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Residents who spend a lot of time watching videos on Instagram Reels may discover an unexpected opportunity: a company from Udaipur, Rajasthan, is offering a job where the main task is watching Reels throughout the day for compensation.

Despite seeming humorous, the company has genuinely started accepting applications for this position. The company, named Influish, is looking for someone capable of daily viewing of Instagram Reels and identifying current social media trends. This unique vacancy was titled 'Professional Doom Scroller' and caused a wide buzz on social media.

Typically, people open Instagram in their free time and continuously watch videos. Even those who pick up their phone for just five minutes can scroll through the feed for hours. However, within the scope of this job, this will be the employee's duty. According to the company, the selected candidate must sit in the office and view Instagram Reels. They will need to analyze which videos are gaining popularity, what content the audience likes, and what new trends are emerging in social media.

Afterward, the employee must pass all collected information to the company's team. Thus, it is not enough just to watch the videos; one must understand why a particular video becomes so popular among users. The company presented information about this job through a video on social media, where one of the employees stated that if a person truly enjoys using Instagram, the company is willing to pay them for this activity.

The company also provided instructions on how to apply. Interested candidates can watch a recruitment video by visiting the @gangsofstartup account on Instagram. By commenting 'Hi' under this video, residents of Udaipur will receive an application link via direct message (DM). Additionally, an application can be submitted through a Google Form located in the description of this Instagram account profile.

In the application form, candidates must provide details such as name, phone number, and address. They must also state whether they wish to work full-time or undergo an internship. They will also be required to provide information about their current salary level and expected income. Uploading a resume is mandatory. The company announced that selected candidates will be contacted for further discussion.

More than 11 thousand people requested the application form for this unusual job. The company noted that the recruitment video, published on November 4th, was viewed millions of times. Users have left various comments about this vacancy: some call it a dream job, others declare readiness for such work, and some jokingly note that their habit of aimlessly scrolling through the feed might finally be useful.

The term 'Doomscrolling' is used when a person continuously scrolls through posts, videos, or news on social media without realizing how much time has passed. This term is usually applied to the habit of staying on social media for a long time without stopping. Nevertheless, in this case, the company is not looking for just someone who holds their phone for hours, but a candidate capable of recognizing current social media trends and explaining what type of content is growing in audience interest.

A new study by the recruitment firm Hays showed that more than a third of organizations in the UAE and other Gulf countries have increased their use of contract or temporary workers compared to two years ago, as project-based hiring gains momentum.

According to two surveys conducted via LinkedIn, 38 percent of companies are using more contract personnel than before. In the first survey, which involved 1636 respondents, 26 percent indicated that usage remained about the same, 21 percent reported a decrease, and 16 percent stated that their organization does not use contract employees at all.

In the second survey, which gathered 1323 responses, employers were asked about the reasons for hiring contractors. The most frequent reason was managing demand based on projects, cited by about 43 percent of respondents. This was followed by the need for greater workforce flexibility (32 percent), while 15 percent pointed to risk reduction and compliance, and 10 percent reported hiring contractors to find the right specialist.

These results indicate that employers are primarily using contractors to execute projects rather than for risk management or regulatory compliance. Ryan Tagg, Senior Director at Hays Middle East, noted that temporary specialists offer a fast and flexible way to solve problems when a business requires additional expertise or project support.

He emphasized: 'What is particularly interesting is that project demand became the strongest factor in our recent survey. This suggests that organizations are thinking less about workforce size and more about its capabilities. They want access to expertise when they need it without necessarily increasing the permanent staff.'

This shift occurs against the backdrop of companies across the region continuing to implement growth plans, invest in technology, and adapt to changing skill requirements. Many projects require expertise only for a specific period, making contractor hiring attractive to both employers and specialists themselves.

Flexibility and blended workforces

Nearly a third of respondents named flexibility as the main reason for using contractors, reflecting the need to scale teams up or down depending on the project portfolio, market conditions, and business priorities. Tagg added that the line between permanent and temporary hiring is blurring. 'Organizations are now forming blended workforces that combine permanent staff with temporary specialists, allowing them to access skills more effectively while maintaining flexibility.'

As transformative projects continue in GCC countries, contract hiring is likely to play an important role in helping organizations obtain the necessary expertise to ensure growth while maintaining flexibility.