'I call companies and tell them I'm following up': Job candidate beats the system by skipping application process and calling HR directly, gets results

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 13, 2026 8:00 AM EST

This job candidate's new attempt to game the system is either brilliant or a recipe for professional disaster, and people seem to be split on it.

On the one hand, applying for new employment opportunities has never been more challenging than in the current market. Not only are decent jobs harder to come by, but also you're dealing with the artificial intelligence of it all. This, of course, applies to both sides of the job search process. For candidates, they have to tweak their resumes and cover letters with key words in order to get past automated review processes. For recruiters and hiring managers, the process has become even more impersonal, as quality candidates are slipping through the cracks and some are using AI themselves to try to stand out.

So while we have sympathy for the predicament wherein this candidate has found himself, on the other hand, one has to wonder if this rather unethical way of bypassing the traditional job search process will come back to haunt him one day. 

Essentially, in order to combat the difficulties of the job search process, this author decided to start ignoring the fact that he couldn't seem to get an interview anywhere, opting instead to call up various Human Resources departments directly. He would then claim that he was asked to follow up with them to schedule an interview, which wasn't the truth. In fact, it wasn't even an exaggeration of the truth. He simply had not heard back from any of these places.

However, to this man's surprise (and to everyone else's), he managed to find success with this newfound method of applying to jobs. He landed several interviews and was only "caught" on two occasions. When that happened, he simply hung up the phone and moved onto the next opportunity. Keep scrolling below for his full account of his new tips of the trade.

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  • A woman in a suit interviews a man for a job.
    via Vitaly Gariev

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

  • What do you all think about this? Is he just a hustler doing what he can to land a decent interview? Is it not his fault that these hiring managers seem to be so easily swayed by his claims over the phone? Or is the fact that we already know about this man's scheme sufficient evidence to prove that his “process” is going to fall apart in the near future.

  • "My New Trick in My Job Search: I Call Companies and Tell Them I'm Following Up to Schedule an Interview."

    I was at my wit's end from sending my CV into the void and getting no response. It occurred to me that these places get tons of applications and are probably so swamped they can't keep track of who's who.
    via rubricstandby51
  • So I started a new system. I apply for a job, wait a few days, and then call them. With full confidence, I say, 'Hello, I'm following up on my application. I was told to call you to schedule an interview.'
    via rubricstandby51
  • And honestly, the results have been amazing. I got 5 interviews this month, compared to only two interviews in the entire last four months.
    via rubricstandby51
  • Out of about 25 times I've done this, only two caught on. Both times, I acted confused, apologized for the misunderstanding, and hung up. No big deal.
    via rubricstandby51
  • A man sits at a table talking on his cell phone.
    via Sebastian Herrmann

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

  • Aromatic_Ad_7238 I'm glad that worked out. At our company they would ask who called you so as to connect you with the assigned recruiter.
    via rubricstandby51
  • Temporary-Thanks1581 No need to lie. Just call and ask to speak to a manager. Explain you applied online and were following up. Has worked well for me.
    via rubricstandby51
  • SnottyBooger I like this. Nothing to lose.
    via rubricstandby51
  • Accurate_Club3106. That's a good baseline for starting a new job, lying about getting invited to an interview!
    via rubricstandby51
  • JamesWjRose So you want to work at a place where the people don't know what's going on and are easily lied to.... doesn't sound like a good idea to me
    via rubricstandby51
  • Wrong Mix882 • This is a good way to improve your odds of getting a role; a bad way to continue your career.
    via rubricstandby51
  • baymadebayraised This is how I got my first job at 14. Called Wet Seal and said I was speaking with a manager who told me they would call back with an interview time. Went in the next day filled out paperwork and started training immediately.
    via rubricstandby51
  • Couldbeaccurate This is what I did for my first job out of college. It worked then. I don't think many people follow-up like this so it may at you apart.
    via rubricstandby51
  • A woman in a suit reviews a document sitting opposite a man during a job interview.
    via Vitaly Gariev

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

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