Edit: I wrote this because I feel genuinely hopeless, and have considered suicide. The fact that so many people read this and found a way to interpret it as "This guy doesn't think his shit stinks" is, in fact, insane. If you can read this and, in good faith, suggest I am in any way refusing to self-evaluate, then you cannot read. I have made it very clear that the criticisms I have been given are either NONE, or outright lies. To suggest I'm not being open to feedback when I am not being given feedback just indicates to me that you do not believe in the suffering of other people whatsoever. I cannot fix that. I am muting my replies. I hope you find peace.

I apply to roughly 1000 jobs a year. I rarely get more than 5 interviews a year. The only jobs that hire me are jobs that don't look at my resume at all. The jobs I'm most qualified for are often not even replying.

I need something while I keep looking, and stuff like Wal-Mart and fast food don't even reply (overqualified? who fucking knows). I applied to a dog sitter / dog walker agency, interviewed, passed their tests, and was hired.

On the first day of shadowing, I mostly kept my hands to myself and didn't do anything I wasn't asked to do. I answered questions when I was asked, and asked questions of my own. I had no reason to believe I was still being evaluated--I'd already been offered the job.

Turns out the employee I was shadowing was the co-founder of the company. I didn't know this, so when he asked if I had previous experience dog sitting, I said no. I hadn't lied about that previously. No reason to lie now. When he asked why I wanted to be a dog sitter, I said I have struggled to find work in my field, and am trying to remain employed. This seemed like something I would enjoy without having to compromise my morals (I mentioned I used to work as a prison guard and hated it).

Before I left, he told me I'd dressed professionally, and I'd been on time. He told me he looked forward to seeing me at the next shadowing session.

Fifteen minutes later, I received an email saying that they'd decided this wasn't the right fit for me, and that they were canceling my other shadowing visits.

When I asked why, they said it was because I "didn't pet the dogs at all, even the one that was most interested" in me.

- I had not been told I was still being evaluated.

- I had been told I was shadowing. Every time I've gotten involved while shadowing, I've been scolded. That's not what you do when you're shadowing.

- Still, I did everything I was told when I was told to do it.

- And just to make matters worse, I DID PET THE DOGS. I was also the only one playing with them after the employee I shadowed threw a ball for them roughly twice. This was just a lie to cover up the real reason.

What was the real reason? Who knows. My bet is the usual. "Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion" I didn't know I was still being interviewed, so I didn't lie and say "God, I've just always wanted to be a dog walker."

Plus, I'm nearly forty. The moment the 20-something co-founder saw me, he reacted as if he'd seen a ghost. I'm not 100% sure that has anything to do with it, but considering the reason for terminating me was an outright lie, I can't help but assume the real reason isn't something they'd want people knowing.

So that brings my total work experience to:

- Went to college to be a teacher.

- Looked for teaching jobs for 3 years without finding one

- Nearly fell for an insurance salesman scam

- Finally found a teaching job and was fired after 3 years without cause

- Worked as a pharmacy tech in a hospital during covid and was the scapegoat for other peoples' mistakes

- Got a remote job that I loved, worked there for several years, and was eventually terminated for [coerced into signing an NDA and non disparagement to get my severance]

- Couldn't find work and worked as a prison guard until I was hazed and left

- Can't even keep a job as a dog walker without being fired on the spot for whatever lies the co-founder decides to make up

Kill me

Edit: I'm a former 8th grade English teacher. I taught critical thinking, evaluation skills, etcetera. So if you think you're helping me by suggesting I consider I might be the problem, I'm way ahead of you.

I'm sorry that you read my story as in any way arrogant or narcissistic, but I have absolutely self evaluated every step of the way. I am trying to learn from my mistakes and improve as a person.

But if you missed the part that I am repeatedly receiving either NO feedback, or FALSE feedback, and you're going to try and tell me I'm the problem, you're simply being cruel, and I won't be engaging with you further in the comments.

