or nothing at my old restaurant jobs I could sneak in some chips or something but here I can’t 😢 so I’m like starving at the end of my shift. And today one of the managers scolded me for not seating a 10 top 4 min before we closed the kitchen (he doesn’t let me leave until there’s like 1 table left). I already told all of this to one of my friends and she was like “you should just wait it out” but honestly I’m exhausted I don’t have time for anything I work 60hr weeks and the extra money I make I can’t even fully enjoy. What should I do? 😭😭😭 I’m poor.

Let me start up front with my summary, because this is long- I don't expect I'd ever go back, I wouldn't recommend it, but wouldn't vociferous warn people away, especially if they get a good price (I was paying 20k points per night).
I'll start with what was the most positive aspect- although the resort was (allegedly) full, it never felt crowded at all. Any time of day, you can find chairs by the pool, and you don't need reservations for the sit down restaurants- I think the most I waited was 5 minutes.
(I say allegedly full, because while the front desk said it was full, and I actually checked on the app and was told their were no rooms, it just didn't seem possible how empty the place felt. I suspect maybe it was full in that they had as many people as they felt the had the staff to handle, but that rooms weren't all being utilized).
Second most positive- I was in a standard room, no preferred or swim out, and I thought it was great. Nice balcony, bug space, good shower, comfortable bed. One negative- they have what on its face is a cool feature, where floor light goes on if it detects you get out of bed so that you can find your way to the bathroom. Except, it was going on and off all night, which frankly had me concerned something was getting of the detectors- but I saw no other signs of that. Also, this didn't bother me, but while our room was very well cleaned before we got there, during our stay it wasn't done nearly as well. For example, there would be sand on the floor from the prior day not cleaned up. But beds were made, towels changed out, so as I said it was fine for me.
The beach is about a 15 min van ride away from the hotel. We never had trouble getting on the van- I do wonder if u were over there at 4:00 and a thunderstorm broke out if you might get stuck waiting a long time. Because it was windy, the ocean was very rough (as in, if it had been a beach in the US, it would have been closed). There are a couple of pools over by the beach, but frankly if you are just going to sit by the pool you'd be better off by the hotel. (See below for review about service)
The food was average, as you'd expect for an all inclusive. I liked Olios the best, but I'd say that really would come down to subjective tastes. (Again, see below for service).
I liked the pools, didn't love them. A lot of the pool space is very shallow, I'm not certain why.
Getting toward the more negative- the lack of signage or maps is just infuriating. The place isn't that big, and after a couple of days I had it pretty well figured out, but when you first get there - good luck finding anything.
The website is the only way to find out about daily activities, and it is absurdly lacking in details. For example, it will tell you it's "Movie Night". It doesn't say where the movie is shown (it's by the Edgewager bar, btw), and they don't tell you what movie it will be. Moreover, when you try to get more details from the staff, including at the front desk, they are less informed than you are. For example, there is a daily 6pm yoga class held by the gym. As it happened, there was a private party being set up in that space. So my wife went to front desk- first person she spoke to insisted yoga was only in the morning. When my wife showed the app said there was 6 pm yoga, they went to find someone else, but no one could say whether the yoga was cancelled for that night or being held elsewhere. (The yoga instructors were also never told, my wife went back to the space where it was supposed to be held, and the yoga instructors were trying to get an answer before finally just walking around until they found some empty space.
And finally- the staff and service, just terrible. I hate to really go off, because I certainly encountered staff members who performed their jobs adequately. But it was such a recurrent theme. Nobody on the staff could answer any questions, including how to get to places on the property. Repeatedly, food or drinks ordered, at the pool or at sit down restaurant, just never came. Or were wrong. At the beach club, my wife and I left our things on two chairs while we went to the pool. We came back, and there were people in our chairs- I asked why they sat there with our property, and they said they had needed 6 seats together so they paid a staff member who just scooped up our belongings and dumped them in the lost and found. At breakfast- when you get sat, you'll be asked if you want anything to drink. Order everything you might possibly want, you will never see this person again. So, think you want a second coffee or juice- order it along with the first. Our last breakfast was the epitome of the service. We got sat at a table (it's a buffet). We ordered our drinks (6 in total). Once they arrived, we went to get our food. We got back, and another group was sitting in our table, drinking our drinks. The hostess apparently forgot she had just put us at that table, and the fact there were drinks already there didn't clue anyone in. So, we got shunted to the side, but now we'd missed our chance to order drinks, so I literally had to chase waiters around to get someone to come take our drink order for a second time (because, as he said, I just brought you drinks).
One other thing- there is a VERY aggressive push to attend a time share presentation. The way it works is when you checked in you get handed off to someone who supposedly will tell you about the resort amenities. After a fee minutes, you realize it's a push to attend a 90 minute presentation. We told the guy forget it, we were only there a few days so weren't wasting a morning on this. The guy pursued us the entire trip. He would call us in the room, and when he would see us in the lobby would chase us down (we actually started avoiding the lobby).

