Ridiculous Demands from Hiring Companies
This job market is tough, and the job descriptions and requirements are becoming more absurd. There seems to be a pervasive attitude among some hiring companies and managers that the best way to source talent is to insult, degrade, belittle, and humiliate candidates via their inane processes and demands. A visit to the /antiwork or /recruitinghell subreddits will enlighten the casual reader on the craziness that is out there. And “crazy” doesn’t even begin to describe some of what’s going on. Companies wanting 10 years of experience with software that’s been around for 5, demanding 5 years of experience for entry-level roles, and insisting that candidates must work unreasonable hours are nothing new. But we have now reached a new level of incongruity. Here are some real-world examples of what is happening out in the trenches.
The Shameless Grind. An engineering role that requires a 7-day workweek, responding to 3 AM text messages, and a “huge chip on your shoulder.”
Toxic Expectations. This company’s demands of rigid scheduling, 12-hour shifts, and overperformance were skewered and mocked mercilessly on Reddit.
Personal Privacy? Although it is common practice to review candidates’ social media accounts, some companies have been known to ask candidates for their passwords. Illegal? Possibly. Invasive? Absolutely.
Too Many Jobs? Too Bad. A job posting that required candidates to have no more than 3 jobs over the past 10 years became the subject of viral ridicule. This particular requirement likely won't appeal to a generation who are no longer sticking it out in unsatisfactory jobs.
Get Your Steps In. A CEO has some odd requirements for an administrative assistant, including demands about candidates’ levels of physical fitness. This is illegal in the US, and asinine everywhere. It doesn’t surprise me; I once worked with someone whose CEO required him to set up his weights and mats for him at the gym.
Work for Free to Prove That You Can Work Here. Many companies require candidates to complete free work in the form of projects, case studies, and other exercises as part of their vetting process. Not only do such tasks have no correlation with job performance, but they are also a big waste of candidates’ time. However, this 2020 story, in which a young woman purchased a uniform and worked a shift at a restaurant as a “trial” (she was not hired) and was paid nothing, is genuinely shocking, egregious, horrifying, and probably illegal.
Ridiculous demands, unpaid work, invasive requests, and demeaning treatment of candidates are not indicative of an innovative or competitive hiring process. Such outlandish behavior on the part of these companies is a clear indication that something is profoundly wrong with their culture and leadership. Candidates have power as well, and should feel emboldened to use it. If you should encounter any of this type of nonsense, remember that you do not have to endure indignation and disrespect. Calling out the behavior and refusing to participate in it helps to shift the balance of power. Remember that interviews are a two-way process, one in which you decide if the company is worthy of you!