People Share Unrealistic Requirements They Get When Trying To Find A Job, And Here Are 40 Of The Most Ridiculous Ones (New Pics)
Finding a new job can be really stressful. Creating the perfect CV, scrolling through countless ads, keeping up with the ever-changing marketplace—it's certainly a tough task.
Not to mention the companies that place unreal expectations on their potential employees. We've all heard them asking for years of experience for an entry-level position that offers very little to no pay at all. No wonder you get sick and tired of the whole process.
But don't worry. You're not the only one: r/recruitinghell is a subreddit where both recruiters and candidates share their ridiculous hiring experiences, so keep scrolling if you want reassurance that the universe hasn't conspired against you and check out some of its best posts below!
After you're done, don't forget to check out Bored Panda's previous post about the horrors of finding a new job.
This post may include affiliate links.
This
Apparently they have to offer open positions to prospective employees even if they intend to recruit/promote from within the company in a lot of places, or they could be dragged through the courts to be fined. I don't agree with the ruling, and it should be removed. A lot of companies ignore it as it is only enforceable if someone notices, but it is a sh*tty rule
It's Really Not That Complicated...
in addition to having skewed ideas about fair pay, Companies also should make decisions based off of the feedback of the people who are doing the work, not an executive or board of directors who have no idea.
Bored Panda reached out to Steven Mostyn, a best-selling author and CEO of LP Writers, a professional LinkedIn profile writing service, to talk about the disconnect between job seekers and hiring managers. He specializes in recruitment, resumes and job-hunting strategies, and for over 20 years has successfully coached hundreds into finding a new job.
According to Mostyn, one of the motives for setting unrealistic requirements is simply trying to find another worker who has the same set of skills and personality traits as the employee who left. “This is a massive mistake“, he said. “It is better for employers to have realistic expectations on hiring someone new for the role and train any areas that they will be missing. If employers fail to do so, they will never be satisfied with the new hire or have an open position for a very long time."
After 22 Online Rejections And Ghostings, I Finally Got An Interview! When I Arrived I Was Told They Had No Intentions Of Hiring Me And Just Wanted To Encourage Me To Continue My Education
In some states, you can sue them for wasting your time under the "False Promises" clause. If they say they are bringing you in for a job interview and they tell you they had no intention of hiring you but encouraging you to continue with your studies, that's a waste of your time and money.
Ooooof
Another reason could be that employers often have too little tolerance for applicants who do not meet every role aspect. Mostyn agreed that it could be very discouraging: “The candidate may have tremendous skills, personality, and potential but might be overlooked due to unrealistic expectations by the employer,” he said.
Mostyn told us that if your talents meet the key aspects of the role, tell them all about it during the interview and explain what you can do for the company. “This can sometimes make the employers forget about looking at the nitty-gritty skills and make the focus on what is really important for the job,” he explained to Bored Panda.
However, candidates can also be too critical of themselves. According to this report, men usually apply for a job after meeting around 60% of the criteria, while women feel they need to meet 100%. But this also means that women are more likely to get hired since they make sure that all expectations are met.
I Would Watch That
Why So Secret?
Because they want your signature in blood on the contract before they tell you that your salary is $12.50 per hour minus the mandatory fees: $1 for coffee money, $2 for heating, lighting and use of office equipment and $1.75 for cleaning your cubicle.
Lastly, let's not forget new graduates. According to this study, out of almost 4 million job postings on LinkedIn, 35% asked for at least three years of work experience for an entry-level job. Steven Mostyn thinks that the laziness of the employer could be at fault here: “They do not want to go through the trouble and time of training and instead want someone ready to go. This might be fine for the short term, but the employer could lose big time in the future as a candidate with high potential could have done a better job.”
It's clear that expecting too much of your potential employees is harmful for everyone; companies can drag on with the search and applicants can experience a lack of confidence. Recruiters should be more realistic on what qualities the job actually needs instead of just ticking a bunch of boxes on the list. Just remember, if you have ever been in a situation like this, you can always turn to the r/recruitinghell community and share your own recruitment horror stories.
