Why The Minimal Wage Job Hunt Has Turn out to be A ‘Waste Of Time’

[ad_1] by Sharelle B. McNair February 22, 2026

Job seekers really feel the recruitment and interview course of from employers has change into too tedious, particularly when the result is rejection.

What was once simple to be employed for a low-paid job or a job making minimal wage, has change into an undesirable activity for job seekers and conserving the “now hiring” signal on employers’ doorways.

Job seekers really feel the recruitment and interview course of from employers has change into too tedious, particularly when the result is rejection. A girl named Zahara, 20, stated her interview for a crew member place at a Wingstop location was “a waste of time,” The Guardian studies. The gig paid $14.53 USD, slightly over the minimal wage for her age vary, with the interview course of together with being requested to finish quizzes, rank the significance of assorted kitchen gadgets, and end an internet software with 10 paragraphs inquiring about her work expertise.

She obtained a brief rejection electronic mail some days later. “What a joke,” she stated.

Martin Warnes, managing director of the job web site Reed in the UK, says hiring employees has change into extra pricey and dangerous for companies, along with unemployment charges reaching their highest at 5.2% in shut to 5 years. Its cause similar to these as to why Warnes says companies are “placing extra emphasis on pre-employment screening” in an effort to assist proof that they’re bringing the best particular person into the enterprise.“

However at what value?

Eve, 19, utilized for a flooring gross sales affiliate place at a retail big. She thought every part could be simple after being invited for a 90-minute group interview with 20 different candidates. However then she stated issues took a flip, making the interview really feel like a public talking train, saying “it was nerve-racking.” Then, Eve stated the group was cut up up and requested to create an outfit for Woman Gaga earlier than speaking about it to the remainder of the group. “I used to be actually determined for the job … I’ve labored in retailers earlier than, and I can very simply communicate to clients. However this was about speaking in entrance of a giant group of individuals. Talking to 1 buyer is completely different from talking in entrance of 20 folks,” she stated.

“It’s like The Starvation Video games, however you’re all making an attempt to get a job in a store the place you’re going to be folding garments all day, for simply over minimal wage.”

Head of analysis at Lancaster College-based thinktank, the Work Basis, Alice Martin, feels employers are making issues more durable for themselves with the recruitment course of, claiming it’s all as a result of “they’re taking benefit to some extent of the truth that there are that many individuals on the market who want the job.”

In the meantime, within the U.S., the unemployment price isn’t all that higher however not as unhealthy. In response to The New York Occasions, between January and February 2026, the unemployment price fell from 4.4 % to 4.3 %, suggesting stability within the labor market however proving there may be extra work to be achieved. So these employed at any degree ought to rejoice.

Like a lady who goes by the title @therealskeezyd on X. She went viral for celebrating being employed by Costco after virtually three months of being unemployed.

Some social media customers had been clowning her however then Costco was celebrated for being what's described as a fantastic employer. “Man, I’ve been making an attempt to get a job at Costco for sooo lengthy, I do know any person who works on the door checking receipts and makes $25/hour,” one social media remark learn.