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40 Times Recruiters’ True Colors Came Out And Job Seekers Just Had To Shame Them (Best Of All Time)
Interview With Expert
Unless you're a trust-fund kid, won the lotto, were born into extreme wealth, or have someone else to help pay the bills, chances are high that you need to work to live. Over 161 million people are employed in the U.S. according to data from late last year. More than 7 million people don't have jobs. There's a big group of people seeking work, and it includes some who are currently employed.
But as they've discovered, navigating the recruitment process can sometimes be hell on earth. From dumb job descriptions to ridiculous requirements and expectations from recruiters, and endless interviews that go nowhere slowly, people seem to be going through the most.
Online community Recruiting Hell has over 770,000 members, all commiserating with each other about the horrors of job hunting and/or hiring new talent. "We'll pay you in experience!" reads the page, before inviting people to share their nightmarish stories of searching for work.
Bored Panda has picked the best posts from the community, and we can only hope you have the good fortune of not having to encounter any of these situations anytime soon. Don't miss the chat we had with Resume Genius Career Expert Nathan Soto, about how to navigate the sometimes rocky hunt for jobs.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Found This On Linkedin, Thought It Probably Belongs Here...lol
Landing a job is no walk in the park, and some recruiters will make you feel like you're jumping through narrow hoops of fire. To get some tips for job seekers, Bored Panda reached out to Nathan Soto. He's a Career Expert from online resume building platform Resume Genius.
"To stand out in today’s job market, job seekers should focus on three essentials: staying on top of industry trends, building genuine connections, and nailing interviews," Soto told us during our interview.
He adds that job seekers should follow companies and industry leaders online to stay current on the latest developments in their field. "Networking (both online and in person) can lead to advice and referrals you wouldn’t find otherwise," advises Soto.
"When it comes to interviews, do your homework on the company, practice answers that highlight your skills, and come ready with smart questions about the company and position to show you’re serious about the role."
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#2
I Will Drink To That
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 11 months ago
$13 is nowhere near a living wage in 2024. Min wage here in Portland is $15.95. It's even higher in California but the federal min wage is still $7.85. It's crazy.
Soto says job seekers should think twice about responding to job ads that are more than 2 months old, because they might be ghost job postings. "Ghost jobs are positions that are advertised but aren’t actively being recruited for," explained Soto. "Check the company's website or social media accounts to verify that the job you want is cross-posted there."
The expert says a major red flag during the recruitment process is receiving extensive pre-interview assignments where you're asked to do work that could be directly used by the company to make money.
"Another potential red flag is when you’re interacting with hiring managers who can't clearly answer questions about the role, and interviewers who haven't looked at your resume," he cautioned.
#3
Anyone Relate To This?
Guess Undheit 11 months ago
The main job notice site for foreigners where I live is FB, and the one running the group says "no salary, we delete your job posting". Employers get pissy about it, but too bad for them.
Soto tells Bored Panda that employers are looking for candidates who have the skills they need. "Whether you show it through your experience or through qualifications, what matters most is that you have those skills," he said.
"Impressive experience can usually make up for a lack of qualifications, and likewise the right qualifications can often make up for a lack of experience in a specific job."
#4
It's Really Not That Complicated
#5
A Story Of Two Parts, Recruiter Edition
#6
Funny How The Language Changes Between People And Businesses
Luke Branwen 11 months ago
This guy right here is more or less the only CEO who should be spared the Luigi treatment
More than 60% of the American workforce doesn't have a college degree, but that's not stopping them from earning big bucks. According to CNBC, many of the country's top companies, including Walmart, Amazon, Apple, GM, Bank of America, Uber, Nike, Delta Air Lines, and Target are removing degree requirements from job postings.
CNBC adds that it's becoming more common for companies to hire based on skills rather than qualifications.
#7
We Need To Make Discussing Salary Normal
#8
Can I Get A Second To The Motion?
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 11 months ago
OMG I would love to see Muskrat do that. Would he apply at Tesla or Space-X or Xitter? Doesn't matter, he's not qualified to work for any of them. He's not qualified to change a lightbulb.