The Truth About "Nobody Wants To Work" (That We All Knew Already)
I Just Want A Paycheck While Not Having To Join A Cult
Who Were You In Your Past Life?
To be fair, I went to an interview for a resource center that helped kids with learning or physical disabilities. She asked if I had any experience working with the disabled. I said "no." She said "Wait...I thought you said you have an autistic son?" I said "I do." She leaned over and said "That's experience....." Well Duh...(Face palm.)
Burn
So Inspiring
Not Sure If It Fits Here But Reminded Me Of R/Recruitinghell
"No One Wants To Work!"
Employers who say no one wants to work don't understand the economics of supply and demand. There are millions of people without jobs out there, as well as lots of people willing to leave their current jobs. Pay more, increase benefits, make your job environment a positive one, and you'll be able to compete for employees. Don't do these things and you won't.
Don't Know If This Has Been Posted Here Yet
Better Start Hiring Then...
You don't have to feel bad for the employers. That's okay. But please have a little sympathy for the employEES, who are working on a skeleton crew, doing double work, for slave pay, and getting all kinds of flack from both their bosses, and salty customers, because they're not doing their extra work quickly enough. The employees can't do any hiring or firing, and they have no say in any job advertisements, or misrepresentations therein (or in any repairs or stock orders). They literally have no control. It's not their fault. They're just cogs in a machine, just trying to pay their bills. So hate the employers if you want. That's fair. But PLEASE, be nice to the employees.
Hard Same
I Have Been Interviewing With A Company For Over 6 Weeks And Have Talked To Ten Different Interviewers. Emailed Today Saying I’ve Moved To The Next Round. Finally Sick Of It
Robert Half Being Called Out On This Linkedin Post
Robert Half is a joke. Right out of accounting classes (back when I was 20) and they wanted to put me in a position that required a CPA.
Another Way Of Putting It : My Quality Of Life And Mental Health Is Being Dictated By Others
Enough Said
Viva La Revolución
And Don’t Forget We’re A Family Here!
But you only get paid a minimum wage for one and should be grateful for the opportunities to get more experience on a wider basis.
Call It Childhood 2.0
Sick Of The Lack Of Professionalism
Well Now I'm Just Confused
It's clear: you'll have to count polar bears from a North Pole container. You can't leave the container or you'll be eaten. You can't be remote from your remote location.
Welcome To The Next Level Of Recruiting Hell
That's so illegal , I can't imagine any business being that blatantly racist... Unless they are trying to get shut down. No wonder there aren't any other comments. So obviously b.s.trying to get attention?
That’s For Getting Back To Me
Like my former tutor manager that, somehow, thought I was waiting by the phone with baited breath for her to call. Sorry! Graduated with a 4.0 and had recommendations up the wazzoo from my professors. And you thought I'd choose a low paying tutoring job over a career that pays decently. Later!
Never-Ending Interviews
It's called they were looking for someone to put up with the BS of interviews because they were desperate. That's just wrong...
Every Single Time
Welcome To Almost Every Company You Want To Work For Post-School
Can I Vibe?
I had one friend that got asked this in an interview. Her gap was due to taking care of her dying relative. When the interviewer got pushy about it, she stood up and said "a long unhappy personal tragedy that's none of your business" and walked out. Sometimes our downtime is none of your business...stop asking this question.
Not Sure If This Is A Repost
So On Brand
Maybe if they didnt waste money on all that and its upkeep theyd be able to pay employees jus 25 cents more even hhhh
Thoughts?
Okay, IF I would be unpaid I expect the job to be, at least, astronaut for the upcoming moon mission. Otherwise, just sod it.
Why Is This True
An Employee Asked Me For A Raise But I Didn't Give It To Him So He Resigned. I Really Need Him Now For A Project. How Can I Get Him Back?
Come On, It’ll Be Fun!
Wise Words To Live By From Anime
Low Pay But Rewarding?
