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The job market is a brutal place. The listings read like wish lists, applications vanish into thin air, and the ones that do go through lead to a never-ending stream of test tasks.

But it’s not like all of your problems end when you get hired, either. From awkward onboarding to confusing expectations and office politics, every position comes with its own unique set of challenges.

So to reassure you that the struggle is not just real but also universal, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite memes from the subreddits r/InterviewMan and r/InterviewWoman. Oftentimes, the only way to survive it all is to embrace the absurd.

#1

Your Rest Time Is Yours. Never Forget That

Your Rest Time Is Yours. Never Forget That

kicker-gerunds5 , x.com Report

JSL
Community Member
2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup. My employer gets me for 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday. Otherwise, it's MY time

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    #2

    Oops

    Oops

    FarChampionship9569 , x.com Report

    Abel
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The truth can be painful! 😭

    #3

    Office Work: Pretending To Work But With Pants

    Office Work: Pretending To Work But With Pants

    zines_unrea , x.com Report

    Lost Panda
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No... we're hard at work *scrolls more BP*

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    #4

    I Despise Emails

    I Despise Emails

    big_insoles_5e , x.com Report

    zatrisha
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That probably depends a lot on the job.

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    #5

    Jobs In 2026

    Jobs In 2026

    cafecar Report

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    #6

    My Bank Account Looking At My Shopping Cart

    My Bank Account Looking At My Shopping Cart

    villa-dodges , x.com Report

    #7

    My Life Now

    My Life Now

    Super_Initial_6368 , x.com Report

    Phantom Phoenix
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Art Vandelay, Vandelay Industries"

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    #8

    I Want To Laugh, But The Situation Is Too Real

    I Want To Laugh, But The Situation Is Too Real

    QuietMap4403 Report

    Whiskers
    Community Member
    8 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    #2: ”You’re overqualified (read: we should pay you more)!” Seen this happen! Once even with my own case some 30 years ago!😡

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    #9

    Companies Will Always Try To Pay You As Little As Possible

    Companies Will Always Try To Pay You As Little As Possible

    lanolin-jackpot57 Report

    Mike Rodrick
    Community Member
    45 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you get any job, you'll be exploited no matter what.

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    #10

    The Recruiter's Excuse For The Bad Offer Was That I'm "Junior". And This Is The Email I Sent

    The Recruiter's Excuse For The Bad Offer Was That I'm "Junior". And This Is The Email I Sent

    Jazzlike-Apple4969 Report

    #11

    Based On A True Story

    Based On A True Story

    goalie_tripe Report

    #12

    Dying Of Laughter

    Dying Of Laughter

    ResearcherOk9446 Report

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    #13

    Hard Work Pays Off

    Hard Work Pays Off

    braggett Report

    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The pic is an AI recreation of a scene from Office Space? Office Space is a good film btw, look it up.

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    #14

    Every Company Do This

    Every Company Do This

    reruns_skein Report

    SM
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Actually, I think is more like Paying $0 extra to retain good employees and paying $50K extra to hire a new employee.

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    #15

    Put These Things In All Offices Immediately

    Put These Things In All Offices Immediately

    Gullible-Wealth-8107 Report

    Whiskers
    Community Member
    2 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Haargh, haaarrggh! I’d love that!😆

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Follow on Google News

    #16

    Linkedin Has Become A Joke

    Linkedin Has Become A Joke

    Downtown-Opposite987 , x.com Report

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    #17

    Or Worse, It Tries To Autofill It And Completely F**ks It Up

    Or Worse, It Tries To Autofill It And Completely F**ks It Up

    tender-lager-32 Report

    CP
    Community Member
    36 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The game that spawned the LeBron meme was insane.

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    #18

    You Guys Only Get 30 Minutes?

    You Guys Only Get 30 Minutes?

    meek-breve1a Report

    Armac
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, I’m legally entitled to it.

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    #19

    Life Is Expensive Here

    Life Is Expensive Here

    purses-40-engaged Report

    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The rich keep getting richer. Where are they getting the money from? Keeping our wages low.

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    #20

    Doing God's Work

    Doing God's Work

    anotherare , x.com Report

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    #21

    Full Time Employees Can Relate

    Full Time Employees Can Relate

    goalie_tripe Report

    Mike Rodrick
    Community Member
    40 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    While paying a mortgage on both.

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    #22

    I'd Hire Him/Her In A Heartbeat

    I'd Hire Him/Her In A Heartbeat

    StrongPollution2085 Report

    #23

    I'll Gladly Take His Money So He Has "Drive" Or Whatever

    I'll Gladly Take His Money So He Has "Drive" Or Whatever

    73clips-firer Report

    Luke || Kira (he/she)
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Linkedin wackos be like "A week ago, my three-years-old son asked me for a lollipop. I told him life doesn't just hand out free stuff, that he has to hustle and grind for anything he wants. So he ended up doing all the housework for a week. After that, I didn't give him the lollipop, saying that his lesson in work ethics is much more valuable than that. He started crying and hugged me, thanking profusely for the important life lesson."

