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# Is Hiring in America Broken?
- URL: https://seankriger.com/is-hiring-in-america-broken/
- Published: 2026-10-01T20:56:20.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-01T20:56:20.000Z
- Author: Sean Kriger

The relationship between an employer and an employee is in many cases as important as choosing a spouse. I say this with a confidence that shocks most people when I talk about it in person. You spend 8 hours a day working in a company, 5 days a week. That is a conservative estimate if you are lucky to have such a light schedule. You spend more time at work than you do at home if you exclude the time that you spend sleeping. Where you work and who you work with is important.

How do you choose a spouse?

I don't think that anyone would argue with a young man or woman who is "picky" with who they date. Perhaps you want a spouse who is tall. Are you attracted to them physically? My wife wanted a man with blue eyes. She found that in me. Maybe you want them to share your religion? It is quite important how your spouse interacts with the rest of your family. Even the food that they eat has dramatic consequences long-term in a marriage. My mom refuses to eat spicy food. I would have had no interest in dating someone like that with my culinary preferences.

How does America operate?

I am a red blooded American as far back as it goes. My ancestors came to this country in 1740\. I have family living in the same county that our ancestors co-signed the deed to create. Before then, it was known as "Indian territory" on a map. In those days, people came together to create the laws that we have today.

I am a man who cares deeply about justice and equality. Every man should have the opportunity to create his own destiny. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. Fundamentally, our community sets the standards that we operate under. Long ago it was townfolk coming together to incorporate an official charter. Today, it is a large government entity that sets the boundaries.

Today, it is illegal to choose an employee as you would a spouse. Do you have kids? Do you want kids? That's illegal to ask. Where do you go to church? You'll get sued for that question. Does anyone really believe that employers don't care? Does anyone really believe that people of all social, political, and religious backgrounds can work together in harmony for a shared goal when we can't even discuss what that goal is?

I work very hard to provide a better life for my children than my parents provided for me- and they worked probably harder than I even work.

I work very hard to ensure that my staff are treated with justice. This is a justice that lives and grows out of my Catholic faith.

I work very hard to make sure that their families are provided for. I consider the impact that my business decisions make when I hire them. I think of their children when they ask for a raise.

It's all illegal in the US...

This is not so globally. We have entire industries built on resume writing. That first impression is a big one! Do it wrong and you won't get hired. Do it right and you'll be negotiating job offers against each other for higher pay and whatever else you might want to demand. What does a resume look like abroad?

Where I hire out of, there is consistency. They have a passport photo of themselves in the upper left corner. They tell me all about their lives. They explicitly list out their age, marital status, religion, ethnicity, and I even have women writing out their weight! There are no secrets on these resumes. You see their employment history, their education, and the GPA is always listed. It is a fairly consistent format. No games, just honesty.

Most Americans would be shocked to see it. I was initially dumbfounded. As you consider it more and more, it starts to make sense. What we do in our work is serious. Who we hire as employers is serious. Why wouldn't we ask serious questions together? I find the same problem coming from potential employees. Many are reserved to say too much. They won't ask the employer the tough questions for the relationship to flourish. This disappears as we scale into higher roles. A potential CEO hire is a "courtship". It has to make sense for both parties. No one holds anything back. Why wouldn't we do this for the janitor as well?

If we want to hire and be hired successfully, transparency and honesty within even the toughest questions are important. You may not get the job. You may not find the right candidate. The hiring process is a journey. Take it together.