Job Applicant Rejected for Lacking ‘5 Years Experience’ on Software Released Only Last Year
A Reddit post highlighting a bizarre job requirement has gone viral, sparking widespread discussion about unrealistic hiring expectations in today’s job market. The user shared their frustration after being rejected for a role because they didn’t have five years of experience using a software tool that only debuted in 2023.
The original job listing stated the need for “5+ years experience” with the tool—an obvious impossibility given the software’s recent launch. This glaring contradiction left many people questioning the authenticity and practicality of current job advertisements.
The user wrote:
“Applied for a job I was genuinely excited about. One reason I got rejected? ‘Lack of experience in X.’ I Googled it—the tool was released in 2023. The job post also said: Must have 5+ years of experience. ‘We value adaptability.’ ‘Thrives in fast-paced environments.’”
They added sarcastically,
“So let me get this straight—you want someone with future experience in a brand-new tool… but also someone who’s adaptable? At this point, job hunting feels like: Company: ‘Must walk on water.’ Me: ‘I can swim.’ Company: ‘Sorry, not good enough.’ This isn’t job search fatigue anymore. It’s corporate fantasy disguised as hiring.”
The post resonated with many professionals who shared their own encounters with unrealistic or contradictory job demands. One commenter remarked, “Peak corporate logic: ‘You’re too early for your own tool.’” Another suggested that such listings might be “ghost recruitment” tactics to satisfy internal hiring quotas without genuinely considering external candidates.
A third user noted the frequency of such absurdities, saying, “I’ve seen job posts demanding 4 years of experience in software that’s only 2 years old. It’s become a running joke.”
This viral incident highlights the growing disconnect between hiring managers’ expectations and the realities of fast-evolving technology, raising important questions about how companies craft job descriptions and attract talent in competitive markets.
