Ask HN: Why don't companies make applicants pay a fee to apply to a job? Rental property management companies do this with little issue. Is it possible that this is the way the hiring market moves? Would that be a net positive or negative for employees? |
If I had to pay a fee to apply for a job, I’d assume that it was a scam and that there was no job on offer.
In what world would this be a net positive for employees?
It gets awkward and weird applying for multiple jobs through different recruiters that all work for the employers, and they all want you to be exclusive with them and sell their employers/jobs hard and trash talk any other options you have, and tough keeping track of all the different jobs / applications.
It seems like it would be nice to have one recruiter that manages your whole job hunt, lets you choose the best option, and gets paid no matter which job you end up choosing so they're not motivated to push you towards particular jobs.
And that's just a headhunter. Now what message do you send, as a company, if you try to get money from applications?
I definitely will never pay a company to apply. I would rather not work for them.
- it guarantees less competition
- I’m guaranteed to get an interview. I’m not paying to get directly a No as an answer
- it guarantees the company is actually hiring for that role
Unfortunately, I don’t see how one can enforce anything on companies unless it comes via regulations
You could have a really great candidate who for what ever reason, couldn’t afford to apply then and there, and the company would then miss out on amazing talent.
It would be a net negative for employers and prospective employees. Who would want to apply for a job at a company that charges you to submit the application? What service are applicants paying for?
Absolute nonsense.
$20 may not be much, but $200 or $2000 might be, especially if the candidate was recently homeless, has been laid off for a while, is from a poorer background in general or has other things to pay for. That great candidate might be a great candidate for your job, but may also be one for many others, and see those as a better deal.
Seek au terms: 29. You may not ask or require any candidate to pay a fee, charge, cost or any money whatsoever in connection with the hiring process for any job advertised on our websites and apps (including to apply) whether such fee, charge, cost or money is asked or required of the candidate in the job advertisement itself or in any communication with the candidate that takes place as a result of a job advertisement placed on our websites and apps