Made redundant end of Jan, got a new role about two weeks ago (mid April).
Notes:
The interview processes were LONG (like 5/6 stages).
Most applications via LinkedIn didn't even get a reply.
My most successful applications were direct to the company hiring for the job.
Recruiters were about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
Interview processes seem to be getting longer and longer. And no one is in a hurry to hire! But when they make you an offer then they want you to start immediately 🤦♀️
Just because you don't understand what something is doesn't make it discrimination.
As per usual for people with physical disabilities, finding a place that'll allow actual WFH is difficult, especially as some companies think it's appropriate to advertise as WFH and only reveal in the JD that it's not.
I have a job anyway, but I need to get serious and line up my next one.
Yeah it is but from their point of view would you rather hire the person who more than likely lives in a shithole vs someone who more than likely lives in a decent household with healthy parental relationships :/
I’d rather hire the person most capable for the job. Personality is an important factor too.
How much money your parents earned is irrelevant.
By the way your example is ridiculous and sounds like something a 14 year old would say. Not everyone who was eligible for school meals grew up in a shithole. There are also many high income households containing very unhealthy relationships.
You're right I did send it to someone else (Reddit keeps sending me notifications of your comment even though you're not replying to me). The person you're responding to is incorrect though so there's no point going in circles with them about something that isn't even being done.
“As per usual for people with physical disabilities..” - That’s an example, one that isn’t relevant to OP’s post.
“Just because you don’t understand what something is doesn’t make it discrimination” is a very condescending response to someone asking a genuine question.
I could care less because most of the time it's not a genuine question. You see this question in UKJobs subreddit endlessly and it almost always devolves into "white men/working class boys are being discriminated against".
If I couldn't care less, I wouldn't be annoyed by people who ask these questions and then usually try to make it about "discrimination against working class white boys", or don't even bother to just look it up really quick before thinking they've solved a great discrimination conspiracy that's somehow gone unchallenged for almost a decade.
I thought it was bad last year but it’s horrendous right now. In particular this month. The little jobs that do exist, agents say they’ve been nearshoring the work at half your rate. Either that or it’s consultancies that want you to upskill a team of offshore workers.
It didn’t seem this bad in 2008. I have a very bad feeling.
Those free school meals questions are actually meant to help with diversity monitoring - companies use them to track social mobility. You can usually skip them or select "prefer not to say."
The AI startup spam is everywhere right now. Worth filtering by company size on job boards and focusing on established firms. Also try going direct to company career pages rather than relying solely on LinkedIn - many decent roles never make it to the big platforms.
Been through similar frustration in tech recruitment myself. Sometimes taking a short contract role opens doors that permanent applications don't.
I left my job with nothing lined up back in November 2025 (smart I know), fortunately I was able to get something accepted in December to start in the new year.
I’m on the market again though as I just took this job to have something lined up but yeah I’m on tech sales which is probably one of the easier industries to get jobs and it it still brutal
Senior dev with over 15 years’ experience. I have never had a problem walking into another role or getting job offers. I was made redundant in November 2024 and it took me six months to get a new role. I had a few interviews, but got rejected from roles I would have coasted beforehand. One such case was an hour-and-a-half interview where they quizzed me on SQL and JavaScript… then rejected me because of lack of PHP experience. I had worked with PHP my entire working life and they didn’t ask a single question about it!
I absolutely dread the possibility of being jobless again as feel it will only get worse and worse.
Ghosted by a recruitment agency for an admin position despite doing what they asked and submitted a short video via What’s App summarising my already submitted CV.
Told by a MD’s PA that we will have your interview in a Starbucks and even then we will still need you to have a second interview with head of sales if you are successful. Again, basic admin.
Tough yes, but I’ve make my peace that if people don’t want me, there’s not a lot I can do.
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AccomplishedRice7427@reddit
Made redundant end of Jan, got a new role about two weeks ago (mid April). Notes: The interview processes were LONG (like 5/6 stages). Most applications via LinkedIn didn't even get a reply. My most successful applications were direct to the company hiring for the job. Recruiters were about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
BrilliantClarity@reddit
Very similar experience here…
Interview processes seem to be getting longer and longer. And no one is in a hurry to hire! But when they make you an offer then they want you to start immediately 🤦♀️
ClarifyingMe@reddit
Just because you don't understand what something is doesn't make it discrimination.
As per usual for people with physical disabilities, finding a place that'll allow actual WFH is difficult, especially as some companies think it's appropriate to advertise as WFH and only reveal in the JD that it's not.
I have a job anyway, but I need to get serious and line up my next one.
LowCommand93@reddit (OP)
So what does asking if someone had free school meals for to do with my job application?