#9
Counterpoint: If It's Taking 6 Months For An Upper Manager To Fill A Position, The Company Should Be Looking To Fill 2 Positions
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
If the manager doesn't show up to work, the work still gets done. If the staff doesn't show up, nothing gets done. Hope that clarifies things, employers!
“Gen Z job seekers are increasingly foregoing college and seeking out meaningful, lucrative work that doesn't require a university degree," revealed another Resume Genius career expert, Eva Chan, in a press release.
"Along with a shift from experience-based hiring to skills-based hiring, this creates the perfect conditions for people to consider a variety of fulfilling roles they may have never considered before," added Chan.
#10
Robert Half Being Called Out On This Linkedin Post
#11
The Truth About "Nobody Wants To Work" (That We All Knew Already)
Pencil 11 months ago
We need to talk about 'ghost jobs', too: "More than 40% of hiring managers said they list jobs they aren't actively trying to fill to give the impression that the company is growing. A similar share said the job listings are made to motivate employees, while 34% said the jobs are posted to placate overworked staff who may be hoping for additional help to be brought on." Source: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240315-ghost-jobs-digital-job-boards
#12
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
Resume Genius recently released its "10 Highest Paying Jobs Without A Degree In 2025" report. Topping the list is an elevator and escalator installer and repairer, who has a median annual salary of $102,420. Instead of a college degree, recruiters are looking for those with a high school diploma and a 4-year apprenticeship, along with a state license or certification.
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers aren't faring too bad either, with a median salary of around $99,200. There are about 211,800 jobs available in that sector and the typical educational requirements are a high school diploma with no work experience needed. Of course, that varies from company to company.
#13
Hiring Managers And Recruiters
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 11 months ago
Not going to happen. They figured out they can replace HR with AI and they aren't going back.
#14
This Should Be Mandatory Training For All Interviewers
#15
I Just Want A Paycheck While Not Having To Join A Cult
michael Chock 11 months ago
When you stop only being here for profit, then we will talk about MY attitude.
If you're an electrical power-line installer and repairer, you could rake in $85,420 a year. Again, no degree needed. But you will need a high school diploma or GED, as well as an apprenticeship and hands-on classroom instruction.
If you fancy life on the edge while serving and protecting, you'll be glad to know you can earn around $74,910 as a detective or criminal investigator. You'll need a high school diploma, and some fairly stringent police academy training. According to Resume Genius, there are more than 790,000 jobs available.
#16
That Backfired Spectacularly
#17
UNO Card
#18
That's It
UKDeek 11 months ago
When ever I've been the recruiting manager for a role, I have always contacted candidates personally to let them know the outcome, and I have always offered feedback following the interview. Just common decency, and allows candidates to understand the reason(s) why they weren't appointed.
#19
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
P1 No-Name 11 months ago
That is the most abysmal thing I have read here, the words 'not nice' just don't cover it. I would be reporting them to the authorities and spreading the word everywhere I could about their truly unprofessional conduct. Frankly Tracy & Terry need to be fired immediately.
#20
Saw It Online
Tucker Cahooter 11 months ago
I hope they applied for the job just to see what would happen. "Sorry, we found a more experienced applicant"
#21
I’m Done
Chich the witch 11 months ago
Back in the 80s recession it was very hard to find work and bank interests rates got north of 20%. F*****g Ronnie ray-gun and thatcher. Had a friend in the same field I was in. No job and he contacted dozens of employers. Kept all the rejection letters in a drawer.
#22
This Guy Gets It
Brian Herold 11 months ago
I...I'm honestly amazed it's taken so long for me to see something like this. It works so well...
#23
Why So Secret?
#24
Job Ads Nowadays. Sorry If Repost I Didn’t Find It In Search
#25
Got An Email From A Recruiter Today. I Was Interested Until They Disclosed The Pay. It’s Seriously Insultingly Low For The Role And Requirements. So I Told Them Just That Over Email
#26
Interviewing For My First Recruiting Job - Why Did I Start This Life??
#27
Enough Said
David Marchisotto 11 months ago
Companies want the ability to fire you on the spot because they know many times the firing isn't justified and they fear retaliation in the form of people erasing hard drives or sabotaging equipment or outright theft, that's why they hustle you out the door BUT also ask you for 3 weeks notice if you are resigning.
