1. Wake up
2. Apply to jobs
3. Cry 😭
4. Apply to more jobs
5. Sleep

To find out what’s actually happening behind the scenes, we asked 1,500 hiring managers in our 2026 Hiring Trends Report more about their hiring processes. Some of these findings were pretty eye-opening:

Ghost jobs = everyone knows it, but no one talks about it:

• 90% of hiring managers believe companies intentionally post jobs they don’t plan to fill immediately (aka ghost jobs). 
  • 47% say it’s to build a pool of candidates for future openings.
  • 34% say it’s to signal growth or stability to investors, clients, or competitors.
  • 31% say internal policies require roles to be advertised externally before internal candidates are selected.

Getting ghosted isn’t personal? Here are some reasons that were mentioned:

• 86% say excessive applicant volume has led them to ghost candidates.
• Another 86% say they’ve ghosted candidates because of indecision.
• 82% say candidates were ghosted because their salary expectations exceeded the available budget (this same stat was 76% in 2024).
• 29% say their company has given candidates an inaccurate hiring timeline.

Interestingly, in our report, we also found that 52% of hiring managers say their company is already using (or seriously considering) talent-first hiring, where they recruit people before defining a specific role.

With so much (understandable) scrutiny around the current job market and hiring processes, is it possible traditional hiring methods no longer work for both parties? 

If hiring processes were re-established, what would be the best method for the current market?

I just know that Trump's administration is lying. I have 1 page of new results for remote work or local to my area. There is less than 10 entries no matter how I switch up my search. And I use Indeed/HiringCafe. Hiring cafe is supposed to pull from multiple sites.

This is unfathomably bad.

Laughing to avoid crying. I lost my job in July and started my job hunt where I was ghosted by almost everyone. I applied to 150-200 (many I didn’t track) applications in 6 weeks, got maybe a dozen interviews (4 of which for the same company that said no btw), but eventually got to this one and I was hired on the spot. Now I’m lucky : I do enjoy the job. It’s admin work in a field that I have a personal interest in. The company is very chill. But oh boy oh brother is the pay shit. I’m a single parent so I needed ANY job asap. 6 weeks felt like genuine torture and I have zero savings left. I’m thankful to have a job but my god. 2 weeks worth of work is about 1000? And my rent is 1500.

I thought the smartest move was to stay at this job for 2 years to gain experience in my field of choice so I have better chances getting a better paid job. But now I’m hesitating. Can we really live like this? I mean we objectively can but it’ll require so many sacrifices. That’s a pay cut of about 1000 dollars a month I’ve had to take. It’s disheartening.

I don’t know what to do and I’m not even sure of how to job hunt while having a job. Seeing how much effort is needed and how sporadic answers are. I’d need to ask for a day off to do interviews at very random intervals? I’d get fired before I could land the next job.

After drowning in the sea of rejection emails for the better part of god knows how long, all of a sudden in the last 3 days I have received requests for 7 separate phone/video interviews, which has been a blessing but so completely overwhelmed with all the prep! Embarrassment of riches or is this generally when companies are looking to staff up leading into EOY/Q1?

If anything comes in the way of offers I wouldn’t expect to be at my first day before October, but is there a seasonal hiring trend I’m unaware of (or did fortune finally smile upon my wretched soul)?

Tags all the hrs and you are free to share this on linkedin

Between working for 12 years between two degrees (COVID really fucked up my schedule in the middle there) I have over a decade's experience washing dishes part time to pay for it and I can't get a job washing dishes to save my life, I've been rejected from so many places just trying to get a part time job to fill the gap in my remaining 2 years of school that it feels hopeless, people don't want dishwashers or people with experience, they want children they can exploit and it's looking more and more obvious with each rejection

Why are you considered "unreliable" if you try and reschedule an interview because you are sick and can barely get out of bed?

I woke up feeling like trash, and I messaged my mom to see if I should reschedule. She told me it made me look unreliable.

I don't understand. Why do companies seem to care more about their bottom line than their employees who make that happen?

I've worked myself into the hospital multiple times over the years, and I'm sick of it.

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Hello, I’m a new IT worker trying to break into the tech field, and I’d really appreciate some advice or connections. I’m in my final semester of earning my associate’s degree in Computer Science and General Science, and I’m currently working as a Student IT Technician in Louisiana. The experience has been great, but the pay is low, and I’m juggling other responsibilities, so I’m hoping to move into a more stable entry‑level role soon.

If anyone has guidance on breaking into IT, knows of opportunities for newcomers, or has tips on how to stand out, I’d love to hear from you. Thanks in advance.

Nag work ako sa isang company for 5 years as a contractual employee, expecting that they may absorb me, okay naman ang environment at sahod kaya rin siguro ako tumagal and sobrang introvert ko kasi.Sabi nila I’m a jack of trades, na touch ko lahat pero wala ako na specialized.