PhilosophyFormer4609@reddit
Prioritising those from a disadvantaged background
DazzleBMoney@reddit
Positive discrimination is still discrimination
PhilosophyFormer4609@reddit
Yeah it is but from their point of view would you rather hire the person who more than likely lives in a shithole vs someone who more than likely lives in a decent household with healthy parental relationships :/
Sucks ass I know
DazzleBMoney@reddit
I’d rather hire the person most capable for the job. Personality is an important factor too.
How much money your parents earned is irrelevant.
By the way your example is ridiculous and sounds like something a 14 year old would say. Not everyone who was eligible for school meals grew up in a shithole. There are also many high income households containing very unhealthy relationships.
ClarifyingMe@reddit
Why are you responding to someone telling lies but ignored the link I sent you that actually tells you what it is?
DazzleBMoney@reddit
What link did you send me? I’ve not seen anything, perhaps you replied to the wrong person?
ClarifyingMe@reddit
You're right I did send it to someone else (Reddit keeps sending me notifications of your comment even though you're not replying to me). The person you're responding to is incorrect though so there's no point going in circles with them about something that isn't even being done.
Here is the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UKJobs/comments/1froqoc/internal_recruiters_explanation_for_dei_questions/
DazzleBMoney@reddit
Why is this downvoted?
ClarifyingMe@reddit
Since you don't want to find this easily attainable information, someone in HR explained it very well here: https://www.reddit.com/r/UKJobs/comments/1froqoc/internal_recruiters_explanation_for_dei_questions/
deppyjon@reddit
It’s the same as any other DEI application question, same as you being a male or female etc
DazzleBMoney@reddit
What does that example you gave have to do with free school meals?
ClarifyingMe@reddit
I didn't give any examples, I talked about my experience looking for jobs.
DazzleBMoney@reddit
“As per usual for people with physical disabilities..” - That’s an example, one that isn’t relevant to OP’s post.
“Just because you don’t understand what something is doesn’t make it discrimination” is a very condescending response to someone asking a genuine question.
ClarifyingMe@reddit
That's my personal experience but fair enough.
I could care less because most of the time it's not a genuine question. You see this question in UKJobs subreddit endlessly and it almost always devolves into "white men/working class boys are being discriminated against".
ahoneybadger3@reddit
"i could care less" is the opposite of the correct phrase.
ClarifyingMe@reddit
If I couldn't care less, I wouldn't be annoyed by people who ask these questions and then usually try to make it about "discrimination against working class white boys", or don't even bother to just look it up really quick before thinking they've solved a great discrimination conspiracy that's somehow gone unchallenged for almost a decade.
mxtchstick@reddit
Play the game, tell them what they want to hear.
The modern world is just a performance, nothing less. Play your part and you’ll get on alright.
Latter-Corner8977@reddit
I thought it was bad last year but it’s horrendous right now. In particular this month. The little jobs that do exist, agents say they’ve been nearshoring the work at half your rate. Either that or it’s consultancies that want you to upskill a team of offshore workers.
It didn’t seem this bad in 2008. I have a very bad feeling.
SkyHairy1298@reddit
Those free school meals questions are actually meant to help with diversity monitoring - companies use them to track social mobility. You can usually skip them or select "prefer not to say."
The AI startup spam is everywhere right now. Worth filtering by company size on job boards and focusing on established firms. Also try going direct to company career pages rather than relying solely on LinkedIn - many decent roles never make it to the big platforms.
Been through similar frustration in tech recruitment myself. Sometimes taking a short contract role opens doors that permanent applications don't.
deppyjon@reddit
Job market is pretty shagged.
I left my job with nothing lined up back in November 2025 (smart I know), fortunately I was able to get something accepted in December to start in the new year.
I’m on the market again though as I just took this job to have something lined up but yeah I’m on tech sales which is probably one of the easier industries to get jobs and it it still brutal
martinbean@reddit
Senior dev with over 15 years’ experience. I have never had a problem walking into another role or getting job offers. I was made redundant in November 2024 and it took me six months to get a new role. I had a few interviews, but got rejected from roles I would have coasted beforehand. One such case was an hour-and-a-half interview where they quizzed me on SQL and JavaScript… then rejected me because of lack of PHP experience. I had worked with PHP my entire working life and they didn’t ask a single question about it!
I absolutely dread the possibility of being jobless again as feel it will only get worse and worse.
MidnightRambler87@reddit
Ghosted by a recruitment agency for an admin position despite doing what they asked and submitted a short video via What’s App summarising my already submitted CV.
Told by a MD’s PA that we will have your interview in a Starbucks and even then we will still need you to have a second interview with head of sales if you are successful. Again, basic admin.
Tough yes, but I’ve make my peace that if people don’t want me, there’s not a lot I can do.
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