People Share Examples Of Audacious Online Application Forms That Show How Shameless Capitalism Is Becoming
If there’s one thing that ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ taught us, it’s that megacorporations consolidating power and spreading concentrated corporate culture can be a scary thing (we learned that through the game’s unfulfilled promises, marketing sneakiness, as well as the actual story). But the corporate and capitalist dystopia of science fiction isn’t that far off from reality, as one Twitter user showed all of us in their now-viral post.
Twitter user Hollabekgirl, aka Beks, shared what their online job application was like and, frankly, the quiz it featured really does look like something out of ‘Black Mirror’ or ‘The Twilight Zone.’ Beks inspired others to share their own versions of what she called a capitalist nightmare and started up a discussion about workers’ rights, which answers applicants should pick, and how bold some corporations are.
Check the tweets out below, dear Readers. Do you have any similar experiences to share about applying for jobs? Share your story with us below.
Twitter user Beks started a discussion about online job applications that resemble something straight out of a dystopian movie, book, or game
Image credits: hollabekgrl
Image credits: hollabekgrl
Image credits: hollabekgrl
Beks’ thread got over 237.9k likes at the time of writing and raised some important issues about how some companies are focused more on hiring compliant but hardworking individuals, instead of creating a fair balance between corporate goals and workers’ needs.
Bored Panda spoke about alternative ways that companies could hire people and invest in their employees with tech, AI, and programming expert Sebastián Ramírez, the creator of FastAPI and Type. His experience in the industry shows that a more positive, flexible way of doing things really is attainable—it’s not just a pipe dream.
“I really liked what they did with me at my current job. They found me through GitHub and asked me to do a small 2-week freelance job. At some point, during those 2 weeks, they thought they liked working with me, so they offered me a full-time job. I didn’t even have to pass an interview, I just had to actually work, during that short consultancy project, while receiving money for that work. And they didn’t have to make a long-term compromise, a lot of legal paperwork, etc. before confirming they liked working with me and deciding to offer me a full-time job,” he explained.
However, Sebastián pointed out that there are two sides to every coin. Employees, not just companies, have to change their points of view, as well. Employees have to be incredibly ambitious in their willingness to constantly be learning and improving. Not for their company, but for themselves.
“The ‘standard’ flow of life, in many cases, is to dedicate years and years while young to study a lot. In many cases without purpose, without knowing the use of all that knowledge, how to apply it, what for, etc. Then, at some point accumulate a bunch of study certificates, and never study again. Then send all those certificates with a couple of letters to a bunch of companies and expect to get hired, perform a task that could be repetitive for a long time, and then retire. But it doesn’t necessarily work as expected. All the early knowledge could be forgotten by the time it’s needed, or it could not necessarily apply to the problems at hand.”
According to him, it would be best if we all mixed learning and applying the knowledge in the real world, all throughout our lives. In other words—we should never stop studying and growing.
“It would be great if the main focus was not on getting certificates, getting hired, and then retiring, but on solving specific problems. It’s difficult to not focus on only getting hired given that ‘living’ depends on it. But trying to also keep some focus on solving specific problems important to each one would probably help to keep that focus. And when you study with a clear purpose, to later apply that knowledge to a problem you care about, it actually becomes a source of joy, not a ‘chore,’” Sebastián explained.
Other people shared their own examples of “corporate nightmares” while applying for jobs
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The one about cancelling a doctor's appointment and putting the company above your health is horrifying. I've never seen anything like these quizzes where I'm from and this is why worker's rights are important. I don't understand how employers believe that treating employees like garbage will get them loyal workers. That's not how any of this works.
They just pick the workers who are desperate enough to let the employer walk all over them, I think.
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I never understood these. My employer does random "surveys" throughout the year. Everyone reads them through the 'eyes' of the boss, and answers with what they would want to hear. What's the point?!
That's why they need to be anonymous. That's what my company does. Do they listen to the honest feedback? No, but it's nice to know that we don't have to answer with a gun to the head 🤷♂️
Load More Replies...
I'd be honest. No, I will not be exhilarated by a rotten day. No, I do not value the company over my health and sanity. No, I do not think customers are always right. No, I do not think bosses are always right.
I'm an Employer. I firmly believe that life comes first. You need time off to take your kid to the doctor? Go for it, work will still be here when you get back. Not feeling well? Stay home till you're better cause I don't want what you have, work will still be here when you get back. If everyone called in sick on the same day, Hell yeah, I'm taking a day off too. See you tomorrow.