Easiest Way To Get Me To Not Fill Out An Application
Roses are red; Violets are blue; this is the dumbest thing; I've ever had to do
Reading A Resume Of An Applicant? Sorry We Don't Do It Here
I feel like so many of those companies with super complex interviews have been inspired by what Google or Apple do. HOWEVER, hear me out here, you’re not Google or Apple. They have an unparalleled reputation, pay better than anyone else in the industry, and their perks are legendary, especially for Google. People actually want to work for them specifically. So unless you’re willing to offer the same, you don’t get to have the same hiring process.
It works both ways. Some companies do have unrealistic hiring practices, that's true, but some applicants also have unrealistic expectations, or simply don't understand how the game works. Let's say I'm the guy doing the hiring. On one hand, I have a forty-year-old with relevant experience who'll show up on time, do what's asked of him without complaining and won't take a day off every time he farts sideways. On the other, I have an entitled, emotionally fragile twenty-something product of helicopter parenting who acts like he's doing me a favor just by showing up for the interview, thinks he gets to dictate the terms and conditions of his employment, and will as likely as not take a "mental health day" every time he gets a paper cut. Guess who's going to get the job? What some of these kids need to remember when they sit down for the interview with their list of demands and expectations is that there are a dozen other people in line for that job who'll be happy just to have a paycheck.
Load More Replies...This post depressed me, but it's honest. It depresses me the way applying for jobs has depressed me, and yeah, traumatized me, too. I'm lucky enough to be working at the moment, but it's true that the market is incredibly hostile these days. Those of you who haven't been through these experiences, believe what you read. It is absolutely as bad as they say.
Anyone working anywhere deserves to earn enough money to live comfortably. Have what they need to exist eat and live. Some people are okay with having their basic needs met. Getting up working and just existing and doing it all over again. There is nothing wrong with wanting to spend time with your family work a little and just be. To work your entire existence and still struggle for basic needs is insane. People matter and the way things are, are not how it has to be. We can all live and thrive, while other's still maintain their wealth. To deny people a decent wage is so wrong. But greedy people will always say us hard-working folk wanting more than what we need. When in reality it's them hoarding not only money but the resources we all need to thrive as well. It's beyond heartbreaking and messed up.
So many companies only take online applications and have an algorithm that weeds out anyone who isn't an exact perfect fit. So they receive hundreds and hundreds of applications from people that could do the job just fine and reject all of them, then complain that there is nobody out there to fill the role.
That's why you copy the job description into your resume, word for word. Then you make the font tiny and white, so it isn't visible. The algorithm will pick it up.
Load More Replies...I find it funny when large companies go on about loosing people and struggling to pay wages and keep employees. Lets do a fun experiment. Let's take Pepsi Co since everyone probably knows what that is. In 2020 their net income was $7.12 billion -- that is after covering all of their operating expense ($70.3 billion revenue before expenses). Can they share that with the employees? Sure. But not all of it since they also have share holders. They are greedy so probably wont split it 50/50 so lets say they only depart with 10% of their profits, for just 1 year. They have 69,100 employees. They could give every employee a $10,300 bonus for retention. That is a life changing bonus for many of their employees and all they would have to do is give up only 10% of their income AFTER paying every expense. Imagine if they split 50% of their net profits with staff. Its a shame we live in a world where this is out of the question for almost every single company.
I also did Apple but the comment got pretty long... Gross income: $365.8 billion. Net income: $94.68 billion. 10% of net income spread across 147,000 employees would give every employee a $64,000 bonus while allowing Apple to pay all expenses and still keep 90% of what is left over.
Load More Replies...saw one recently that was for a VOLUNTEER position that required experience, portfolio, and 3 references.
It's not always about the money. Many places are just toxic as hell!!!
I agree, I make pretty descent money at my current job with great benefits. Even with working remote the dept is toxic. Mgmt refuses to allow employees to move to other depts, every week they add additional things to our work load. We have to be sure not to let the customers know when we are having a bad day. However we always know when someone in management is having a bad day because they take it out on you which is at least every day from one of them. They tell you they want you to succeed with the company but their actions to prevent that speaks louder than words.
