Landing a job these days is much more complicated than it was around a decade ago. In a 2023 survey, 70% of 1,500 job seekers admitted they needed to put in more effort than usual, and 67% found their recent job searches more difficult than their previous ones.

Dealing with incompetent, inconsiderate recruiters can be a more frustrating experience for job seekers. This list of screenshots of email and text exchanges between talent acquisition professionals and candidates revolves around that theme.

They’re all from the Recruiting Hell subreddit, a safe place where job hunters can share their woes and grievances.

If you’ve been through an exasperating job hunt, these stories may make you feel empathy or echo the same annoyance these people felt.

#1 Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

Image credits: SpaceMyopia

#2 Beautiful Text Exchange With A Recruiter

Image credits: meganisawesome42

#3 Seen In NYC, Are They Starting To Understand?

Image credits: ZakA77ack

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about the Great Resignation when people left their jobs en masse in the spring of 2021. This resulted in a labor shortage, leading to companies scrambling for workers and offering various perks and benefits.

But that was three years ago, and the job market has since shifted to a point where companies have become more conscious about costs. If you want to boost your chances of getting hired, you must reframe your thinking, says Bert Bean, CEO of staffing firm Insight Global.

That change in approach may include skill development. According to Forbes, online courses and workshops are ways to gain valuable and relevant experiences.

#4 And Being Told "You're At The Upper Salary Band"

Image credits: supercitrusfruit

#5 Recruiter Moment

Image credits: [deleted]

#6 Already Had A Bad Feeling About This Job So They Made The Decision Easy For Me ?

Image credits: Garden_ho_9681

A global recession loomed in 2023, frightening companies and urging them to pause the expansion of their workforce. According to Glassdoor’s lead economist, Daniel Zhao, many businesses continue to live in that fear.

“They don’t want to overhire into a recession and then have to lay people off,” Zhao told CNBC.

As a possible solution, Bean advises looking into other industries that have increased their hiring efforts in the past few months. These include healthcare, government, and construction.

#7 "How I Got A Job At Big 4 Being In My 20s."

Image credits: IndieDiscovery

#8 Ayo This Lady Working For UPS Really Tried To Get Free Labor Out Of Me Lol

Image credits: Internal_Gift_185

#9 Just Why Tho

Image credits: SquidSlothXL

If you’re fresh out of college, landing a job would be an uphill battle in 2024. According to research by SHL Global, companies are downsizing their hiring of new graduates by 5.8% in 2024. The reason: AI is slowly replacing entry-level jobs.

But surprisingly, it hasn’t deterred the optimism of graduates from honing their skills and building a career. Handshake’s report noted, “[Graduates] are clear on their priorities—stability, location, and an employer’s reputation as a great place to work.”

#10 Onion

Image credits: prasharma

#11 ◾️

Image credits: RelentlessNature

#12 Seems About Right

Image credits: supercitrusfruit

You may want to narrow down your choices if the job market is overly saturated. In a viral TikTok video, recruiter Kourtlynn Faith advises being more intentional about your approach to the job search.

Instead of applying for multiple roles in every LinkedIn job opening in your industry, Faith recommends going after specific roles you know you would be a good fit for. A more strategic approach may boost your chances of landing a job that suits you best.

#13 Thought You Guys Would Really Enjoy This One

Image credits: Rud2K

#14 Is It Just Me Or Is This Recruiter Borderline Threatening Me?

Image credits: reacher679

#15 No Context Needed

Image credits: Jonnylicious

We’d also like to hear from you, readers. Have you been in a frustrating job search where a recruiter made it more difficult for you? If so, how did you handle the situation? Let us know in the comments!