I used to have a lot of staff - same beliefs. I had happy staff that usually only left due to promotions within the same organisations. One company believed that happy staff peformed better and they passed happy vibes on to the people they dealt with and it was all a circle.
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My thought, too: these tests are tempting applicants to lie.
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Pop psychology run amuck. This is what happens when CEOs listen to to many self-help and motivational crap.
"This is a gun. It's at your head or in your hand, pointing at another head. Pick." does not strike me as "pop" psychology or the result of self-help exposure. And, yes, those questions are designed to create the same panic and discomfort, b/c they are all *extreme*, and designed to find people who either have no conscience or have no potential to tell a boss to go to he**, is my take. But that's just me.
Load More Replies...
Suddely living in a forest caring only for yourself and a couple of dogs/cats doesnt seem too bad...
This whole thing is vile and it shows how those at the top are working on making us obedient slaves. We have to stand up to this collectively and even though it can be tough finding jobs, these kinds of companies need applicants to say "No, I'm not going to work for a company with that attitude. Goodbye." Otherwise they will get even worse.
Apply somewhere else. These assholes have made it clear your are not important to them.
The problem is that there aren't enough "somewhere elses". People who are hiring have too much power because the people looking need a job to survive.
Load More Replies...
How delusional you need to be to think that somebody actually prefers good service for customers over a good paycheck. Customer's satisfaction won't pay my bills, hello.
I interviewed for a job once where they asked me what my religion was "because most everyone works here is the same religion". I was also asked if I planned on having children in the near future so they would know if they needed to plan for me to be on leave. I was in complete disbelief.
Rule breaking gits by the sounds of it. Avoid places like this at all costs!
Load More Replies...
No need to apply for a job to see this kind of "way of thinking". Just look at LinkedIn "articles' written by 'hiring specialists' and you'll get it: You have to crawl like you never had a spine in your body then we'll see...
These are so pointless. Everyone lies. Of course I’ll sacrifice my family to Satan for the company. *eye roll*
people, humans, are a resource - a commodity to be used and squeezed for every last drop, and upon having fully expended is discarded with complete disregard. Ever wonder why the hiring & onboarding process has become so burdensome? To train you to jump through hoops, and to identify those most compliant. Get you to say yes to absurdity and sacrifice three times, and you're more likely to do it time & again. Its social engineered slavery. Even financially, skilled staffing isn't valued, its considered a liability and risk to be minimized. its amazingly toxic, and downright abusive - we are beaten and traumatized partners that keep coming back at the merest whisper of "im sorry, i will make it up to you, it'll be different this time.."
Oh wow. I have never seen one in my country. Then again, I have been in the same job for coming on 9 years now.
This is for sure a capitalist nightmare, because that is exactly how socialist/communist workspace looks like. Work harder, not smarter, company is higher than God, you have to satisfy our boss or get fired. Also it is more important to know who caused a problem than solving the problem. My best performance evaluation was when my boss said "You did a lot of overtime and I would really want to thank you. Did you enjoy the money?" "Yes, but why do you ask about the money?" "We both know that this job has no satisfaction, but the salary is good. We both know that you are doing overtime for money. Do you think that I do overtime for joy?" "You are right, we both work here for money. Is there anything else we should talk about?" "Not really. Oh, you have best KRA's, no based complains in whole year and at the end of the year, there might be a slight raise. Did you want to ask me anthing?" It might sound bit cold, but it was super honest and relaxed. I really miss that boss.
No offense, but the part where she said "I am poor and still want to get hired" is the whole explanation why companies can pull of this s**t!!! Complaining and then acting the other way does not change ANYTHING!
For one job I applied to, I had to do an activity where I selected words from a list of 100 that I felt described me. All adjectives like "Creative" or "organized." None of the words were what I would consider negative. I didn't know what they were looking for, but they rejected my app outright based on that activity. I'm really curious what they wanted.
I once took one of these for insurance sales and got rejected because I chose "I like to walk in the rain." Another time, in an interview with four people, I was asked if I could be counted on to show up for work each day, and I said, "absolutely, unless there was some sort of an emergency." Eyebrows went up. Didn't get the job. I guess they didn't consider an emergency a valid reason to miss a day.
