Lately, I can’t help but feel like the job market resembles a real-life Squid Game.

You start out with hundreds—sometimes thousands—of people vying for the same role, all desperately trying to prove they’re “the one.” You get tossed into an endless series of “games,” from keyword-packed resumes to mind-numbing online assessments to “Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge” interviews. One wrong move or slightly off answer? You’re out.

And don’t even get me started on the unspoken rules. You’re expected to play along with this charade where “culture fit” somehow matters more than actual skills. Meanwhile, the people running the game (hiring managers and recruiters) seem more out of touch than the VIPs betting on contestants in Squid Game.

The worst part? Even if you make it through all the hoops, you’re not guaranteed a prize worth the effort. “Congratulations, you survived the gauntlet! Here’s a job offer for 40k a year, no benefits, and the expectation that you’ll work weekends.” Do unlike squid games there isn’t even a grand prize of millions of dollars.

It’s exhausting, dehumanizing, and borderline absurd. Am I the only one who feels like the whole system is broken?