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?
#2 I’m So Sick Of It
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 We.
“Add to that, candidates report getting ghosted by employers, and the overall effort job seekers put into landing a job feels very h**h and draining.”
#3 Found This Post On Linkedin. Ontario Is Absolutely Doing The Right Thing. 💯 🇨🇦
#4 A Joke
#5 I See Linkedin Posts Like This Every Day. No One Believes Them Though 😂
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 for.
“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
#7 Intresting! Any Thoughts?
#8 I Took The Front Part Of This Advice And The Latter Part Turned Out True 🗿 (Not OC)
#9 It Do Be Like That🥴
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:
Find the right email and contact the hiring manager directly.Be professional.Be brief.Ask a question to justify your follow-up.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 From r/meirl
#11 Lmaooooo 😩
#12 Recruiter Gets A Taste Of His Own Medicine And Can’t Handle It
#13 This Felt Appropriate For This Sub 💀
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 F***ing Pardon
#15 The Real Reason You’re Not Getting Hired? Economic Policy Has Become Completely Unpredictable
#16 Is This Illegal Or Am I Tripping
#17 Almost 9 In 10 Hr Leaders Say They Avaoid Hiring Recent Grads
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 I’m On The Brink Of Doing This
#19 I Would Rather Be Unemployed Than Gain A Job Doing This
#20 Seen By Hundreds, Hired By None
#21 The Only Appropriate Answer To This Question
The survey also showed that:
47% of hiring managers consider educational qualifications “important,” but only 25% see them as “essential”;43% think candidates having a degree from a prestigious institution has no influence on their hiring decision;54% believe soft skills are highly important;48% have opted not to hire a candidate because they were lacking soft skills;66% say soft skills can be taught. #22 Is This Just A Sneaky Was To Ask How Old I Am?
#23 Do You Do This?
#24 I’ve Never Seen It Spelled Out So Boldly
#25 Credit Card On File…. For An Interview?
#26 I Swear Most Job Postings Nowadays Exist Just To Collect Your Data
#27 Application On A Startup Post I Saw From Linkedin. LOL!
#28 10 Years Experience And A Masters Degree Required:
#29 Wtf Is This?
#30 Can’t Make This Stuff Up
#31 Bruh. I Don’t Even Want The Job Anymore. F**k You
#32 Uniquely Awful Job Rejection Letter
#33 Do People Still Even Use Monster.com?
#34 Am I Crazy Or Is This Really Unprofessional?
#35 No Wonder Why I Never Got An Interview…. I Guess I Don’t Fit Their ‘Type’
#36 We Are Not Going Crazy…
#37 The AI Auto Reply Completely Broke Down
#38 Is This Sus?
#39 I Turned Down A Job Offer And This Is 1 Of The 3 Emails I Received From The Recruiter
#40 Delusional CEOs
#41 This Absolutely Sucks
#42 I Don’t Deserve This
#43 Job Hunting In 2025
#44 Colleges Doesn’t Add Value Anymore…
#45 Our Newest Employee Was MIA Then We Found This On His Desk
#46 I’ve About Reached My Limit
#47 How To Politely Say “I Won’t Be Sending Over My Strategy Document Unless You Share The Salary Range”?
#48 Rudest Rejection Ever
#49 It Is Unacceptable To Put “See Resume” In Your Work History
#50 A Lot Can Happen Under A Minute. Yes, One Minute
#51 Thinly Veiled Discrimination Question
#52 It’s Cool When They Do It, It’s A Problem When I Do It
#53 Hr Reps Of R/Recruitinghell, Why Don’t You Tell Us We’re Fired Even Though We So Clearly Are? Why Do You Do Like In The Meme?
#54 No Country For Old Man
#55 18 Months Of Unemployment Over!
#56 I Finally Got Hired After 4,000+ Applications
#57 When All Else Fails On Linkedin
#58 Told Her I Can’t Interview In Person This Week
#59 This Really Confirms What We Suspected All Along
#60 Tech Hiring Is Scam…
#61 Long Live Capitalism…
#62 Employers Are Out Of Their Minds…
#63 Got Asked To Do A One Way Interview. I Refused
#64 This Is Unacceptable And I’m Sick Of Pretending It Is
#65 This Is What Goes Through My Head Scrolling Through Linkedin
#66 There Was A Rule To Hiring Folks, That Rule Is Dead It Seems
#67 When They Ask For The Difference Between Data Science And Data Analytics
#68 I Didn’t Get A Job Because I Was Profiled As A “Video Gamer”
#69 Recruiters Don’t Want You To Know This “Preferred First Name” Hack!
#70 Is This Top Or Bottom?
#71 My Response To An Email I Received Telling Me That I Didn’t Get A Job That I Interviewed For
#72 Sick Of The Scum
#73 When Your Boss Follows You And So Does Unemployment
#74 What Is Indeed These Days…
#75 Fired Before First Day With A “Wish You Good Luck” Email
#76 This Gym Is Only Hiring 20-28 Year Olds
#77 Took 3 Hours Of Out My Day, Bothered 3 People For References, And Got 0 Job Offers
#78 Do You Tell The Truth On Employee Surveys??
#79 The Usual
#80 Grrrr
#81 We’re So Cooked LOL, Godspeed Everyone
#82 Offer Rescinded For Asking Questions
#83 Name Something Worse Than An Out Of Touch Boomer
#84 I’m Done
