Interview with a Jovo

[Tonus]

Drich and his shenanigans aside, what goes through the mind of someone who applies for a job knowing full well they don't meet the requirements by choice and still expects to get it?

Desperation, possibly. When the bills need paying, any job will do. And as I said before, the employer would be within his rights to grant her the exemption if he felt that it was worth it (ie, she was an exceptional employee and the rest of the staff could handle Sunday work without issue). But the OP explains that working on Sundays is an issue, and it's reasonable to worry that the rest of the workers could become resentful of one person getting special treatment for something that has nothing to do with the job. Hence why the laws Drich linked to speak of "reasonable" and "common" options that an employer "may" utilize; they are not required to offer scheduling exemptions if those exemptions would exacerbate the work situation.

"We can't hire you because we need people who can work the occasional Sunday" is perfectly legitimate. The only possible link to religion is that Sundays are difficult to schedule because religious observances made it a 'special day' to begin with, which ironically may be causing the shortfall that is hindering this woman's efforts to find work.