April 1st is usually the day for jokes.
But after years working in recruitment, we’ve realised something interesting.
Some situations in hiring sound like April Fools’ jokes… but they’re completely real.
For example.
A job description asking for 10 years of experience in a technology that hasn’t existed that long.
An “entry level” role that requires five years of experience and multiple certifications.
Or a CV that suggests someone has mastered cloud, cybersecurity, DevOps, AI, architecture, and strategy… all at once.
At first glance it might look like someone is joking.
But these situations appear more often than people realise.
Technology moves incredibly fast. New tools appear every year, roles evolve quickly, and sometimes job descriptions struggle to keep up with reality.
On the candidate side, there is also pressure to present the perfect profile, especially when roles seem to demand an impossible mix of skills.
And this is usually where the most productive conversations begin.
Once hiring managers and candidates start talking openly about what the role actually requires, and what someone can genuinely bring to the table, the picture becomes much clearer.
The long list of requirements becomes a real discussion about the challenges a team is trying to solve.
And that is when good hiring decisions start to happen.
Sometimes recruitment can feel like an April Fools’ joke.
But when expectations become realistic and conversations are honest, the results are anything but.