A Reddit post circulating widely on the r/recruiting hell forum has reignited debate around power imbalances and double standards in hiring processes, after a job seeker shared an email exchange with a recruiter who reacted sharply to a declined interview.
The post, titled “HR got mad after I rejected the interview call,” details how the candidate had applied for a role several weeks earlier but accepted another offer by the time the company followed up. When contacted for an interview, the candidate informed the recruiter that they had already joined another organisation and would not be proceeding further.
Instead of a routine acknowledgment, the recruiter allegedly responded with a lengthy email criticising the candidate’s unprofessionalism and accusing them of wasting the company’s time. The message reportedly expressed disappointment and suggested that declining an interview reflected a lack of responsibility, despite the candidate having clearly communicated their decision.
The exchange struck a chord with thousands of professionals online, many of whom pointed out the irony. Commenters highlighted how candidates are frequently ghosted by recruiters, face delayed responses, or receive automated rejection emails after investing significant time on applications and interviews. Yet, when candidates exercise the same agency and move on, they are sometimes met with indignation.
Users across the forum shared similar experiences, describing situations where companies sent rejection emails after candidates had already withdrawn, or reacted defensively when control of the hiring narrative shifted. The discussion underscored a broader frustration with recruitment practices that expect candidates to remain available indefinitely while offering little reciprocity.