Unemployed job seeker has Zoom interview with low-rated call center offering $16 an hour, but as the recruiters list absurd conditions, candidate can’t stop uncontrollably laughing through the whole interview at their terms: 'I couldn't help it'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Nov 10, 2025 7:00 PM EST

There are countless moments in our lives when we know that breaking out in uncontrollable laughter would be the worst possible outcome, yet it's like the funnies take over our bodies, and we are no longer in control of our laughter…There are just some people who laugh when they are uncomfortable…or others who simply can't believe the ridiculousness of life that they are witnessing…Take this unemployed job seeker, for instance, who most likely fits in category two. 

This individual was recently laid off, and after countless attempts, finally landed a job interview via Zoom. Conducted by those who seemed to be two very serious businessmen and women…The meeting began, and the more they discussed the conditions of the job, the more this potential employee was met with a mixture of shock and obvious amusement at the absurdity of their conditions. The more the recruiters spoke, the louder the giggles got…eventually turning uncontrollable. This individual didn't know what was more hilarious, the fact that the call center paid $16 an hour, or that they were expected to work overtime without any compensation…As my father always says, laugh in the face of danger, and boy, did they do exactly that!

 

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  • Let's just say, we don't think that this call center is going to be the place that this individual calls their second home…If their potential boss thinks that $16 is a fair wage, then it is no wonder they thought that the interviewers had a good sense of humor…But I guess not! Sometimes laughter is not something we can keep in, and in this case, maybe it's for the better! 

  • Man laughing during an online meeting.
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I couldn't stop laughing during an interview because of this sub--THANK A LOT FOLKS

    Zoom interview with company with a 2.2 Glassdoor rating, but it's the first one I've gotten since I got laid off so I accepted it.
    via grumpi-otter
  • It's a call center job -- appointment setting. Man and a woman doing the interview and they are telling me about it.
    via grumpi-otter
  • Man says there is "scheduled mandatory overtime" on Fridays. I ask the compensation rate for this and he says it's at the same rate as regular pay.
    via grumpi-otter
  • (I think that might be against labor laws, but they said something about how you work a half shift on some days and double on others, so I guess they keep it under the weekly hours limit).
    via grumpi-otter
  • I couldn't help it, I snorted. And then as it went on, I tried to hold it in but it just kept getting worse and worse.
    via grumpi-otter
  • An online interview.
    via studioroman

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The health benefits cost around $650 for a single person. I started giggling more--couldn't hold it in as I thought of what y'all would have to say about this crap job.
    via grumpi-otter
  • For perspective, that's a whole week's amount of pay for the "benefits." Mandatory on-call times that are uncompensated, "just in case you are needed." More giggling.
    via grumpi-otter
  • "When you've finished your own queue, you'll help your coworkers." I was biting the inside of my cheeks and pretending to cough but the man was getting increasingly indignant that I couldn't stop laughing.
    via grumpi-otter
  • It was just so ridiculous. The job pays $16 an hour AND you provide your own equipment.
    via grumpi-otter
  • So they want to put spyware on my personal computer. And I have to provide two monitors.
    via grumpi-otter
  • No, no one wants to work anymore--and this kind of shit is why. What was cool was that I felt empowered because I knew y'all would share my indignation at this bullshit job.
    via grumpi-otter
  • EDIT: Forgot to add that the company info goes on and on about "empathy" to clients but then there's "an average of 30 calls per hour." EDIT AGAIN: I haven't done call center work before so had no idea of what is realistic, but after reading these comments maybe I misheard and it was 30 calls a day?
    via grumpi-otter
  • Man laughing at work.
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Desperate_Virus_8551 That's your human emotions letting slip, the robots that were interviewing, aren't as enlightened as you, they still think they can climb that ladder to the very top, lol. Why would anyone want to work for a company that doesn't even supply you with the tools to do said job, these companies set their employees up to fail
    via Desperate_Virus_8551
  • hobofireworx Op. More employers need to be openly laughed at. Like my guy that's just embarrassing. $650 for a single person?? Mandatory overtime?? No overtime pay???
    via hobofireworx
  • italyqt I interviewed for a job and they told me I could have no other electronics in the room. Not just turned off, but not even in the room, this includes TVs. They legit told me I could just put the other electronics in a closet when I worked. Yep, lemme just rip
    via italyqt
  • the TV off the wall and put it in a closet. They were dumbfounded when I ended the interview early. This was not a job working with sensitive information and paid $15 an hour.
    via italyqt
  • alertArchitect Any time someone mentions unpaid on-call hours, especially mandatory ones, I just ask if they know that's illegal.
    via alertArchitect
  • Mach5Driver I have the most difficult time understanding how the owners and executives of such companies can live with themselves, never mind consider themselves "good people."
    via Mach5Driver
  • Ok-Chart-9307 I bet they have close to 100% turnover in that call center. These are unrealistic numbers and I bet their customer service numbers reflect that.
    via Ok-Chart-9307
  • seabutcher Let them see you laugh. The only way the labour market gets better for the workers is if employers believe we have the power to refuse them.
    via seabutcher

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