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Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Greta Jaruševičiūtė

50 Job Listings With Requirements So Ridiculous People Walked Away Immediately (New Pics)

Depending on a person's experience, where they live, and what they want to do, their job search can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. (Heck, certain specialists get headhunted even while they're happily employed.) But according to some estimates, in the United States, on average, it takes around 44 days from your first application to receive an offer.

And the subreddit r/RecruitingHell offers a glimpse into what this period looks like. Filled with strange listings and jokes about endless rounds of interviews, it highlights the frustrations and absurdities that can make you feel hopeless.

#1 Thoughts?

Image credits: OneChain2576

#2 I’m So Sick Of It

Image credits: RareDealer9853

According to Toni Frana, Career Expert Manager at FlexJobs, the market remains very competitive.

"It isn't uncommon to see hundreds of applicants applying for one job. These conditions make the entire process of looking for jobs, applying to jobs, and interviewing for jobs frustrating," she told Bored Panda.

"Add to that, candidates report getting ghosted by employers, and the overall effort job seekers put into landing a job feels very high and draining."

#3 Found This Post On Linkedin. Ontario Is Absolutely Doing The Right Thing. 💯 🇨🇦

Image credits: Dismal-Prior-6699

#4 A Joke

Image credits: Confident-Aside-3341

#5 Intresting! Any Thoughts?

Image credits: Abasi1

In the face of these challenges, Frana said it remains important for job seekers to tailor their applications—including their resumes and cover letters—for each position they apply to.

"However, there are a few other strategies to execute that can help people have more success gaining visibility with hiring teams," she added.

"Networking and having conversations with people you know, reaching out and introducing yourself to people who work at the companies you are interested in, and working to make sure your digital profiles have a solid personal brand that positions you as an expert in your field can increase your visibility."

#6 I Wish I Could Reply This Every Time I Am Asked This Question

Image credits: Long-Elderberry-5567

#7 I See Linkedin Posts Like This Every Day. No One Believes Them Though 😂

Image credits: akinfinity713

#8 Lmaooooo 😩

Image credits: methane-illumination

#9 I Took The Front Part Of This Advice And The Latter Part Turned Out True 🗿 (Not Oc)

Image credits: noproblem_bro_

Furthermore, the career expert highlighted that it's imperative to follow up on your job applications and send thank-you notes after interviews. "It shows employers you remain interested in the position they are looking to fill," she explained.

When doing this, FlexJobs recommends that you:

  1. Find the right email and contact the hiring manager directly.
  2. Be professional.
  3. Be brief.
  4. Ask a question to justify your follow-up.
  5. Express interest in the company (for example, by following it on LinkedIn).

and if a company shows they're considering you, speed up the hiring process by letting them know other employers are interested in you too (but only if that's true).

#10 It Do Be Like That🥴

Image credits: chococakes1111

#11 From R/Meirl

Image credits: redandwhitewizard99

#12 This Felt Appropriate For This Sub 💀

Image credits: Big_Difficulty_8545

#13 Recruiter Gets A Taste Of His Own Medicine And Can't Handle It

Image credits: ExpertThrowaway8260

However, sometimes it's not the recruiter but the candidate themself who can hurt their chances. And it's a passive attitude that can cause a lot of damage.

"Now is not the time to be reactive in your job search. In other words, waiting for recruiters and hiring managers to reach out to you will likely not yield the results you are looking for," Frana said.

"Taking a proactive approach where you are actively applying to multiple jobs, layering in networking activities, and focusing on learning new skills for professional development will provide you with better results."

#14 I Beg Your Finest Fucking Pardon

Image credits: f2d4ads

#15 The Real Reason You're Not Getting Hired? Economic Policy Has Become Completely Unpredictable

Image credits: Upper_Brief681

#16 Is This Illegal Or Am I Tripping

Image credits: throwaway1199006

#17 Almost 9 In 10 Hr Leaders Say They Avaoid Hiring Recent Grads

Image credits: TheSonicArrow

The good news is that a 2024 survey found 65% of hiring managers are open to hiring candidates based on their unique skill set, even if they lack traditional work experience.

So, if you trust both the process and yourself, you should eventually be able to find the right fit.

#18 Credit Card On File…. For An Interview?

Image credits: CrayonConservation

#19 I Would Rather Be Unemployed Than Gain A Job Doing This

Image credits: Dingus5002

#20 I've Never Seen It Spelled Out So Boldly

Image credits: vezaynk

#21 10 Years Experience And A Masters Degree Required:

Image credits: SalesManajerk

The survey also showed that:

  1. 47% of hiring managers consider educational qualifications “important,” but only 25% seeing them as “essential”;
  2. 43% think candidates having a degree from a prestigious institution have no influence on their hiring decision;
  3. 54% believe soft skills are highly important;
  4. 48% have opted not to hire a candidate because they were lacking soft skills;
  5. 66% say soft skills can be taught.

#22 Do You Do This?

Image credits: Friendlyalterme

#23 The Only Appropriate Answer To This Question

Image credits: SendSomeFlowers

#24 I Swear Most Job Postings Nowadays Exist Just To Collect Your Data

Image credits: Fun_Sympathy_9328

#25 Is This Just A Sneaky Was To Ask How Old I Am?

Image credits: desperatedev1

#26 Bruh. I Don't Even Want The Job Anymore. Fuck You

Image credits: TheSeepingMouth

#27 Delusional Ceos

Image credits: Jlexus5

#28 Application On A Startup Post I Saw From Linkedin. LOL!

Image credits: deafgamer_

#29 Am I Crazy Or Is This Really Unprofessional?

Image credits: Longjumping_Quit_397

#30 The AI Auto Reply Completely Broke Down

Image credits: Fragrant_Mud_8696

#31 No Wonder Why I Never Got An Interview.... I Guess I Don't Fit Their 'Type'

Image credits: kid-on-the-block

#32 I’m On The Brink Of Doing This

Image credits: KaleidoscopeFine

#33 Is This Sus?

Image credits: jackattackpod

#34 Can’t Make This Stuff Up

Image credits: No-Land-3723

#35 Seen By Hundreds, Hired By None

Image credits: PixlStarX

#36 Uniquely Awful Job Rejection Letter

Image credits: MountainPlankton6908

#37 Do People Still Even Use Monster.com?

Image credits: baron_von_brunk

#38 Wtf Is This?

Image credits: tdorrington

#39 This Absolutely Sucks

Image credits: luxtabula

#40 I Turned Down A Job Offer And This Is 1 Of The 3 Emails I Received From The Recruiter

Image credits: Wild-Employee2029

#41 I Don't Deserve This

Image credits: ErisDemani

#42 We Are Not Going Crazy…

Image credits: Front_Sprinkles_5260

#43 Our Newest Employee Was Mia Then We Found This On His Desk

Image credits: when_air_was_breath

#44 Colleges Doesn’t Add Value Anymore…

Image credits: nishantvyas

#45 Rudest Rejection Ever

Image credits: Weary-Spring419

#46 It Is Unacceptable To Put "See Resume" In Your Work History

Image credits: NBA_MSG

#47 Job Hunting In 2025

Image credits: joemama123458

#48 I've About Reached My Limit

Image credits: Intelligent_Time633

#49 How To Politely Say “I Won’t Be Sending Over My Strategy Document Unless You Share The Salary Range”?

Image credits: RaiseOk1462

#50 A Lot Can Happen Under A Minute. Yes, One Minute

Image credits: Delicious-Demand-495

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