The Australia Desk · Story 5

Stop making Australians interview for jobs without knowing if they can afford to live

A Reddit post in r/australia calling for job advertisements to include salary ranges has gained over 4,200 upvotes and 374 comments. The post argues that requiring candidates to interview without knowing if they can afford to live in the area is unfair and wasteful.

The post reflects growing frustration with opaque hiring practices amid Australia's cost-of-living crisis, where housing and living expenses are a primary concern for job seekers. It also highlights a broader push for transparency in both employment and real estate markets.

Key details

• The post was published on May 23, 2026, in r/australia, a subreddit with a Brisbane lean.
• It received 4,251 upvotes and 374 comments, indicating strong community engagement.
• Top comments include complaints about companies listing jobs without salary ranges, with one user calling it a 'cunt move'.
• Several commenters report asking for salary ranges during callbacks or rejecting roles that are 30k under their target.
• One commenter links the issue to real estate listings, suggesting they should also be required to list prices.

Discussion angles

• Frustration with companies that list jobs without written salary ranges, wasting candidates' time.
• Candidates now proactively asking for salary ranges during callbacks to avoid lowball offers.
• Rejection for asking too much, highlighting power imbalance in salary negotiations.
• Parallel demand for real estate listings to include prices, linking job and housing transparency.
• General sentiment that opaque hiring practices are disrespectful and inefficient.