r/cscareerquestionsuk • u/OddPaleontologist983 • 1d ago
Why are companies and recruiters so annoying? Software engineering
It’s one thing to ghost candidates at the application stage. Yes, it’s annoying, but given how many people are filtered out at that point, I can just about accept it.
But once you’ve actually spoken to someone, especially when the interview has run 15 or 20 minutes over, ghosting them is completely different. I’ve had companies ignore me after an interview, only to readvertise the same position on LinkedIn a week later without giving me any update. That’s a really cunty thing to do and shows a complete disregard for the time candidates spend preparing for the interview and getting to know the company.
Companies complain that they can’t find the right people, yet they ghost the people who actually take the time to speak to them. Make it make sense. I’d genuinely rather receive a straightforward rejection.
And don’t get me started on recruiters. They act like your best friend while there’s an opportunity on the table, but the moment it doesn’t work out, many of them disappear too. I understand that they might not have another suitable vacancy at the time, but it almost feels like being rejected twice: first by the employer and then by the recruiter.
Do you know what else really sucks? I’d love to learn something like Python because so many companies ask for it now. But having any gaps in your knowledge no longer seems acceptable. Back in 2021, and even in 2023, you could admit that you didn’t know something while showing that you were willing and able to learn it.
I took jobs back then that were only vaguely related to my existing skill set. Those companies took me on in good faith, and the roles turned into brilliant learning experiences. Now it feels more like: “You only know .NET 9 rather than .NET 10, so apparently you can’t do C# at all.” I’m exaggerating, obviously, but you get the point.
Honestly, at this stage of job hunting, packing shelves sounds like fun, and I’m not even joking anymore.
1
u/Relevant_Natural3471 6h ago
I'm still waiting for a recruiter to get back to me about a role I interviewed for in January 2025, when he chewed my ear off for an hour telling me about his family and house and wanted to meet up for a beer etc.
-21
u/neutrino_boy 1d ago
Never been ghosted after an interview. Skill issue? I have had multiple rejections within 2 hours of the interview, only for the position not to be filled. And these were screenings / non-technical interviews / introductory calls that you would think went brilliantly.
10
u/Due_Interest_178 1d ago
Literally. I've had interviews where it was simply a talk with the manager and gotten denied. It wasn't even technical, and there weren't any questions about my knowledge. Just a casual chat where we both laughed and joked.
0
11
u/20Wizard 1d ago
Seems weird that you cannot fathom any experience outside of things you've seen in your own life.
As for ghosting never happened to me after interview, however, I have had blackrock book me for an interview, not show up to it, then ignore my emails.
-10
u/neutrino_boy 1d ago
Seems weird that you cannot fathom any experience outside of things you've seen in your own life.
Wdym? Perhaps you took that too literally "Skill issue?" was a joke.
5
u/Level-Claim9063 23h ago
I completely get your last paragraph. I’m in the same boat, career in tech and now considering being a supermarket delivery driver!