‘I'm desperate? I'm unemployed, broke, and trying to pay rent’: Job seeker rejected for sounding too eager, with the interviewer saying desperation is a turnoff

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  via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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• Rejected from a job today because I “came across as desperate”

  
  via xproforeverx

• It’s a strange world where being unemployed and broke means you’re expected to act like you don’t care whether you can pay rent or afford groceries. The idea that pretending to be casual about needing work is more appealing than being honest is both ridiculous and exhausting. The candidate isn’t asking for sympathy, just a chance to use their skills and experience. The irony is thick, but the real story is about how the system values detachment over need.

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  via xproforeverx
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  via xproforeverx
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  via xproforeverx

• The job hunt is full of these moments, where the rules seem designed to keep people guessing. Admit you want to work, and you’re too eager. Act like you don’t care, and you’re not committed. The truth is, most people would rather be honest about their situation than play games. The best part is watching the feedback loop, candidates get rejected for being too desperate, then told to show more enthusiasm, all while scraping together points from mobile games just to buy groceries.

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  via Andrej Lišakov

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

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  via xproforeverx

• Sometimes the hardest part isn’t the skills or the experience, it’s navigating the unspoken rules of the job market. The real win is finding a place that values honesty over detachment, and actually wants someone who’s ready to work.

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  via xproforeverx
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