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    #24

    I Just Saw This Picture On Instagram

    I Just Saw This Picture On Instagram

    AffectionateLaw3573 Report

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    #25

    My Vacation Got Approved, But My Bank Account Didn't

    My Vacation Got Approved, But My Bank Account Didn't

    Forsaken-Discount659 Report

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    #26

    The Interview Was Great

    The Interview Was Great

    Simple-Tough1203 Report

    #27

    The Linkedin Feed Has Gotten Weird

    The Linkedin Feed Has Gotten Weird

    Visual-Hat-3119 Report

    #28

    Everyone, Take Note: The 'Competitive Salary' That Is Just Minimum Wage Is A Lie

    Everyone, Take Note: The 'Competitive Salary' That Is Just Minimum Wage Is A Lie

    SouthernPolicy1798 Report

    Bored Seb
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it is: your salary will be competiting with your expenses.

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    #29

    A Simple Reminder For Anyone Who Works Overtime

    A Simple Reminder For Anyone Who Works Overtime

    portent-wreaths-7k Report

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    #30

    Yeah I'd Rather Die Than Work In An Environment That Makes Me Do That

    Yeah I'd Rather Die Than Work In An Environment That Makes Me Do That

    acidity_woolen17 , x.com Report

    Phantom Phoenix
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't answer that right now. Let's put a pin in it, and circle back to it later.

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    #31

    Copywriter Who Doesn’t Know The Difference Between It’s And Its LOL

    Copywriter Who Doesn’t Know The Difference Between It’s And Its LOL

    EdJakubowski1 Report

    zovjraar me
    Community Member
    31 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    what? "it's helped me...." means "it has helped me".

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    #32

    She’s A Psychologist Without The -Logist

    She’s A Psychologist Without The -Logist

    lenapaulmvv Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A politician doesn't need a degree, so why expect one from a psychologist.

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    #33

    Jobs In 2026 Be Like:

    Jobs In 2026 Be Like:

    goalie_tripe Report

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    #34

    The Deal With Work These Days

    The Deal With Work These Days

    BeyondCommercial4266 Report

    #35

    I'm Thinking Of Making This My Response To A Certain Question I'm Always Asked

    I'm Thinking Of Making This My Response To A Certain Question I'm Always Asked

    VedaSchroeder1 Report

    Luke || Kira (he/she)
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What do they even EXPECT to hear as a reply to this? Breaking down in tears and apologizing profusely for being a worthless human being who's commited the cardinal sin of not dedicating every single day of their life to working?

    #36

    It Really Is Like That Sometimes

    It Really Is Like That Sometimes

    Gullible-Wealth-8107 Report

    Corvus
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why would someone with a PhD apply at fast food chains?

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    #37

    Recruiters Don’t Want You To Know This Easy Way:

    Recruiters Don’t Want You To Know This Easy Way:

    TiaAbernathy Report

    Helena
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Try seeing 26 year old kids with 2 years experience with Senior in their title. It is a serious lesson in 'titles are meaningless ego stroking'.

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    #38

    Who Can Relate?

    Who Can Relate?

    Big-Pea1678 Report

    #39

    I Really Enjoy Wasting Half An Hour Of My Life

    I Really Enjoy Wasting Half An Hour Of My Life

    largese Report

    Mike Rodrick
    Community Member
    35 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You scare the s**t out of our customers.

    #40

    Do What You Love

    Do What You Love

    Asleep-Resist1764 Report

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    #41

    I Applied At 9 Pm, Rejection At 9:02 Pm

    I Applied At 9 Pm, Rejection At 9:02 Pm

    zines_unrea Report

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    #42

    Is Your Current Job A Big Red Flag?

    Is Your Current Job A Big Red Flag?

    portent-wreaths-7k Report

    #43

    The Psychological Warfare Phase Of Job Hunting

    The Psychological Warfare Phase Of Job Hunting

    Dependent_Bite9077 Report

    #44

    My Company Is Monitoring My Laptop Now. So I Have To Give Them A Show

    My Company Is Monitoring My Laptop Now. So I Have To Give Them A Show

    AffectionateLaw3573 Report

    Talis
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Had to update my CV and look for job offers at other companies."

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    #45

    This Kind Of Advice Is So Detached From Reality

    This Kind Of Advice Is So Detached From Reality

    Ill_Doughnut_517 Report

    Maya_D
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There literally aren’t even that many jobs in my area in total, never mind jobs a particular person might be qualified for.

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