Load More Replies...I quit my job and raised my kids for 7 years. My youngest started preschool this year, so I started applying for jobs. I was told a lot of places were beyond desperate for help. So many of these 'desperate' places never even called me for an interview. Fortunately I did end up finding a job. It pays a whopping $13 an hour and the only reason it pays that well is because that's the going rate for new hires at McDonald's. My boss is genuinely awesome though and the work is engaging, so I can't complain too much.
I applied for a caregiver agency. 1 week for the HR manager to tell the other managers that she was hiring me. Another week to call me. Now a third week for her to send a background check release form. Wtf. How slow are you?
As an employer, I just need some one who can show up. I can teach the rest. What is so hard about showing up? (it doesn't seem to matter what I pay)
I will add one. If you see a giant banner or sign on/outside a business that says, "NOW HIRING $15.50/HR, look closely. In teeny tiny writing, in between NOW HIRING and $15.50/HR, it will always say UP TO. That's their little loophole. It means they can start you at anywhere from minimum wage, UP TO $15.50. Spoiler alert: They're NOT gonna start you at $15.50/hr. But they ARE gonna mislead you, and make you think they will. Source: my own workplace just put this sign up (I've been there a year.) And I've seen it at a lot of other places, too. :-(
Although many of those were sad, they were also very true. I had 15 years of experience at a job and then retired. I happened to stop back and was offered a part-time position with most of the same responsibilities. The catch was that due to getting a pension, I took a $4/hr cut, with no benefits. The good part was that I could pick my days and hours that total 25. Starting next month new hires, no experience will start at the same pay as I get. The great part is that the main part of the job is so easy I almost feel guilty about getting paid. I got over it though.
Minor players are adopting the hiring regimes of top companies without actually understanding (let alone needing) them, and then putting them in the hands of HR people who don't understand them either. However, this makes them feel up to date and important, despite the fact that there are very very few jobs that justify so many rounds of interviews.
I wish that all the people who complain about young people being lazy or not wanting to work would be able to read this post, and understand what a monstrous position the current generation is in. I am so angry that any of these company scams are legal. I would be happy to see all the young people go on strike until these companies are in the gutter where they deserve, except the workers are already are desperate, underpaid and struggling as it is.
I've literally set up a whole new business for my current employer and will turnover more than 7million in our first year of trading - I asked for a raise to reflect the achievement and they dragged their feet on doing it since July, today I'm having a discussion with a competitor to put together a business plan to set up the same business again for them and will not only leave my current employer, but also take most of the staff with me too - it's probably going to cost them 5 -6 times what I was asking for to fix the problem, by which time I'll have most of their customers too - worked for my current employer for 11 years too!
These shenanigans sure bring back memories. Here I thought I was shady as hell decades ago, conning my way for contracts with made-up crap, and then there are these companies. I'm truly humbled lol.
Working in medical research, your interview process is this: How can the grant provider look good to Wall Street (and maybe Main Street) if you do what they want with their money? ... And the answer to that is: Lie, probably. Because research goes in with a hypothesis and can come out witha realllly different answer than expected (or desired by those giving out money).
I could add: getting a job where it soon becomes clear that you were one of very few applicants and while you had limited qualifications the rest clearly had none; because the entire time at your brief employ you are being given a hard time over your lack of experience or specific skills even when you made those clear in the interview process and still somehow got hired. And now you are out of your depth because the job requires more than was advertised and you're getting flak for the best results you can muster. I'm not the right person for this job clearly, why did you hire me and now I get to feel like a failure every day?
Offer him a bonus and give him the raise that I take it was long over due. Sometimes we don't know what we have until it is gone. Never take a good thing for granted for in the end you will see.
I am no longer having a steady work, just set on call. People tell me to move somewhere else to get a job. I tell them I can not afford or take up loans. They then tell me to get a job. Small town, asked every shop in town and nearby I could take with bus, nothing. People tell me to move :)
Yes, this is a list of complaints. That’s what the article is about. I’d bet $1,000 this will apply to you if you ever try to get a job.
