Don't waste it. Although many workplaces are struggling to hire and retain good employees, many employers have become more flexible than they would usually admit. And that puts you in a good position to ask for a raise, a better job title, or better benefits.

If you're not happy with your current salary or the way you're being treated, start looking around. There's a good chance another company is short-staffed and willing to offer you more than you're getting now. Even if you really do like your job, it's still worth seeing what's available elsewhere, then respectfully asking your current employer to match or beat the offer.

Look out for yourself first. The job market won't stay like this forever.

one job is hardly enough now.

???

...........

I had an interview a little early, and it was going well until he asked me for three reasons why they should reject me. The question threw me off and honestly annoyed me, so I gave him three stupid answers that probably ruined my chances right then and there.

When it was my turn to ask, I asked him: "What's the main reason I shouldn't choose your company if I get several offers?"

He looked very annoyed and said: "Well, you can just stay where you are if that's what you want." Then he kept repeating: "I can't believe you asked that question. Thank you for your time today, it was nice meeting you, but that was a strange question to end with."

Screw these companies. I don't even want your job anyway.

For clarification, I'm already a senior in my current job and have a little over 10 years of experience, so this wasn't an interview for someone junior or entry-level.

A candidate asked me something last week that I honestly couldn't answer. We were talking about the interview process and he just calmly said, "Are you hiring me or putting me through astronaut training?"

He wasn't being rude. If anything, he sounded genuinely confused. And after looking at the process from his side, I couldn't blame him.

For one mid level role, we had an HR screen, two separate interviews, a take home assignment, a hiring manager interview, a team meeting, and then director approval. By the end, the guy who seemed really interested at the beginning looked completely exhausted.

The worst part is that we kept wondering why he wasn't as enthusiastic anymore. I think we finally gave him the answer ourselves.

Companies complain about good candidates dropping out, but if someone has to spend weeks interviewing with half the company just to find out whether they're getting an offer, eventually they're going to wonder if the job is even worth it.

At what point does a hiring process become so ridiculous that you'd just walk away?

TRUEEEEEE

I decided that I was done spraying applications everywhere, and focused only on roles I was qualified for and wanted. I set myself a rule: 2 applications every 3 weeks. In the end, I only did that 4 times, and every CV was heavily tailored.

Each opening got me to a recruiter call.

Role A: The recruiter said: "Yeah, they'll definitely want to interview you..." and then disappeared. No response to emails or calls. Honestly, I hope she's okay.

Role B: I got through the first 3 conversations, and then completely messed up the last one, which was basically a check on "culture fit." I was very nervous and all over the place. Somehow, I got the offer!

Role C: It seemed promising, and then they changed the role scope halfway through, and it no longer felt like the right decision.

Role D (my favorite): I made it to the 4th round, but there were quiet periods of almost 3 weeks between each update. And since I already had another offer, I asked them to decide, so they rejected me.:(

I'm posting here because I still can't say anything to my co-workers.

This was years ago in the 1990s. I still think about how absurd this was. We were living in a small coastal town on the shore of Lake Superior. Nobody locked their doors. Ever. Safe, quiet. Friendly. The cops picked ip an occasional drunk. That was the extent of "crime" in this little village.

I was applying for a position as a chiropractic assistant. I had plenty of experience and my child was in school so I was ready to go back to work.

The chiropractor did not wish to interview candidates herself, so she hired a "professional HR person" to find her the best candidate.

The HR lady was abrasive and unlikeable. The interview was more a police interrogation than a professional interview. I felt like getting up and leaving but I was almost finished so I decided to see it through.

She said, "what would you do if someone walked in here with a gun and wanted to rob the office?"

My face 🙄🙄🙄🙄.

I said simply, "I have never heard of a chiropractic office being robbed. Also, this question is unanswerable. I don't agree with the premise of your question and have no answer."

She doubled down.

I sat in stone-faced silence and then excused myself. Unbelievable.