Reddit Research

How to Find Interview Candidates on Reddit: A Complete Guide

10 min read

Finding the right people to interview for your startup, research project, or content creation can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. LinkedIn is saturated, job boards are expensive, and cold emails often go ignored. But there’s a goldmine of engaged, passionate people hiding in plain sight: Reddit.

Reddit’s 430+ million monthly active users are organized into thousands of niche communities where people genuinely want to share their experiences and expertise. Whether you’re looking for customer discovery interviews, user research participants, podcast guests, or job candidates, Reddit offers a direct line to authentic voices in virtually every industry and interest area.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to find interview candidates on Reddit effectively, ethically, and in a way that gets genuine responses. Let’s dive into the strategies that actually work.

Why Reddit is a Goldmine for Finding Interview Candidates

Reddit operates differently from other social platforms. Users are organized by interest rather than personal connections, which means you can find highly specific audiences discussing exactly what you’re researching. Here’s why Reddit works so well:

Niche communities: From r/SaaS founders to r/RemoteWork professionals, there’s a subreddit for virtually every demographic you need to reach
Authentic conversations: Reddit users are typically more candid and detailed than on polished platforms like LinkedIn
High engagement: Active subreddits have members who check in daily and are eager to contribute
Built-in validation: Upvotes and comment history help you identify credible, experienced voices
Cost-effective: Unlike paid recruitment platforms, Reddit is free to use (though patience and strategy are required)

The key is approaching Reddit with the right strategy and understanding community norms. Let’s break down the process step by step.

Step 1: Identify the Right Subreddits for Your Target Candidates

Your success starts with finding the right communities. Don’t just post in r/AskReddit and hope for the best. You need targeted subreddits where your ideal candidates are already active.

Start with Obvious Industry Subreddits

Begin by searching for subreddits related to your target audience’s profession, industry, or interests. For example:

For startup founders: r/startups, r/Entrepreneur, r/SaaS, r/growth_hacking
For software developers: r/webdev, r/programming, r/cscareerquestions, r/reactjs
For remote workers: r/digitalnomad, r/RemoteWork, r/WorkOnline
For designers: r/design_critiques, r/graphic_design, r/UXDesign
For marketers: r/marketing, r/digital_marketing, r/content_marketing

Use Reddit’s Search Function Strategically

Type keywords related to your target audience into Reddit’s search bar. Look at:

Subreddit size (larger = more candidates, but also more noise)
Activity level (posts per day, comment engagement)
Community rules (some ban recruiting or research posts)
Content quality (are discussions substantive or superficial?)

Check Multireddits and Related Communities

Once you find one good subreddit, check its sidebar for related communities. Many subreddits list “sister subreddits” that might be even more targeted to your needs.

Step 2: Understand Community Rules and Norms

This is where most people fail on Reddit. Each subreddit has its own culture and rules, and violating them will get your post removed or downvoted into oblivion.

Always read the rules before posting. Look for:

Restrictions on self-promotion or recruitment
Required post flair or formatting
Designated days for certain post types (like “Feedback Friday”)
Karma requirements for posting

Some subreddits explicitly welcome research or interview requests, while others ban them entirely. When in doubt, message the moderators first to ask if your post would be appropriate.

Step 3: Craft Your Interview Request Post

Your post needs to be transparent, valuable to readers, and respectful of their time. Here’s a formula that works:

Elements of an Effective Interview Request

1. Clear, honest title:
❌ “Need your help!”
✅ “Looking for SaaS founders to interview about their customer acquisition strategies”

2. Introduce yourself and your purpose:
Start with who you are and why you’re conducting interviews. Be specific and genuine. Are you researching for a product? Writing a blog? Conducting academic research?

3. Explain what’s in it for them:
Will they get early access to your findings? A summary report? Exposure for their business? A small incentive? Make the value clear.

4. Specify who you’re looking for:
Be crystal clear about your criteria. “I’m looking for founders who have launched a SaaS product in the last 2 years and reached $10K MRR.”

5. Outline the commitment:
Tell them exactly how much time it will take (30-minute Zoom call, 15-minute phone interview, written questionnaire, etc.)

6. Provide a simple next step:
Make it easy to respond. “Comment below or DM me if interested” is simple and works.

Example Post Template

Here’s a template you can adapt:

Title: Looking for [specific type of person] to interview about [specific topic]

Body: Hi everyone! I’m [your name], and I’m [your role/project]. I’m currently researching [specific topic] to [your goal].

I’m looking to interview [specific criteria] who can share their experiences with [specific aspect]. The interview would be a casual [format] conversation lasting about [time commitment].

In return, I’ll [value you’re offering – could be insights, exposure, compensation, etc.]. If you’re interested, please [simple call to action].

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any help!

Step 4: Search Existing Discussions for Potential Candidates

Don’t just rely on new posts. Reddit’s real value is in its archive of discussions where potential candidates have already revealed themselves.