Job Details
The Granola Bar is a restaurant, café, and to-go destination designed around an elevated vision of comfort food. Our mission is to be a welcoming, home-away-from-home steeped in community and rooted in friendship and connection.
Job Description
We're looking for someone who can open the cafe/market 4 or 5 days a week and has a true passion for hospitality. Someone who enjoys welcoming guests with a warm smile and a cheerful hello. During the morning this is the first face our guests see, and it means everything for them to feel at home the moment they enter the space. I want someone who remembers that Dave comes in every day at 9AM and orders a no foam skim latte, and can carry a conversation with him or his children. Someone who has an ownership mentality and cares about the work they do and the impact it has on those around them. In this space, the tips aren't pooled and you're the only employee, so you can honestly make between $60-$120 a shift just by being kind.
Please attach your resume to your email and briefly tell us why you think you would be a good fit!
WEBSITE // www.thegranolabar.com
Make and serve specialty coffee, and tea beverages Speak and interact with both new and regular customers Maintain a clean and sanitized workstation Follow health and safety guidelines Adhere to recipes and presentations for food and beverage items Be punctual and able to observe regular and consistent attendance Contribute to a positive team environment 1+ Years of Barista/Bartending/Serving experience is required
Restaurant type:
Fast casual restaurant Upscale casual restaurant Shift:
8-hour shift Day shift Night shift Weekly day range:
Every weekend Shift availability:
Day Shift (Preferred) Night Shift (Preferred) Work Location: In person
Compensation Details
Compensation: Hourly ($15.00) plus tips
Required Skills
Customer Service
Communication
Organization
Attention to Detail
Problem Solving
Teamwork
Barista Skills
Inventory Management
Food Preparation
Cleaning and maintenance
Barista Knowledge
Coffee Knowledge
Coffee Making
Positive Attitude
POS Systems
People Skills
Professionalism
Hospitality Driven
Cash Handling
Espresso Machine Use
Dialing In Espresso
Apply here
Via needabarista.com

To be more precise, it’s the roadside pickup. Here’s my very recent experience a few days ago. I ordered to go from Olive Garden, arrived on time, parked at the designated area, and followed the instruction to text….etc. It was after my eye exam and my pupils were dilated so that’s why I preferred not to go out bc it was way too sunny for my eyes then. Waited, nothing. After 10 min I texted again. Nothing. When it was close to 20 minutes, I received an email thank you for your business, rate us.
WTF?! I walked inside. The well packed brown bag was sitting on the counter.
I would like to give them all reasons and excuses for not bringing my food out, but when I saw the check stapled on the bag, I can’t help but suspect - no one wants to bring it out because I didn’t tip when I checked out?
This is what I always do (maybe it will become “did”?); I tip cash to the person who brings me the to-go order from the roadside. It’s like tipping the porter who helps with my bags, right? However, This recent “event” with OG makes me wonder:

1. If I tip while checking out online, does the tip have to be split with others, like the hostess….etc whom doesn’t have anything to do with this order
2. If I tip while checking out, the server can see how much tipping that is from the check stapled on the brown bag, would it be an “encouragement” for one to consider bringing it out?
   
3. If I do not tip while checking out, do servers automatically think this ahole is a cheap crap so just let his food go rotten or he can choose to crawl inside himself?
   