#28
As An Autistic Person, I Despise Everything About This!
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
My dude, it's this way for all of us. I'm not autistic and I completely relate!
#29
Who Were You In Your Past Life?
Tucker Cahooter 11 months ago
Well I guess that makes you overqualified for the job, unless you were applying to replace an abdicated monarch
#30
A Company Found Me On Linkedin And Reached Out To Me, This Was My Response
#31
This
#32
Felt So Good To Talk Back For Once
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
I have a feeling that at this company, "limited bookkeeping" means that's all you'd be doing!
#33
We Don’t Count Internships As Experience Here, So Let’s Just Forget All Of That
#34
Better Start Hiring Then
#35
Burn
#36
This Guy Gets It
#37
People Are Human And Human Things Happen
BannedFromABoatShow 11 months ago
I’ve been so worried about going back to work after 16 years, during which time I developed epilepsy, had 2 kids - one of which has a condition so rare it took us 8 years to get a diagnosis - moving twice for my husband’s jobs, multiple family members died… So yes, hiring manager, I do in fact know how to perform under stress.
#38
Don't Know If This Has Been Posted Here Yet
#39
Naming And Shaming Done Right
#40
Opinion
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
Boomer here. We are not all like that. Please, please don't generalize. It's divisive. In my time I've been treated way worse by managers and others much younger than me. It's not an age thing.
#42
A Little Too Accurate
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
I'm a boomer. I bought my first and only house at age 47 because I could never manage to save enough money to do it sooner. And I needed a special program to do it. I only know one person in my age group who has a lot of money. The rest of us worked our tails off and many could only afford to buy a house because they had a spouse with an income, or because on or both of them worked more than one job. When I lost my long time job to outsourcing, it took me 15 months to get another. Then the pandemic ended that. We are not all rich, we are not all stupid, and we are not all constantly bashing young folks. I'd like to see an end to the ageism because it's not helping anyone.
#43
Company: My Next Hire Needs To Be Enthusiastic About The Role So This Doesn't Happen Again
#44
Hard Same
#45
Another Way Of Putting It : My Quality Of Life And Mental Health Is Being Dictated By Others
Tabitha 11 months ago
Happened to me. The pandemic put me out of work at 59. Had a couple interviews soon after but no offers. Then I turned 60, and didn’t even get acknowledgments my applications were received. In total, I put in nearly a thousand applications that year and ended up with nothing. Just because someone is in their sixties doesn’t mean they don’t have bills to pay, ffs. Luckily, my husband got pissed off enough to start his own company and needed me to join him in it.
#46
This Happens All The Time
Reset Game 11 months ago
I don't bother filling it out. If they ask me to fill out pages manually and require a resume, it's not worth my time UNLESS it pays well above average
#47
Rejected From An Internship For Not Having Enough Experience
#48
This Is What It’s Come To
Tucker Cahooter 11 months ago
The applicant says that they did this "single handedly" but I was always under the impression that light bulb changing was a group project
#49
A Delightful Find On Linkedin
#51
"No One Wants To Work!"
#52
I Ran Into One Today
#55
Solid Advice
#56
Just Stop Please
#57
Damn, That Felt Good!
Guess Undheit 11 months ago
An employer agreed to an interview on a specific date (the one weekday I had off per month, hence why I agreed to it) and in a different city. I show up and the ash soles say, "Can you come back tomorrow?" And then they whined when I posted on the FB job board what happened. If I had lied, they'd have something to complain about.
#58
Oh No It’s Totally Cool, I Love Booking 3 Separate Meetings To Be Bailed On Each Time By Someone With Crap Grammar
#59
I'm Tired Of Recruiters Avoiding My Questions And Playing Dumb
#60
The Only Acceptable Application. 2 Seconds If You're Slow
Cas P 11 months ago
When I worked as an HR Recruiter (ie a specialist in recruitment within the HR team), we modified our application process to resemble this, although we added a couple of optional diversity questions at the end. The outcome was a 60% increase in applications and we got vacancies down to zero. Why can't all companies do this? It is not even as though the recruiters even read the manual information you put in.
#61
Saw This On Linkedin And Had A Good Laugh!