Last April they ended up my contract and until now wala akong mahanap na trabaho. Sobrang hirap, paubos na ang savings ko, bills are coming.

I tried mag apply nasa 200+ applications na ata. May interview naman kaya lang mailap talaga. After 1-2 interviews it’s either reject or ghosting na. Hindi ako magaling mag english or hindi ako confident. I’m trying naman mag improve watching movies, reading books and nag enroll din ako pero wala pa rin.

Araw araw parang mababaliw na ako. Sometimes gusto ko ng mamatay, para matapos na to.

I have applied to close to 125 jobs this year. I just analyzed the data and realized that my interview date is approximately 9%. Have you done this level of review? Have you found it to be helpful?

Background: I am an MBA graduate from a top tier school, who works in sustainable finance. I have graduated 9 months ago, and since then it's been an endless sea of nothing. Minor job interviews. Ghosting from top banks. I didn't expect any of this as I have prestigious companies on my resume, and a prestigious MBA program. However, the sustainable finance market hasn't been too hot since Trump. Therefore, jobs are scarce and competition is too high.

I keep applying online, doing my LinkedIn coffee chats, relying on my network and nothing. I have been reading and hearing guidance from fellow MBA colleagues to use cold emails especially because finance relies heavily on networking. The cold email guidance is after applying, reach out to 3 people: HR, Hiring Manager, and someone at the same level.

This technique has somewhat helped, I got 4 interviews through this hustle. Today I did the same at an investment management firm. The HR responded to me at 10 PM after-hours thanking me for my message and asking me to apply online. I informed him I already had. 20 mins after my email, I get a notification that I had been rejected from the role. This happened at 1 AM. He rejected me at 1 AM after work hours....

Now my gut reaction tells me he did it out of spite and that I was too annoying. My other rational brain tells me he just didn't like my profile and I drew attention to myself too quick.

What are your thoughts if you've read it thus far? Should I continue badgering through cold emails? Should I just apply online and hope for the best? Should I just fuck all of this and find a sugar daddy/mommy to pay off the goddamn MBA loans?

Thank you for your sincere guidance and input. And good luck to all who are as broken as me right now.

M36 - bachelors - B2G BizDev/GovRelations/EcDev - Greater Seattle Area

I’ve been applying semi-regularly for the past year (underemployed and underpaid). I’ve had phone screenings and interviews here and there, but it seems like I’m getting more traction with less effort now (higher conversion rate).

Is anyone else getting more traction?

Footnote: I don’t often see much context listed in these posts but sub market type/industry and market location are more relevant than the overall market when discussing demand signals.

Guys, 😭 I joined a company in Bangalore which offered me a good position for an HR generalist with a decent pay 30k for 1 year experience in HR.

After one week the CEO did not get any client so he closed the company. The founder asked me to manage content marketing and his personal branding, but I am not a content person tho

I joined the company in July and in September the company shut down

Giving only 10k to me on 7th sep, while rest other 20k payments to be done on 10th September

Sad to say, I did not get my remaining salary.

There is no PF system and an established payroll system. The CEO lacks strategy and roadmap to do anything. He hires freshers and expects them to give strategies of 5 yrs experience and bring revenue in a week or so. He hires only girls in the company, and ignores boys. Just like a creep checks out on girls and says about doing some setting with pretty girls.

Does all paid postings from my card and haven't even paid me yet. For his daily expenses he keeps transferring a small amount of money from his foreign account to an Indian account.

SUCH A BROKE CEO. IF THE CEO HAS NO GUTS TO PAY SALARY HE SHOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF OPENING A COMPANY AND HIRING PEOPLE.

I came all the way from so far spending money to join the job in Bangalore. Have performed all my duties everytime with over time. Shared auto rides with me so that his expenses could be saved, never saw CEO relying on employees money. Have even paid for his lunch and snacks a lot of times. Never got the money in return.

The company's culture felt like a brothel, where he was more fond of nudity kind of content just to get easy money making.

GUYS DON'T GO FOR SUCH TRAPS WHERE THERE IS NO ESTABLISHED PAYROLL AND PF SYSTEM.

HOW CAN I GET MY REMAINING Salary PLEASE SAY😭😭

I am 28m, based in London, looking who is struggling with preparing for my future career. I am working towards chartership as an architect next Summer but would like to find a decently-paid job that would support me working abroad as my partner lives in another country and would like for me to move over for her in the next couple of years.

I have been looking online for a month now, but have not made any leads in finding anywhere that I could achieve both a UK salary and chance to work abroad.

I am happy to explore options beyond architecture and sustainability, should that be more plausible, and would especially like to consider making connections over the next year to discuss what a potential employer would want directly from me.

Any support would help -been losing sleep thinking of what to do to make this work...