Advanced Search Techniques

Use Reddit’s search with specific parameters:

Search within a subreddit: Use “subreddit:[name] [keywords]” in the search bar
Find recent discussions: Sort by “new” or use the time filter to find recent, active discussions
Look for self-identified individuals: Search for phrases like “I’m a [role]” or “as a [profession]”
Check comment histories: When you find someone interesting, review their profile to confirm they’re a good fit

Engage Before You Ask

Before reaching out, engage with potential candidates authentically. Upvote their helpful comments, add thoughtful replies to their posts, or reference specific things they’ve shared when you DM them. This builds context and trust.

Leveraging AI to Find and Validate Interview Candidates on Reddit

Manually searching through Reddit for the right candidates can be time-consuming. You might spend hours identifying subreddits, reading through discussions, and trying to figure out which communities actually have your target audience actively talking about relevant problems.

This is where PainOnSocial becomes incredibly valuable for finding interview candidates. Instead of guessing which communities to engage with, PainOnSocial analyzes real Reddit discussions across 30+ curated subreddits to surface where your target audience is already talking about specific pain points.

For example, if you’re looking to interview SaaS founders about customer acquisition challenges, PainOnSocial can show you which subreddits are discussing this topic most frequently, what specific problems they’re experiencing, and provide direct links to those conversations. You can see actual quotes, upvote counts, and permalinks to discussions - giving you a validated starting point for finding engaged candidates who have already demonstrated they care about your interview topic.

The tool’s smart scoring system (0-100) helps you prioritize which pain points are most intense and frequent, meaning you can focus your outreach on candidates who are most likely to have valuable insights. Rather than posting blindly or spending weeks manually searching, you get evidence-backed data on where your ideal candidates are and what they’re already talking about.

Step 5: Send Effective Direct Messages

When you find promising candidates through search or post responses, your DM needs to be personal and professional.

DM Best Practices

Reference something specific: Mention a comment they made or post they wrote
Keep it brief: 3-4 sentences max in your initial message
Be transparent: State exactly why you’re reaching out
Make it easy to say yes: Provide a scheduling link or simple response option
Respect their time: If they don’t respond, don’t follow up more than once

Example DM Template

Hi [username],

I saw your comment in r/[subreddit] about [specific topic]. I’m researching [your topic] and would love to hear more about your experience with [specific aspect].

Would you be open to a brief 20-minute conversation? I’m happy to work around your schedule. [Optional: mention any incentive or value you’re offering]

Either way, thanks for considering!

Step 6: Handle Responses and Schedule Interviews

When candidates respond positively, make scheduling frictionless:

Use scheduling tools like Calendly or SavvyCal with multiple time slot options
Send calendar invites immediately once a time is chosen
Include interview details: platform (Zoom, phone), topics you’ll cover, and estimated duration
Send a reminder 24 hours before the interview
Respect their time - start and end when you said you would

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are pitfalls that will hurt your success rate:

Spamming multiple subreddits: Reddit users will notice if you post the same thing everywhere
Being vague about your purpose: People are suspicious of unclear research requests
Asking for too much time: Respect that Redditors are volunteering their time
Not offering value: Even if you can’t pay, offer something (insights, exposure, etc.)
Ignoring community rules: This will get you banned fast
Using a brand new account: Build some karma and history first
Being pushy: Reddit values authentic, low-pressure engagement

Tips for Better Response Rates

Increase your success with these proven tactics:

Post at optimal times: Mid-morning or early evening in your target timezone typically gets better visibility
Engage with comments: Reply to everyone who comments on your post, even if they’re not candidates
Build credibility first: Spend time genuinely participating in communities before asking for interviews
Offer compensation when appropriate: Even $20-50 gift cards dramatically improve response rates
Share results back: Tell the community what you learned - this builds goodwill for future requests
Use your real account: Authentic accounts with history perform better than throwaway accounts

Alternative Approaches on Reddit

Beyond direct recruitment posts, consider these strategies:

1. AMA (Ask Me Anything) Sessions

If you’re an expert in your field, host an AMA and mention you’re looking for interview participants. This establishes credibility first.

2. Participate in Existing Discussions

Answer questions, provide value, and naturally mention you’re doing research. People often volunteer themselves when they see you’re genuinely helpful.

3. Create Value-First Content

Share useful findings or insights from your research, then mention you’re looking for more participants. This demonstrates you’re serious about providing value.

4. Use Reddit Ads

For harder-to-reach demographics, targeted Reddit ads can be surprisingly cost-effective (often $0.50-2.00 per click) and allow precise subreddit targeting.

Conclusion

Finding interview candidates on Reddit requires patience, respect for community norms, and genuine engagement. But when done right, it gives you direct access to authentic, passionate people who are often more willing to share detailed insights than candidates from traditional recruitment channels.

Remember: Reddit is not a transactional platform. Approach it as a community where you give value, build relationships, and ask respectfully. Start by identifying the right subreddits, understanding their rules, crafting transparent posts, and engaging authentically with potential candidates.

The candidates are there, ready to share their experiences - you just need to meet them where they are with respect and genuine curiosity. Start exploring relevant subreddits today, and you’ll be surprised at how willing Redditors are to help when you approach them the right way.

Ready to find your first interview candidates? Pick three relevant subreddits, spend time understanding their culture, and craft your first post using the templates above. Good luck!