They would really prefer to have machines do these jobs, but since those don't exist yet for every job, they look for people who will act like machines.
most of these questions really are awful but to blame capitalism on it is bull. I promise the socialists and communists don't give a hoot about your work/life balance
Why is everything a big deal? I would prefer capitalism, waaaay over communism. Just sayin'
I failed one of these tests for a large bank. When I received their rejection email, I replied that I wouldn't want to work for a company that screens and rejects me with no human contact whatsoever.
Treating your employees like garbage has never made any sense to me. All that does is ensure that good workers will leave your company at their first opportunity and all you'll be left with are employees that can't get hired anywhere else
I suppose I am privileged, as I would not answer these questions, and apply for a different job. Personality questions are also pointless, because unless you have a psychiatric degree, you can't make an informed decision from the answers anyway. The only tests I've done, involved proper psychiatric questions and was run by a fully qualified Psychiatrist. I passed.
If all people stop compliying with such shitty interview methods, the companies are forced to stop using them. They do it because we let them. On more than one occasion I have interrupted the application because the potential employer asked for psychology tests or inapprobiate/illegal questions during the interview.
Applied for a job for a customer service phone bank. I was desperate otherwise, never ever in a million years. So there was this long story about donuts and leaving your phone to share get said donuts and share around. So - do you get the donuts showing teamwork? Or do you stay at your seat to continue answering the phone calls showing job dedication? They didn't hire me.
I've worked for the crappiest employers. I had a customer keep me past closing and I missed a dr. appt. The doctor fined me $30 for missing the appointment. My boss wouldn't pay me the 1/2 past closing that was legally due me, let alone my missed appt. Another made me work from 7:30am-8PM on the day my dog died (in my husbn'ds arms) and I couldn't be there. My husband and I had to bury him by the headlights of my car. They later played "hide the paycheck", "bounce the paycheck" and charged me for heatlth insurance that they had canceled months before with letting any of us know. They refused to let me file a report when I was injured and the person who then wrote the report was out of state when it happened and never interviewed me for the report. Both of these companies have lost their businesses, due to their own stupidity. I could go on and on about their violations. I work for myself now.
I had a friend who did something like one of these, many years ago. They didn't hire her because they didn't believe that if someone found a wallet full of money that they try to get it all back to the owner. Sounds like the kind of place you don't want to work for anyway then.
In France it's illegal for your boss/company to contact you, even by email, if it's not an emergency on your time off or after hours... Respect that and how much they like to strike! ;-)
”Would you be happy, seeing someone you don't like to get what they deserve?” This question was for a position as a flight attendant. Of course, I answer the ”nice” way and landed the job.
In germany, this isn't common yet. But when I came across one, I opted for being honest, because in the end, I thought this would be best. No reply.
That's exactly what countries with high quality of life, like Norway and Denmark, are doing - applying both capitalist and socialist policies to find a good balance, since both systems are flawed. Until Americans stop treating socialism as a boogeyman things are never going to get better for you.
Load More Replies...
Capitalism isn’t becoming shameless. It has always been shameless. Other systems are far from perfect either. In communist Russia you were also expected to work to exhaustion except there was 0% of any wealth accumulation. The underlying problem is the human condition and that people who have power will often take advantage of those who don’t. This holds true in any system.
I think in person interviews are better you can hear people examine yoy can hear their tone. I.feel like some of these questions are stupid there should be different ones or no surveys at all!
At an interview for an internal vacancy I was asked "if you were a fruit or vegetable what would it be and why".
My guess that the company who uses this employment questionnaire is in the business of making snowflakes.
I'm not sure that these kinds of tests ask applicants to solve problems. They seem designed to hire compliant robots. Problem-solving skills are good, but demand and appreciation depend on the job and the employer. I've had repetitive jobs in warehouses that required only speed, diligence, and accuracy in counting, but employers can still show decency (providing air conditioning in summer, speaking in a normal tone instead of yelling, etc.).
Load More Replies...
The one about cancelling a doctor's appointment and putting the company above your health is horrifying. I've never seen anything like these quizzes where I'm from and this is why worker's rights are important. I don't understand how employers believe that treating employees like garbage will get them loyal workers. That's not how any of this works.
They just pick the workers who are desperate enough to let the employer walk all over them, I think.
Load More Replies... I never understood these. My employer does random "surveys" throughout the year. Everyone reads them through the 'eyes' of the boss, and answers with what they would want to hear. What's the point?!