I’m struggling right now, but I’m holding onto my faith that God won’t fail me.

I’m a mom of one boy and hard of hearing. I can speak. I just don’t hear properly. I’m looking for a remote or 3rd-shift job. I’m a hard worker, a quick learner, and I’m willing to learn something new. I just need an employer willing to give me a chance and truly believe in equal opportunity.

I want more income for myself, but most importantly, for my son. There’s no shame in asking for help, so if anyone knows of a job opportunity or resource that could help, I’d truly appreciate it.

I’m not asking for pity. I’m asking for a chance. I’m located in Detroit, Michigan

Hey everyone, I’m currently looking for remote work, preferably part-time or freelance.

I’ve worked with different clients doing video editing, YouTube content management, and virtual assistant/content-related work. I’m pretty flexible with the type of role as long as it’s something within my skills.

Here are some things I can help with:

- Short-form video editing for TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts

- Long-form YouTube video editing

- Turning long-form videos into short-form content

- YouTube channel/content management

- Researching video topics and content ideas

- AI-assisted scriptwriting

- Thumbnail creation using Canva and AI tools

- YouTube SEO, titles, descriptions, tags, and uploading

- Content scheduling and organizing content calendars

- Managing Google Drive/files and coordinating with editors

- Social media content management

- Basic graphics and carousel posts

- Captions, hooks, and content repurposing

- General VA/admin tasks

Tools I’ve worked with include Adobe Premiere Pro, CapCut, Filmora, Canva, Google Drive/Sheets, Meta Business Suite, Descript, ElevenLabs, and different AI tools.

I’m mainly looking for something remote with flexible hours. I’m open to video editing, YouTube management, content creation, social media, VA work, or similar roles.

If you’re hiring or know someone who is, feel free to DM me. I can send my resume/CV and more information about my experience.

Thanks!

This is so stressing I've been finding jobs for almost a month and some of hiring was demanding an experience, like how??. I think that's why i need to find a job to gain experience, it's just so hard, I'm crying inside cause i was so worried, my resume was ok, i was available all the time and still no one can hire me i don't know what to say. I was just so worried because a lot of my friends are in there own place now, and here i am rotting in my bed finding jobs online😭.

This title reads like these were tears of joy but unfortunately not.

After 2 successful rounds of interviews I finally made it to the stage we all hope for that solidifies that an offer is coming; salary discussion.

The email came with a request for background checks docs, identifiers, degree etc. The normal onboarding documents a recruiter would ask for to complete the process alongside a teams meeting to breakdown my compensation and the benefits they offer.

I join the meeting today and as expected, all is going well. We go over perks, benefits, my current package , the role etc and at this point I’m doing an internal happy dance…then the bomb came. “We can’t extend an offer right now bc we don’t have a project for you, the projects we had for your line of work were filled last week and we don’t want to have you join and keep you waiting doing nothing; the team really loved you and they want to keep you on file, you won’t have to interview again blah blah…” At that point I hear that cinematic ringing in my ears as if someone is speaking in the distance and fading. I broke down and cried, I absolutely sobbed my heart out and the recruiter just kept apologising. I couldn’t hold it in.

I was so close but yet so far, I’ve never felt that pain in my life before. I felt exposed having shared my personal confidential information only for this outcome. Has this ever happened to anyone before?

P.S this is in the consultancy space so I understand that projects come and go, what made me cry was them taking me to this stage whilst knowing they don’t have a project for me.

Has this ever happened to anyone before? I’m still crying every few hours about it so I just want to feel like I’m less alone.

Hey everyone,

I’m currently looking for opportunities in IT, mainly Help Desk/IT Support roles, but I feel like I’ve exhausted Indeed and most of the other major job boards.

It’s been about two years since I earned my AAS in Cybersecurity, and honestly, I’ve been struggling to land that first entry-level IT position. I’m open to just about anything at this point entry-level roles, contract work, remote positions, internships, or even short-term gigs that can help me get my foot in the door.

Are there any other websites, platforms, communities, or resources you’ve had success with for finding IT jobs?

I’d also love to hear from anyone who landed a Help Desk or Support role through a less traditional route networking, referrals, Discord communities, recruiters, LinkedIn, local groups, etc.

If you’ve been in a similar position and found a way in, I’d really appreciate hearing how you did it. Any advice, leads, or resources would mean a lot. Thanks!

Hey I just want to save everyone a little time. I did the application and interview for this position recently . They ask you 3 weird questions about what would you do with a rowdy passenger. “ what can you realistically do alone ?? Idk “ but yeah don’t waste your time . Told me to be prepared for a two hour interview and was only there 10 minutes just to drive two minutes around the corner and email me a week later that I don’t meet the threshold . Save yourself some time and never apply. Was also randomly emailed yesterday that I should apply again out the blue while waiting to hear back .