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Ask HN: Why don't companies make applicants pay a fee to apply to a job?

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11–20 of 34 posts

Re: Ask HN: Why don't companies make applicants pay a fee to apply to a job?

#11
As applicant, I would pay if:

- 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

Re: Ask HN: Why don't companies make applicants pay a fee to apply to a job?

#13
post #6

> Would that be a net positive or negative for employees? In what world would this be a net positive for employees?

If it guaranteed that you got a phone screen, I imagine a lot of SWEs would take that deal.

Given how poor an experience most phone screens are… not going to pay for that, ever.

Re: Ask HN: Why don't companies make applicants pay a fee to apply to a job?

#14

> Would that be a net positive or negative for employees? In what world would this be a net positive for employees?

I would totally pay for this if there were a real advantage (fewer applicants, guaranteed face to face screening, etc).

Re: Ask HN: Why don't companies make applicants pay a fee to apply to a job?

#15
I would pay a monthly fee for the reverse, setting up a paywall for companies to interview me; by which I mean paying a recruiter actively sell me on the job market and set up interviews with matching companies only after I passed an initial screening. But given my horrible experience from even the most expensive recruiters and their unfocused shotgun approach, this product will probably never exist.

Re: Ask HN: Why don't companies make applicants pay a fee to apply to a job?

#18
Negative bro. Imagine fake jobs ads become a huge revenue stream

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

Re: Ask HN: Why don't companies make applicants pay a fee to apply to a job?

#19
I think it would be interesting / beneficial to have recruiters that work for / get paid by the candidate, much like a real estate buyer's agent.

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.

Re: Ask HN: Why don't companies make applicants pay a fee to apply to a job?

#20
I think this is a terrible idea.

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.

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