Load More Replies...I feel like so many of those companies with super complex interviews have been inspired by what Google or Apple do. HOWEVER, hear me out here, you’re not Google or Apple. They have an unparalleled reputation, pay better than anyone else in the industry, and their perks are legendary, especially for Google. People actually want to work for them specifically. So unless you’re willing to offer the same, you don’t get to have the same hiring process.
It works both ways. Some companies do have unrealistic hiring practices, that's true, but some applicants also have unrealistic expectations, or simply don't understand how the game works. Let's say I'm the guy doing the hiring. On one hand, I have a forty-year-old with relevant experience who'll show up on time, do what's asked of him without complaining and won't take a day off every time he farts sideways. On the other, I have an entitled, emotionally fragile twenty-something product of helicopter parenting who acts like he's doing me a favor just by showing up for the interview, thinks he gets to dictate the terms and conditions of his employment, and will as likely as not take a "mental health day" every time he gets a paper cut. Guess who's going to get the job? What some of these kids need to remember when they sit down for the interview with their list of demands and expectations is that there are a dozen other people in line for that job who'll be happy just to have a paycheck.
Load More Replies...This post depressed me, but it's honest. It depresses me the way applying for jobs has depressed me, and yeah, traumatized me, too. I'm lucky enough to be working at the moment, but it's true that the market is incredibly hostile these days. Those of you who haven't been through these experiences, believe what you read. It is absolutely as bad as they say.
Anyone working anywhere deserves to earn enough money to live comfortably. Have what they need to exist eat and live. Some people are okay with having their basic needs met. Getting up working and just existing and doing it all over again. There is nothing wrong with wanting to spend time with your family work a little and just be. To work your entire existence and still struggle for basic needs is insane. People matter and the way things are, are not how it has to be. We can all live and thrive, while other's still maintain their wealth. To deny people a decent wage is so wrong. But greedy people will always say us hard-working folk wanting more than what we need. When in reality it's them hoarding not only money but the resources we all need to thrive as well. It's beyond heartbreaking and messed up.
So many companies only take online applications and have an algorithm that weeds out anyone who isn't an exact perfect fit. So they receive hundreds and hundreds of applications from people that could do the job just fine and reject all of them, then complain that there is nobody out there to fill the role.
That's why you copy the job description into your resume, word for word. Then you make the font tiny and white, so it isn't visible. The algorithm will pick it up.
Load More Replies...I find it funny when large companies go on about loosing people and struggling to pay wages and keep employees. Lets do a fun experiment. Let's take Pepsi Co since everyone probably knows what that is. In 2020 their net income was $7.12 billion -- that is after covering all of their operating expense ($70.3 billion revenue before expenses). Can they share that with the employees? Sure. But not all of it since they also have share holders. They are greedy so probably wont split it 50/50 so lets say they only depart with 10% of their profits, for just 1 year. They have 69,100 employees. They could give every employee a $10,300 bonus for retention. That is a life changing bonus for many of their employees and all they would have to do is give up only 10% of their income AFTER paying every expense. Imagine if they split 50% of their net profits with staff. Its a shame we live in a world where this is out of the question for almost every single company.
I also did Apple but the comment got pretty long... Gross income: $365.8 billion. Net income: $94.68 billion. 10% of net income spread across 147,000 employees would give every employee a $64,000 bonus while allowing Apple to pay all expenses and still keep 90% of what is left over.
Load More Replies...saw one recently that was for a VOLUNTEER position that required experience, portfolio, and 3 references.
It's not always about the money. Many places are just toxic as hell!!!
I agree, I make pretty descent money at my current job with great benefits. Even with working remote the dept is toxic. Mgmt refuses to allow employees to move to other depts, every week they add additional things to our work load. We have to be sure not to let the customers know when we are having a bad day. However we always know when someone in management is having a bad day because they take it out on you which is at least every day from one of them. They tell you they want you to succeed with the company but their actions to prevent that speaks louder than words.