That's why they need to be anonymous. That's what my company does. Do they listen to the honest feedback? No, but it's nice to know that we don't have to answer with a gun to the head 🤷♂️
Load More Replies... I'd be honest. No, I will not be exhilarated by a rotten day. No, I do not value the company over my health and sanity. No, I do not think customers are always right. No, I do not think bosses are always right.
I'm an Employer. I firmly believe that life comes first. You need time off to take your kid to the doctor? Go for it, work will still be here when you get back. Not feeling well? Stay home till you're better cause I don't want what you have, work will still be here when you get back. If everyone called in sick on the same day, Hell yeah, I'm taking a day off too. See you tomorrow.
I used to have a lot of staff - same beliefs. I had happy staff that usually only left due to promotions within the same organisations. One company believed that happy staff peformed better and they passed happy vibes on to the people they dealt with and it was all a circle.
Load More Replies... My thought, too: these tests are tempting applicants to lie.
Load More Replies... Pop psychology run amuck. This is what happens when CEOs listen to to many self-help and motivational crap.
"This is a gun. It's at your head or in your hand, pointing at another head. Pick." does not strike me as "pop" psychology or the result of self-help exposure. And, yes, those questions are designed to create the same panic and discomfort, b/c they are all *extreme*, and designed to find people who either have no conscience or have no potential to tell a boss to go to he**, is my take. But that's just me.
Load More Replies... Suddely living in a forest caring only for yourself and a couple of dogs/cats doesnt seem too bad...
This whole thing is vile and it shows how those at the top are working on making us obedient slaves. We have to stand up to this collectively and even though it can be tough finding jobs, these kinds of companies need applicants to say "No, I'm not going to work for a company with that attitude. Goodbye." Otherwise they will get even worse.
Apply somewhere else. These assholes have made it clear your are not important to them.
The problem is that there aren't enough "somewhere elses". People who are hiring have too much power because the people looking need a job to survive.
Load More Replies... How delusional you need to be to think that somebody actually prefers good service for customers over a good paycheck. Customer's satisfaction won't pay my bills, hello.
I interviewed for a job once where they asked me what my religion was "because most everyone works here is the same religion". I was also asked if I planned on having children in the near future so they would know if they needed to plan for me to be on leave. I was in complete disbelief.
Rule breaking gits by the sounds of it. Avoid places like this at all costs!
Load More Replies... No need to apply for a job to see this kind of "way of thinking". Just look at LinkedIn "articles' written by 'hiring specialists' and you'll get it: You have to crawl like you never had a spine in your body then we'll see...
These are so pointless. Everyone lies. Of course I’ll sacrifice my family to Satan for the company. *eye roll*
people, humans, are a resource - a commodity to be used and squeezed for every last drop, and upon having fully expended is discarded with complete disregard. Ever wonder why the hiring & onboarding process has become so burdensome? To train you to jump through hoops, and to identify those most compliant. Get you to say yes to absurdity and sacrifice three times, and you're more likely to do it time & again. Its social engineered slavery. Even financially, skilled staffing isn't valued, its considered a liability and risk to be minimized. its amazingly toxic, and downright abusive - we are beaten and traumatized partners that keep coming back at the merest whisper of "im sorry, i will make it up to you, it'll be different this time.."
Oh wow. I have never seen one in my country. Then again, I have been in the same job for coming on 9 years now.
This is for sure a capitalist nightmare, because that is exactly how socialist/communist workspace looks like. Work harder, not smarter, company is higher than God, you have to satisfy our boss or get fired. Also it is more important to know who caused a problem than solving the problem. My best performance evaluation was when my boss said "You did a lot of overtime and I would really want to thank you. Did you enjoy the money?" "Yes, but why do you ask about the money?" "We both know that this job has no satisfaction, but the salary is good. We both know that you are doing overtime for money. Do you think that I do overtime for joy?" "You are right, we both work here for money. Is there anything else we should talk about?" "Not really. Oh, you have best KRA's, no based complains in whole year and at the end of the year, there might be a slight raise. Did you want to ask me anthing?" It might sound bit cold, but it was super honest and relaxed. I really miss that boss.
No offense, but the part where she said "I am poor and still want to get hired" is the whole explanation why companies can pull of this s**t!!! Complaining and then acting the other way does not change ANYTHING!
For one job I applied to, I had to do an activity where I selected words from a list of 100 that I felt described me. All adjectives like "Creative" or "organized." None of the words were what I would consider negative. I didn't know what they were looking for, but they rejected my app outright based on that activity. I'm really curious what they wanted.