4. I did see people tip cash from their windows, quite a lot of times. But that makes me wonder, is the window cash the second tip? First they tip on the check, then they give more (bravo)?
   

I know each restaurant has a different policy about keeping cash tips, but I really think the person who does the work deserves the appreciation, that’s why I do cash tips. Well, tell me that time is passed??

Been working at a restaurant for 9 years and I'm the most senior employee. Everyday servers and hostesses are cut by the boss and told to go home. For 7 years this was done to me to as a busser.
For the last 2 years however there has been a shift in management. They consistently forget about me, even citing to my face that I was forgotten about when I approach them asking when I can leave.
I'm a very good employee but at this point they're taking advantage of me, allowing me to stay longer and forcing me into a very uncomfortable position where I have to look lazy by asking to go home everyday.
No other employees has to ask to be cut. What should I do? I've talked to the owner of the restaurant multiple times and he's also guilty of forgetting about me.

I was offered a summer internship at a smaller company as a distribution and logistics intern as well as a proposal writer intern role at a bigger health analytics company. I am torn as I am really unsure about what career I want to pursue. I am a big people person so sales interests me but also is interested in project management and marketing. The proposal writer intern pays a few dollars more an hour and offers more flexible hours for me to continue my part time night job in a restaurant. Do you think either internship will really impact my future internship and job prospects? I is going into MY junior year of college in a big city so I will have opportunities to intern at places in fall and spring as well if this doesn’t pan out. I AM worried that the proposal writer internship won’t look great on his resume considering AI but parents friends have told me I can connect it to future marketing and project management internships down the road as you are dealing with sales collateral and big management in the role. However, it is not like distribution and logistics is too hot of a attention grabber on a resume either.

So I’ve been working with the restaurant at OG for a good month as a host. Everyone has been super nice and friendly from servers, bussers, cooks, etc. However there has been one hostess that has been giving me such an attitude since I started. I have spoken with a manager about her in which he did spoke with her but yet continues to ridicule me, micro manage, skips rotation and making it look like it’s my doing when all I’ve done was greet, gather names and phone numbers. Thankfully the servers who came to me let me explain what was happening and are willing to help me by speaking with the managers again. They also noticed the day difference when she’s not around no one is being skipped in rotation making my explanation valid. They want to help vouch for me in regards to all this but if nothing gets done after that should I reach out to GM or straight to HR?
Sorry if my post has any confusing sentences I struggle with English at times.

This appears to be a new thing in D.C. so I wanted to write a really comprehensive summary of my experience trying out a dinner with Timeleft.
I had fun and would recommend it to anyone who might be interested in having dinner with a group of strangers and letting an app choose the restaurant for you.
Last week, I saw this ad on Facebook. If you don't want to click the link, it's a screenshot of the ad I saw. The ad is by Timeleft and it says "Dine with 5 strangers, all matched by our algorithm. Every Wednesday night in your city"
Best case scenario, I have a wonderful meal where I meet interesting people and have the potential to make new friends. Worst case scenario, I get murdered... but like many other millennials, I think I wouldn't mind that so much. My risk-benefit analysis tells me to go for it.
I'll separate the rest of this post by

• providing a general overview of how signing up with Timeleft works
• a summary of my personal experience this past Wednesday
• some more thoughts and hopes for this platform

Overview of Timeleft

Here's the website for Timeleft: https://timeleft.com/
In order to sign up for the next available dinner, you must pay a monthly subscription. It's $26 for one month, $56 for three months, and $86 for 6 months. It appears that Timeleft is not making you pay for a subscription if you can wait one or two weeks to reserve a dinner. Someone can correct me if that's actually not the case.
The subscription is paid to Timeleft. The cost does not go towards your dinner.
When you sign up, it asks you to select what country and city you would like to have your dinner in. Here are the options for the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.
For D.C. they provide options in these areas:

• Capitol Hill/Navy Yard
• Dupont Circle/Shaw

Timeleft will ask a series of personality-quiz style questions and ask for basic demographic information. Some questions are single-choice and others are choosing a number between 1-10 to indicate how strongly you feel about what's being asked.
Purportedly the app will take your answers and use an algorithm to match you with a dinner group.
It will ask you for your birth year, and this is the only answer that you cannot edit later in your profile. All other answer choices can be edited after initial account set-up.
The only time and date option for reserving a dinner are Wednesdays with a start time of 7pm. At 7pm the night before your dinner, you will be given a summary of your group. The summary it gives you will look something like this:

Industry: % work in this sector, % in that sector, % in other
Nationalities: % American, % Portgugal
Zodiac signs: % Aries, % Gemini, etc
Main language spoken: English

At 9am on the morning of your dinner, you will be notified of what restaurant and table # you're assigned.
After this point, there seems to be differences in feature depending on whether or not you download the Timeleft app. The browser version of Timeleft gave me my restaurant name, address, table #, and the option to confirm my attendance or indicate that I would be late.
If you need to cancel the day-of, you would need to download the app.
If you are late or need to cancel, you can indicate it on the app. The rest of your table will receive a notification about your status. If you have more than two same-day cancellations in one month, Timeleft says they will cancel your subscription. Your table can also tell the app if you were a no-show, so I would assume the same rule applies to no-shows.
At 8pm, Timeleft gives you a recommendation for a spot to head to for after-dinner drinks so that you can continue hanging out with your table.
After the dinner, if you have the app, you would be given the option to connect or not with the other guests you met at dinner. If two people agree to connect with each other, then the app gives you a chat.

My Dinner Experience

When I arrived at the restaurant, I told the hostess that I am here with Timeleft and was assigned Table number #
It's clear that the organizers set this up with the restaurant, because every one who arrived was able to let the restaurant know that they're with Timeleft and which table # they're assigned and there was no confusion.
At my restaurant, there were three tables in total. It looked like everyone was having a great conversation and enjoying themselves. The Timeleft app provides an icebreaker game, so if the conversation dulls, you can just play the game to inspire conversation.
My table had 4 people show up (including me) and 2 no-shows. Of the 4 of us, two had done a Timeleft dinner before and they enjoyed the experience.
From talking to those who had done Timeleft before, it sounds like there are at least two or three restaurants chosen for each neighborhood to be the dinner spot. For the Navy Yard/Capitol Hill option last week, it was Belga Cafe and Ambar.
Of the three tables in my restaurant, it looked like the Timeleft guests were grouped by age. One table seemed to be mid 40s to late 50s, then a table of 30's, and a table of late 20s.
My table all chose to go to the recommended bar after dinner. Of the other two tables, only one person joined us from one table and we did not get to interact with the third table at all.
We just had fun talking and making conversation. We had actual conversations about a variety of things and it never felt like a stale "getting to know you" or "what do you do for work" type of vibe. I had a great time.

My General Thoughts

I thought it was a great feature for the app to allow you to connect with someone from your table through a chat on the app after the dinner. It saves people who are uncomfortable giving away their phone numbers to essential strangers and gives you the opportunity to keep in touch if you forgot to exchange contact information.
I was told from the other guests that the after-dinner drinks place recommended by the app is the same for the guests at other tables and guests at other restaurants in your neighborhood. Those who are dining in Navy Yard/Capitol Hill are given the same bar recommendation and the Dupont/Shaw crowd gets a different recommendation.
So, I'm looking forward to doing more dinners and hopefully getting to meet people from not just my table, but people who were assigned to other tables and restaurants.
I'm guessing that the app's algorithm primarily groups people by age and meal preferences. I might be wrong. But the consensus from the other Timeleft users is that they also notice tables being grouped by age in their previous dinners.
What I love about D.C. is that a lot of people are transient or are new to the city, so it's easy to find a random group to hang out with in general. I have had success meeting people through Meetup.com, discord servers, and just other opportunities the city provides.
Timeleft is another opportunity for that, but I also get to try new restaurants and bars and I don't have to research too much or think about it before hand or make reservations. I can just show up and try to enjoy myself.
What else would I be doing on Wednesday nights anyway? Might as well try out a new restaurant!
Here's an article I found about Timeleft if you're interested in reading: https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7bnpb/timeleft-friend-finding-platform-review