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3471It started with one frustrated Reddit post: “Why does getting a job unironically feel like winning the lottery right now?”
That post quickly gained traction, drawing in responses from fellow workers and job seekers.
What followed was a flood of shared experiences, stories of hardship, and a sense of solidarity that seems to stretch across borders, industries, and income levels.
For many, the job market doesn’t just feel tough—it feels nearly impossible.
Applicants are sending out hundreds of resumes and hearing nothing back.
Recruiters are unresponsive, interviews are grueling, and job postings often vanish without a trace.
One user said they had sent out 800 applications over six months, surviving by donating plasma and coaching tennis on the side.
Another said they’ve applied to over 200 jobs without landing a single interview, calling the process discouraging and demoralizing.
“It’s not just the U.S.,” a commenter from India wrote. “Most of the global market is brutal.”
People from Portugal and New Zealand shared similar stories, saying even entry-level positions are out of reach. One summed it up this way: “This isn’t a recession, it’s a collapse.”
Ghosted, Burned Out, and Overqualified
Job seekers describe a process that feels impersonal and broken. Ghosting is so common that getting a simple rejection email feels like a courtesy.
Interviews, when they do happen, often resemble tests or interrogations more than conversations.
Candidates describe being grilled on obscure topics, certifications, or software systems with no practical bearing on the job.
“It’s so insulting when you have a decade of experience and you have to answer random quiz questions to ‘prove it,’” one IT professional wrote. “Sorry I’m not a robot who can regurgitate textbook paragraphs on the spot.”
Even people with stellar resumes are finding it hard to break through. A person with 20 years of experience in digital marketing said this is the worst job market they’ve seen.
Others shared that glowing references, strong portfolios, and long work histories aren’t enough.
Some suspect the interviews are just a formality because companies already intend to hire someone internally.
From Comfortable to Desperate
Many wrote about how quickly things fell apart. Once-stable workers now find themselves driving for rideshare apps, picking up odd jobs, or moving back in with their parents.
One person said all their credit cards and their line of credit are maxed out, and their account is in the red.
For older workers, age has become yet another obstacle. Professionals in their 40s and 50s say that staying loyal to a company for years is now seen as a negative.
Recruiters may assume they’re too expensive or not agile enough to adapt to new tech.
Others are juggling multiple part-time gigs or temp work just to get by. And even those strategies aren’t always enough.
Several people noted they’re doing everything “right” and still aren’t getting anywhere.
Hiring Isn’t What It Used To Be
Some longtime professionals said they can’t believe how fast the hiring landscape has changed.
One commenter who landed a job 18 months ago said they received interviews for most of their applications and were never ghosted. Now? They only hear back from one or two employers per 50 applications.
To get any traction at all, people are relying on tools like ChatGPT to tailor each resume and cover letter.
One user even built a Chrome extension that inserts keywords from job descriptions to bypass automatic filters. However, these aren’t seen as shortcuts, but as survival tactics.
There’s also a growing sense that many jobs posted online aren’t truly open. Some believe companies post jobs to create the illusion of opportunity or fulfill legal obligations while planning to promote someone internally.
It Shouldn’t Feel Like This
The emotional toll is undeniable. People feel ignored, undervalued, and increasingly anxious about the future. “Getting a job shouldn’t be considered a luxury,” one commenter wrote.
But for many, that’s exactly what it feels like.
And when someone finally does land a good job, it can feel surreal. “I hit the jackpot,” a Reddit user said after receiving an offer.
Another likened getting past the first interview to winning on a scratch-off ticket.
The sentiment behind the original Reddit post wasn’t exaggerated. Today, securing a job often feels like defying the odds, especially when you’re competing against hundreds of applicants, dodging automated rejections, and enduring multi-round interviews with no feedback.
For too many, the job search is dragging on for months or years, with no end in sight. “Why isn’t this on the news 24/7?” the original poster asked.
With stories like these piling up, it’s hard to understand why it isn’t.
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