I am sorry the world has left you so jaded that your kneejerk reaction is to assume I'm not telling the whole truth.

Additional Edit: I am not diagnosed autistic, but I am diagnosed ADHD. The ADHD medication appears to have accelerated the autism symptoms, as others will tell you sometimes happens. But if I failed some subtle social contract--that's totally fine. Just... tell me. If I ask for honest feedback, tell me. I'll improve. Don't make up a lie about me not petting the dogs.

A south african applied for a job in Cape Town and receive this response. Chef's Recruit is the name of the company.

From the applicant:

I applied for a private chef position through a recruitment agency yesterday and this was the response I received from them.

Side note: I am a qualified chef as well as a qualified teacher but even if I wasn’t qualified is this how you respond to potential candidates? I so badly want to name and shame

I had just finished a round of interviews that I felt incredibly confident about. About five days had passed since the final interview.

Yesterday, my fiancée took me out to lunch, and the attached photo is the fortune I got from my cookie at the buffet. The moment I opened it, I looked up and showed it to her, and both of our jaws just dropped and we laughed and said we hoped so. I couldn’t stop talking about this particular interview because of how well it had gone.

Lately, I haven’t even let myself get my hopes up. It’s been nearly 10 months since I lost my job, and I’ve been searching for stable, full-time, permanent employment ever since.

Today, I finally signed an offer letter.

These past 10 months have been some of the hardest of my life. Hundreds of applications. Rejection emails. Instant AI-generated auto-denials. Countless rounds of interviews that led nowhere. Destroying my credit just to survive. Finishing a degree that seemed to get me nowhere. And far too many nights spent crying, overthinking everything, and honestly feeling like I didn’t want to keep going.

But it’s finally fucking over.

I don’t start for another two weeks because of onboarding and orientation, but for the first time in a long time, I can finally breathe.

To everyone who’s still stuck in the job search, I know how exhausting and defeating it can feel. Please don’t give up. I truly hope your opportunity comes soon, because I know how much this moment means when it finally does.
I’m beyond grateful. I’m paying forward my fortune because my good news came a day early so it’s still valid 😉

My friend works at the company and gave me the referral too. I hate it here.

Edit: I was told I was the second favorite candidate. Thank fucking god, I’m so happy I came in second place in a zero sum game lmfaoooo

Is it AI?

Is it HR?

Is it unrealistic expectations?

What is it, Reddit?

Some good news! After 9 months of job hunting, I've finally got an offer nailed down. Now for the damning stats. This should ABSOLUTELY be a condemnation on the job market and what employers have done to job seekers as a whole.

I kept statistics of all the jobs since October of 2025 that I applied to, which ones were converted to some sort of screen or interview, which ones went to final rounds, and ultimately which ones I got an offer for. Keep in mind, I'm an 8-year HR pro and I was exclusively looking for HR-specific roles that fit my abilities, experience level, background, and values. This isn't a spray-and-pray, it was highly targeted.

Since October of 2025, I had applied for 761 jobs out of the 952 I sourced and reviewed. Of those jobs, only 30 got to some kind of phone/video/in-person interview of some sort. That's a 3.94% conversion rate. Out of those 30, only two jobs got to final rounds and one got an offer, meaning even though I was highly targeted in my approach to job hunting, there was only ever a 0.1% CHANCE that I could land a job in this market.

Even though I'm grateful for the offer, FUCK this job market. It shouldn't be a statistical wonder to land a job, and yet here we are.

Having and building a career was always one of my top priorities. I went to a prestigious school that I had to pass really difficult exams to get into, then attended a very good university, and recently graduated with my master’s.

During my bachelor’s, I completed multiple internships, earned certifications, learned coding. I did all of that not only because I wanted a strong CV, but because I genuinely enjoy my field.
My CV has also been reviewed by many senior people working in banks and consulting firms, and they’ve all told me it looks good.

But what the fuck? I’ve been unemployed for 10 months.