SheamusFanFrom1987 11 months ago
I can only make out Ditto, Vulpix, Feebas, Sawk, Ekans, & Metapod. Not sure if Onyx meant Onix or not but hey, there have you XP XD
#62
Gold
David Morgan 11 months ago
LinkedIn is theoretically a useful site, but it is plagued by people writing fantasy stories (job advice) and pathetic bragging (updates on changes in status).
#66
Contrary To A Number Of Recruiters’ Popular Belief, I Do Very Much Care About The Money. Did You Think My Childhood Dream Was To Send An Email To Request Reimbursement Approval For Airport Parking To Pick Up Someone Snotty Visiting From The Head Office?
#67
I Am So Sick Of These Ridiculous Screening Questions
#68
Recruiter Moment
#71
Listen Up!
#72
A Linkedin Laugh
Verfin22 11 months ago
NGL I wished my company would have a small aptitude test. For context grocery store stocking. "Have you ever shopped and bought food"? Even after initial training, they look like deer in headlights, with company provided tools to help. Talking about adults here, not teens on their first job.
#73
At 58, A Recruiter Says ‘Too Old To Code’—heartbreaking 😭
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
Don't laugh. My sister wasn't getting job offers in her early 50s because her hair had gone gray. After she dyed it, big surprise! She got job offers.
#74
Not Sure If It Fits Here But Reminded Me Of R/Recruitinghell
#75
No Idea If This Will Work, But Hey - Worth The Try
#76
"Minority Drawers" Should Be A Crime
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
Doesn't surprise me. My entire working life, no agency has ever gotten me a job.
#77
The Companies vs. Me
James Frail 11 months ago
I had this happen once, except it was some 6 months into my current job, for which I had only put in a total of 3 applications in that search. So they were responding to an application I submitted at least a year and a half before.
#78
Well!
Tucker Cahooter 11 months ago
Sounds like that line from "The Four Yorkshiremen" sketch about having to pay the owner of the mill for permission to work
#79
Ayo This Lady Working For UPS Really Tried To Get Free Labor Out Of Me LOL
Erik Hedenskog 11 months ago
If you stop talking like a clown then maybe people will stop treating you like a clown op
#80
I Had To Take A Walk After This
David Morgan 11 months ago
I don't know how the name is supposed to be parsed, but this read to me as Sun Asian Chad B. Which seems appropriate given how much of a tool the writer is.
#83
For The Memes, Because We’ve All Been There
#84
"This Is Your Only Means Of Interview" - So I Simply Refused
#85
Interviewer Cancelled An Hour Before The Meeting. I Know My Worth
Kabuki Kitsune 11 months ago
Not pictured is the return text "Well, I thank you for your consideration. I'll just tell my father that he needs to die some other time when it's more convenient for your schedule."
#87
I Cant Do This Anymore
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
What do you want from the rejected candidate then? Are they supposed to cheer for you?
#88
I See Why Recruiters Ask Stupid Questions Now. I Apologize
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
As far as I'm concerned, answering, "I want to work here because I need a job. I have bills to pay and have to buy food, clothing, and transportation," IS answering with grace because it is 100% honest. They need to stop playing these games. You're talking with them throughout the interview and answering other questions, if they can't tell from that how well you communicate, they aren't qualified to choose a candidate.
#89
4+ Years Of Experience In A 2 Year Old Technology
#90
Just Going To Leave This Here
Hodge Elmwood 11 months ago
Of course that was on Fox. When will they do one showing the percentages of employers who have asked for candidates to do unpaid work, offered below-market rate or less than minimum wage, canceled interviews at the last minute, made vulgar suggestions to candidates, asked candidates to bring them coffee on their way in, lied about the compensation and benefits, or all the other c**p they pull?
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Stephanie Barr 10 months ago
For years, I've been posting BP posts in FB and rating reading most of them. I can't feel good about posting them any more because they're incomplete without becoming premium. And I find myself less and less interested in reading them myself.
Stephanie Barr 10 months ago
For years, I've been posting BP posts in FB and rating reading most of them. I can't feel good about posting them any more because they're incomplete without becoming premium. And I find myself less and less interested in reading them myself.
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