With the power firmly back in employers’ hands, the hiring process has become a marathon, writes BI’s Alexandra Bacon. Multiple interview rounds, personality tests, and on-site assessment days drawn out across several months have become the norm.

And even then, you might still get ghosted!

It’s an issue that’s particularly relevant for entry-level roles, which are also under threat of being automated away by AI.

Maybe that’s why so many young people are feeling depressed and disconnected from their peers. Beaten down by the process, some are opting to wait things out. Last year, roughly 20% of people aged 15 to 24 were NEETs, not in education, employment, or training.

Some might argue companies taking their time to hire is a good thing in the long run. Better to make sure they get the right candidate than rush to fill positions that don’t ultimately work out, which could lead to layoffs. Workers were also spoiled with the 2021 job market, where candidates named their prices.

Workers can claim back some power even in the current environment. Thanks to some states’ pay transparency laws, job postings (even if they aren’t real) give current employees an idea of how their salary compares to what their company is advertising for other roles.

And a fake job posting might be a blessing in disguise. After all, do you really want to work for a company willing to do that in the first place?