At first, I was applying for part-time student jobs. I kept getting told I was overqualified. Now I’ve graduated and started applying for full-time positions, and suddenly I’m underqualified?

I’ve even had referrals from managers, and I’m still getting rejected without even getting an interview!

Most recently, I got rejected from a position that I genuinely thought I was a 99% fit for. I had a referral, met the requirements, and still didn’t even get a chance to speak to anyone.

What the fuck is this? What is going on?

I was patient for a long time, but after getting rejected from a job I had really high hopes for, I honestly don’t know what to think anymore.

Had an interview that went amazing, we talked for 2 hours. The guy said in the interview he wanted to hire me and be my mentor and by the end of it we were talking about how to decorate my new office. The next week I get an email "officially" offering me the position and asking for a time to meet again to sign the paperwork. My friend and former supervisor tells me he gave me a glowing review when he was called. Everything seems great, once licensed I could be making $80-100k in the role. Then the following week the guy calls me and starts backpedaling hard. Things we talked about in the initial interview are completely changed. He went from "don't quit your day job right now" to having a problem with my "inflexible" hours. Started adding on weird stipulations like unpaid trainings I would have to travel out of state for, suddenly sharing an office space, working on weekends, and no visible tattoos or facial piercings. When I had work arounds for these he told me he needed to "put a pause on things and consider what's right for my business". Today I got the official rejection.

Sounds like he found a better candidate, maybe someone with their license already. I was upfront about not having mine yet and he said it wouldn't be an issue and that I could still practice under him (I've looked this up and I'm pretty sure he was lying or just outright saying we could commit fraud together). I'm just shocked we went from "I want to mentor you" and "what color scheme would you like for your office" and "send me your professional head shot so we can start advertising" to this. Well at least I didn't quit my day job.

It's so frustrating to hear that getting a job in 2026 boils down to who you know. But even then that hasn't helped much in my case I've had ins with three different jobs in the past month, but despite having decent to strong connections with employers, that still isn't enough.

It really just feels like dumb luck at this point.😣

1st interview: 30 min HR

2nd interview: 1 hour hiring manager

3rd interview: 3 hour presentation and panel

4th interview: 45 min interview with CEO

5th interview: 1 hour interview with the person who would be direct supervisor.

Now I am waiting to see about an offer since the person is on vacation this week.

I would love to have this job, but gosh this experience has been so off putting. I'm so sick of the waiting I almost want to pull out, but at this point its not worth it to do so, especially cause its a good opportunity.

Received the email in the morning for interview, by afternoon *Poof*
I don’t blame the recruiter for this, but man did he get my hopes high. A good thing that did come out of this is that before i used to wonder if my CV was passing through the ATS scan, now i know it does. Going home with a small win. 🙂
#UKFinance #MscGraduate

Four companies now have engaged me and squeezed me out after the third round of interviews. This shit is beyond disheartening.

I'm at least getting interviews so i'm thankful for the false hope at the very least. The 60 day hiring processes though.... those i could do without.

The lesson i've learned is to never take your foot off the gas, no matter how sure you are you have a job clinched.

Keep applying until you have that offer letter, don't be like me.

Stay strong yall.

Interviews are 3 rounds not including “prescreens” , a week apart or more.
I’m sorry I’m if I’m not making sense. This feels like a humiliation ritual at this point

I’m at a job at that makes me wanna die inside. My own stupid fault I had such a nice easy job before and fucked it up. I’m planning on quitting in a month (if I stay here longer I‘m not joking I don’t know what I’ll do so don’t tell me to stay) I have no savings and have so many bills to pay so I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ve been applying to jobs like crazy and recently I’ve only been contacted by scam jobs. I’m so tired. I spend my days dissociating, playing the lottery and day dreaming about winning 250 million dollars so I never have to work again.

Got severance 2 months ago and since then have been applying for jobs like mad. All I’ve gotten is rejection emails - no interviews and am really getting worried now.