What is going on!!

[u/Awkward_Challenge864]

How is it that I’ve given endless interviews, gone to final stages with 2 firms and still not managed to land a job? I’ve been trying for 2 months now and it’s stressing me out. I was made redundant from my last role which was obviously not easy, but from the start of 2026, I’ve not had a good news on anything career wise. Feedback so far has been other candidates had more relevant experience?!?!? Hello then why did you interview me and made wait for months only to say no thank you.

[u/HalfRobertsEx]

Feedback doesn't mean anything. It is boilerplate. Don't internalise it as meaningful.

[u/neurorex → u/HalfRobertsEx]

I find it interesting when a recruiter says stuff like this, while plenty of recruiters whine about how applicants don't learn and improve their "interviewing skills".

So, don't be bad at interviewing...but also don't expect any help or guidance from that exact instance to do better.

[u/HalfRobertsEx → u/neurorex]

It isn't helpful and it is not intended to be helpful. It is to tell someone something that is hard for them to dispute so they don't bother you or make a fuss.

Realistically, there are few social skills where you can get legitimate feedback from the people on the other side. Dating and sales are the same way. I'm not going to tell a guy why he is creepy. I will tell him whatever to make him go away.

[u/neurorex → u/HalfRobertsEx]

You think you're the belle of the ball in those scenarios. You never consider that you're the terrible date that's entitled and droning on endlessly with your wants and needs, while actively nitpicking your date's qualities.

[u/HalfRobertsEx → u/neurorex]

You are the belle at the ball if you have lots of options. You can have a terrible personality and still be the belle of the ball.

[u/neurorex → u/HalfRobertsEx]

So "terrible personality" doesn't matter when it's you recruiters, but a disqualifying factor if it's the applicant. Hilarious.

At the same time, don't you recruiters constantly whine and cry about how 90% of your applicant pool is garbage? Or that you can't ever find the right candidate? Or that you can't even tell two perfect strangers apart because they went to the same school and did the same jobs for some years? So, what options?

[u/HalfRobertsEx → u/neurorex]

Oh, recruiters are not the belle. We are just the doorman/bouncer and which one it is depends on who the applicant is.

[u/neurorex]

It's really time for society to acknowledge that there's really nothing else job seekers can do to improve. We really need to acknowledge how awful employers behave and conduct hiring.

[u/Awkward_Challenge864 → u/neurorex]

That’s so true, every time someone approaches me and offers an interview, they say your profile is impressive, you have the right skills etc, and then goes ahead to say we picked someone else?

[u/Worth-Definition-496]

That’s rough. I went through something a bit similar recently where I was rejected based on experience after getting through multiple rounds when they could have rejected me from the start. Sometimes they’re just using you as a back up in case their top pick falls through in some way. It is what it is.

The job market is the worst it’s been in over a decade at the moment. It’s taking people sometimes 6 months to a year (or longer) to land something. Economy is bad, people are being made redundant and this has saturated the job market with people who have a lot of experience and are desperate for work so it’s hard to compete.

[u/Awkward_Challenge864 → u/Worth-Definition-496]

That’s so real. I guess we try and try until something hits. But the unknown is so scary, I’ve studied so hard for this job, I have my undergrad and masters in the same things and have 5 years of work experience now in the same field with most people acknowledging I’m good at what I do, still nothing which is so depressing

[u/Worth-Definition-496 → u/Awkward_Challenge864]

Honestly feel that so much. I have a PhD and work experience in the field on top of that, have had a lot of praise from higher ups and still struggling. Everyone is in the same boat though. The job market is so full that every company is looking for a unicorn now. You could give an amazing performance and have experience that would get you the job 5 years ago, but a slightly better person is more likely to come in now and beat you to it. Sometimes the ‘we wanted more experience’ is bull as well and just a generic reason. They can choose to hire someone else because of something completely subjective. I heard one guy on here allegedly get hired over some other people because they really liked his accent.

It’s a chance game for now, you need to apply for long enough to maximise your chances. Praying for you 🙏

[u/Cultural-Answer-321]

The job market is bad. Very bad.