Why One Interview is Enough for Low-Paying Jobs: A Career Coach's Provocative Take

Recruiter and professional career coach Nick S recently ignited a heated discussion on platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit. In a viral post, he boldly suggested that jobs with salaries under $50,000 should only require one interview. This stance challenges the traditional hiring practices, especially for entry-level roles.

In his widely shared post, Nick stated, “Jobs paying under $50k should have a 1-interview hiring process. Full stop, period.” He criticized the excessive demands placed on candidates for lower-paying positions, arguing that such roles do not necessitate extensive vetting or elaborate assessments. He humorously remarked, “Hiring for entry-level roles doesn’t require a Ph.D. in Interviewology.”

Nick emphasized that hiring expectations should align with the compensation offered. He questioned the need for multiple interview rounds, extensive assessment tests, and detailed background checks. With his characteristic humor, he quipped, “Do we really need 3 rounds of interviews, 5 assessment tests, and a reference check from the candidate’s middle school gym teacher?” According to him, just one interview should suffice to assess a candidate's capability and reliability.

His post garnered significant traction, receiving over 4,000 likes on LinkedIn and sparking lively debates on LinkedIn Lunatics. Many users resonated with his insights, particularly those who have faced the challenges of applying for entry-level jobs.

One Reddit user commented, “I don’t think this is lunacy; he has a good point. We shouldn’t force people to give up multiple days for an entry-level role.” Another user added, “I could actually get behind this concept. Why do all that for a file clerk? Meet the basic qualifications, do a single-page test and a ten-minute suitability Q&A, and you should be done.”

A third user humorously mocked the overly complicated hiring practices for low-wage jobs, suggesting that most LinkedIn lunatics would require multiple interviews, IQ tests, and personality assessments, only to reject candidates for trivial reasons like a crease in their shirt.