Load More Replies...I quit my job and raised my kids for 7 years. My youngest started preschool this year, so I started applying for jobs. I was told a lot of places were beyond desperate for help. So many of these 'desperate' places never even called me for an interview. Fortunately I did end up finding a job. It pays a whopping $13 an hour and the only reason it pays that well is because that's the going rate for new hires at McDonald's. My boss is genuinely awesome though and the work is engaging, so I can't complain too much.
I applied for a caregiver agency. 1 week for the HR manager to tell the other managers that she was hiring me. Another week to call me. Now a third week for her to send a background check release form. Wtf. How slow are you?
As an employer, I just need some one who can show up. I can teach the rest. What is so hard about showing up? (it doesn't seem to matter what I pay)
I will add one. If you see a giant banner or sign on/outside a business that says, "NOW HIRING $15.50/HR, look closely. In teeny tiny writing, in between NOW HIRING and $15.50/HR, it will always say UP TO. That's their little loophole. It means they can start you at anywhere from minimum wage, UP TO $15.50. Spoiler alert: They're NOT gonna start you at $15.50/hr. But they ARE gonna mislead you, and make you think they will. Source: my own workplace just put this sign up (I've been there a year.) And I've seen it at a lot of other places, too. :-(
Although many of those were sad, they were also very true. I had 15 years of experience at a job and then retired. I happened to stop back and was offered a part-time position with most of the same responsibilities. The catch was that due to getting a pension, I took a $4/hr cut, with no benefits. The good part was that I could pick my days and hours that total 25. Starting next month new hires, no experience will start at the same pay as I get. The great part is that the main part of the job is so easy I almost feel guilty about getting paid. I got over it though.
Minor players are adopting the hiring regimes of top companies without actually understanding (let alone needing) them, and then putting them in the hands of HR people who don't understand them either. However, this makes them feel up to date and important, despite the fact that there are very very few jobs that justify so many rounds of interviews.
I wish that all the people who complain about young people being lazy or not wanting to work would be able to read this post, and understand what a monstrous position the current generation is in. I am so angry that any of these company scams are legal. I would be happy to see all the young people go on strike until these companies are in the gutter where they deserve, except the workers are already are desperate, underpaid and struggling as it is.
I've literally set up a whole new business for my current employer and will turnover more than 7million in our first year of trading - I asked for a raise to reflect the achievement and they dragged their feet on doing it since July, today I'm having a discussion with a competitor to put together a business plan to set up the same business again for them and will not only leave my current employer, but also take most of the staff with me too - it's probably going to cost them 5 -6 times what I was asking for to fix the problem, by which time I'll have most of their customers too - worked for my current employer for 11 years too!
These shenanigans sure bring back memories. Here I thought I was shady as hell decades ago, conning my way for contracts with made-up crap, and then there are these companies. I'm truly humbled lol.
Working in medical research, your interview process is this: How can the grant provider look good to Wall Street (and maybe Main Street) if you do what they want with their money? ... And the answer to that is: Lie, probably. Because research goes in with a hypothesis and can come out witha realllly different answer than expected (or desired by those giving out money).
I could add: getting a job where it soon becomes clear that you were one of very few applicants and while you had limited qualifications the rest clearly had none; because the entire time at your brief employ you are being given a hard time over your lack of experience or specific skills even when you made those clear in the interview process and still somehow got hired. And now you are out of your depth because the job requires more than was advertised and you're getting flak for the best results you can muster. I'm not the right person for this job clearly, why did you hire me and now I get to feel like a failure every day?
Offer him a bonus and give him the raise that I take it was long over due. Sometimes we don't know what we have until it is gone. Never take a good thing for granted for in the end you will see.
I am no longer having a steady work, just set on call. People tell me to move somewhere else to get a job. I tell them I can not afford or take up loans. They then tell me to get a job. Small town, asked every shop in town and nearby I could take with bus, nothing. People tell me to move :)
Yes, this is a list of complaints. That’s what the article is about. I’d bet $1,000 this will apply to you if you ever try to get a job.
Load More Replies...