Job application requires a polygraph test for $24K per year position where employees work 9 months on and 3 months off: 'They don't even pretend to care about employee well-being'

Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor

Apr 30, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

Unicorn hunting isn't just for aging couples looking for a third to spice up their relationship. Recruiters frequently try to find the perfect candidate, even though they have no business being as specific as they are for what they offer. I understand setting your expectations high and knowing you're unlikely to find the perfect person for the role. The recruiting process starts to feel ridiculous when the highest of the high expectations are written out in black and white.

One worker recently posted a recruiting email he got for a strange position. The job poster clearly showed their slip with requirements such as "much have a previous steady work history" and "has a specific reason for wanting nine months on and three months off or long term part-time work." The worst offender is the polygraph requirement in the interviewing stage, which is illegal in the US and has been since the 80s.