One candidate has been sending applications for the last 6 months trying to find a better job.

According to his experience, 50 to 100 people apply to most job postings, and candidates go through three to five interview rounds, often with tasks that take several hours.

On reddit, in the CroIT community, he described a search in which employers ask for knowledge of numerous tools, check team fit, and the salary amount is often a secret until the final interview round.

High expectations, smaller offer

The author claims that some ads combine the responsibilities of three jobs, while interviews repeat questions about the biggest weakness and solving business problems. What particularly bothers him is the attitude toward salary. 'It happened to me quite a few times that I say an amount, and they roll their eyes. Once I got an offer that was 300 euros lower than what we agreed on in the first round,' he wrote.

One commenter from marketing described an ad that justifies a broad list of duties by saying that with artificial intelligence one person can replace a department of six people. 'But the salary is, of course, for 1 person, not for 6.'

A bonus that disappears when you get sick

User Local_Taro_691 stated that with more than 10 years of experience, he regularly receives offers below 2,000 euros. The latest one, he claims, amounted to 1,800 euros with all additions, including a 350-euro bonus that is lost because of being late or going on sick leave. 'I am honestly impressed by what all they won't think of,' he commented and called on others to reject such offers. From the comments it is not clear whether the stated amounts are gross or net.

After 30 interviews, he changed professions

User END4329 wrote that after 10 years of working on building the user-facing part of websites and applications, he quit in October 2025. For the next 6 months he looked for a job and went through more than 30 interviews, in some places with 5 selection rounds and tasks that, by his estimate, required 5 days of work. In the end, he went to install heating and cooling systems. Today, he says, he sells mechanical fittings and works in a warehouse for 1,600 euros.

They are looking for an expert, but at an entry-level price?

Not everyone accepted the claim that there are no jobs. Some commenters believe that there is a lack of quality candidates, that years of work do not necessarily mean advancement, and that the ability to cooperate is important in hiring. Others warned that behind checking 'team fit' there may also be a hostile work atmosphere. When asked what quality staff means, one user sarcastically replied: 'A senior who will work at a junior's price.'

Advice exists, experiences differ

Among the advice that stood out were contacting former colleagues and acquaintances, constant upskilling, and looking for jobs that fewer people apply for. One participant who works outside Croatia also described the opposite experience: he received an offer and is thinking about whether he can find a better one. The discussion therefore does not prove that the entire labor market is in the same condition. It does show, however, how exhausting the search can be for a candidate who invests hours in interviews and tasks, only to find out at the very end how much they would be paid for their work.