Job application demands applicants describe their 'recent trauma' to proceed: 'Bro I just wanted an internship'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Apr 22, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

There is no end to the annoyances when it comes to the process of finding a job. It can feel like demoralization and humiliation are an unavoidable part of the process, unless a friend of a friend is willing to give you a nice cushy position where you only interview as a formality. 

Alas, such prospects seem far away for most of those who seek to climb the corporate ladder. The vast majority are left sending endless emails, getting scared by how many people have already applied to a position on LinkedIn, and despairing at having to manually input their resume into yet another form. That's before we even get onto the horror that is writing a cover letter.

When you are deep in the job search trenches, it is always tempting to think that things can't get any worse. Don't worry, though! Plenty of potential employers are willing to surprise applicants in that regard.

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    Tell us about your recent trauma that has shaped your values Short-answer text 000
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This is what one prospective intern discovered when filling out a Google form to apply for an internship. One of the compulsory questions asked applicants to explain their recent trauma, and how it “shaped [their] values”. He was understandably baffled at the question, and so was the rest of social media. It is hardly a positive indication of what working there is like.

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    Anant Gupta @iamAnant007 Bro I just wanted an Internship
    via iamAnant007
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    Tell us about your recent trauma that has shaped your values Short-answer text *
    via iamAnant007
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10497047808
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 05
    Monica @musing_monica Replying to @iamAnant007 They want to heal you as well
    via musing_monica
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    Anant Gupta @iamAnant007 Neh, they just want to know how much more trauma I can handle
    via iamAnant007
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    Esha @pennequattro Replying to @iamAnant007 this shouldn't be a compulsory question atleast
    via pennequattro
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    Javier Villa @Javiervillagdo Replying to @iamAnant007 Respond: "Once I was trying to find an internship and they kept asking me about my past traumas"
    via Javiervillagdo
  • 09
    qingy @21millyx Replying to @iamAnant007 they just wanna know if you can thrive in a fast paced environment :))
    via 21millyx
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    Divye Jain * @imdivye Replying to @iamAnant007 During Interview *So let's talk about that trauma exp-*
    via imdivye
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    Anaya @justmin_09 Replying to @iamAnant007 I would just end up closing the form too lazy to write
    via justmin_09
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    Sarah Fletcher @Sarah FPoetry This sort of stuff is so gross that I feel you have a duty to maliciously comply to the question and make them feel as awkward as possible. V amused by the stipulation the trauma should be recent. Sorry applications who were ab sed as children!!!
    via SarahFPoetry
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    RunnerEye @RunnerEyeYT The Drag Race audition process be like
    via RunnerEyeYT
  • 14
    chloë @reformreader When I was asked about my self-care practice in a job interview and I told them 'hanging out with my friends,' knowing that i've never once had that impulse while being in distress
    via reformreader
  • 15
    Lan @noirran The way I would submit an essay
    via noirran
  • 16
    kott @Kott_95 i would have to make something up for my worksona, my actual values annihilating traumas and their conclusions are not hr friendly
    via Kott_95
  • 17
    kb @kaustubh1016 oh don't let me get started about my last relationship in this section
    via kaustubh1016
  • 18
    Cika @potatonattoo Can I answer it with AO3 fanfiction title
    via potatonattoo
  • 19
    zf @faradityo short answer text? i could write a 3 page essay on how it transformed me mf
    via faradityo
  • 20
    Phoe@pickletinyrick Definitely a Gen z office
    via pickletinyrick
  • 21
    lou @laurentrack2 every creative job/mentorship/bursary application feels like interacting with the Al in The Beast (2023) instead it's actually trying to mentally destabilise you
    via laurentrick2
  • 22
    pet @petrechoux "my recent trauma" this internship google form
    via petrechoux

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internship twitter job Twitter Thread work entitled job interview job application
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