I once took one of these for insurance sales and got rejected because I chose "I like to walk in the rain." Another time, in an interview with four people, I was asked if I could be counted on to show up for work each day, and I said, "absolutely, unless there was some sort of an emergency." Eyebrows went up. Didn't get the job. I guess they didn't consider an emergency a valid reason to miss a day.
They would really prefer to have machines do these jobs, but since those don't exist yet for every job, they look for people who will act like machines.
most of these questions really are awful but to blame capitalism on it is bull. I promise the socialists and communists don't give a hoot about your work/life balance
Why is everything a big deal? I would prefer capitalism, waaaay over communism. Just sayin'
I failed one of these tests for a large bank. When I received their rejection email, I replied that I wouldn't want to work for a company that screens and rejects me with no human contact whatsoever.
Treating your employees like garbage has never made any sense to me. All that does is ensure that good workers will leave your company at their first opportunity and all you'll be left with are employees that can't get hired anywhere else
I suppose I am privileged, as I would not answer these questions, and apply for a different job. Personality questions are also pointless, because unless you have a psychiatric degree, you can't make an informed decision from the answers anyway. The only tests I've done, involved proper psychiatric questions and was run by a fully qualified Psychiatrist. I passed.
If all people stop compliying with such shitty interview methods, the companies are forced to stop using them. They do it because we let them. On more than one occasion I have interrupted the application because the potential employer asked for psychology tests or inapprobiate/illegal questions during the interview.
Applied for a job for a customer service phone bank. I was desperate otherwise, never ever in a million years. So there was this long story about donuts and leaving your phone to share get said donuts and share around. So - do you get the donuts showing teamwork? Or do you stay at your seat to continue answering the phone calls showing job dedication? They didn't hire me.
I've worked for the crappiest employers. I had a customer keep me past closing and I missed a dr. appt. The doctor fined me $30 for missing the appointment. My boss wouldn't pay me the 1/2 past closing that was legally due me, let alone my missed appt. Another made me work from 7:30am-8PM on the day my dog died (in my husbn'ds arms) and I couldn't be there. My husband and I had to bury him by the headlights of my car. They later played "hide the paycheck", "bounce the paycheck" and charged me for heatlth insurance that they had canceled months before with letting any of us know. They refused to let me file a report when I was injured and the person who then wrote the report was out of state when it happened and never interviewed me for the report. Both of these companies have lost their businesses, due to their own stupidity. I could go on and on about their violations. I work for myself now.
I had a friend who did something like one of these, many years ago. They didn't hire her because they didn't believe that if someone found a wallet full of money that they try to get it all back to the owner. Sounds like the kind of place you don't want to work for anyway then.
In France it's illegal for your boss/company to contact you, even by email, if it's not an emergency on your time off or after hours... Respect that and how much they like to strike! ;-)
”Would you be happy, seeing someone you don't like to get what they deserve?” This question was for a position as a flight attendant. Of course, I answer the ”nice” way and landed the job.
In germany, this isn't common yet. But when I came across one, I opted for being honest, because in the end, I thought this would be best. No reply.
That's exactly what countries with high quality of life, like Norway and Denmark, are doing - applying both capitalist and socialist policies to find a good balance, since both systems are flawed. Until Americans stop treating socialism as a boogeyman things are never going to get better for you.
Load More Replies... Capitalism isn’t becoming shameless. It has always been shameless. Other systems are far from perfect either. In communist Russia you were also expected to work to exhaustion except there was 0% of any wealth accumulation. The underlying problem is the human condition and that people who have power will often take advantage of those who don’t. This holds true in any system.
I think in person interviews are better you can hear people examine yoy can hear their tone. I.feel like some of these questions are stupid there should be different ones or no surveys at all!
At an interview for an internal vacancy I was asked "if you were a fruit or vegetable what would it be and why".
My guess that the company who uses this employment questionnaire is in the business of making snowflakes.
I'm not sure that these kinds of tests ask applicants to solve problems. They seem designed to hire compliant robots. Problem-solving skills are good, but demand and appreciation depend on the job and the employer. I've had repetitive jobs in warehouses that required only speed, diligence, and accuracy in counting, but employers can still show decency (providing air conditioning in summer, speaking in a normal tone instead of yelling, etc.).
Load More Replies... 
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