When a software developer walked into a walk‑in drive for a software development engineer role at a Noida-based software company, he expected a long day. He did not expect to leave eight hours later without an interview — and with his self‑respect tested.
In a Reddit post that has since sparked wide discussion, the techie described spending an entire day at the hiring venue, alongside nearly 100 candidates, for a role offering Rs 3 lakh per annum, which is about Rs 25,000 per month.
The process, he said, was scheduled to begin at 11 am and included a group discussion, two technical rounds, a senior‑level round and HR.
“At the beginning, everything felt normal,” the software engineer wrote on Reddit.
By 2 pm, he had cleared the group discussion and the first technical round. By 4 pm, the second technical round was done. Most candidates were filtered out by then.
From roughly 100 candidates, only six were shortlisted for what was described as the final CEO round.
“We thought we were close to the end,” he said. “That was when the waiting began. Four pm passed, then five, then six. There were no proper updates, no clear communication on delays or timelines. Candidates began leaving one by one — some exhausted, others with prior commitments. The CEO round finally started around 6.45 pm. By then, only the shortlisted six were still present.”
The reason for the delay, the candidates were told, was that the CEO had been busy in meetings.
“If the drive was already scheduled,” the candidate asked, “why call so many candidates without ensuring availability?”
CEO comments on techie’s resume
When it was finally his turn, the interaction, the software engineer said, lasted seconds.
The CEO glanced at his printed resume and remarked:
“Ye kya hai? isme to kuch dikh bhi nahi raha. (What is this? I can’t even see anything in it.)”
The candidate replied calmly that it was clearly readable.
Without asking a single question — technical or otherwise — the CEO allegedly ended the interaction with: “Hogya tumhara interview (Your interview is over).”
“There was no discussion. No evaluation. No questions,” the techie said. “For a moment, it almost felt like the test wasn’t about my skills — it was about how much disrespect I was willing to tolerate.”
After briefly pausing, the candidate said he chose to leave.
“No arguments. No reactions. Just left.”
Offer details raised more red flags
It was only later, while reflecting on the role itself, that the techie said the experience made sense.
The offer, as communicated, included:
Rs 3 LPA CTC
Rs 15,000 per month during a six‑month training period
A 2.5‑year bond
Rs 1.5 lakh penalty for early exit
Submission of original documents
“Honestly, it just confirmed what I felt in that room,” he wrote on Reddit, adding that all six shortlisted candidates were overqualified and that none of them accepted the offer.
‘Sometimes not getting selected isn’t the loss’
The post struck a chord with job seekers navigating India’s tight tech market, where walk‑in drives, long interview processes, and low-pay packages have become increasingly common.
“I’m not sharing this out of frustration,” the candidate wrote. “Sometimes we normalise things we shouldn’t. Interviews are a two‑way process. If a company can’t respect your time or treat you with basic professionalism during hiring, you already have your answer. Sometimes, not getting selected isn’t the loss. Sometimes the real win is walking away with your self‑respect intact.”
Online reactions: ‘Five rounds for Rs 3 LPA?’
The comments echoed widespread anger.
“All this hassle for Rs 25k per month,” one Reddit user wrote. Another said, “When you see five rounds, Rs 3 LPA and a bond, you should have taken the hint and stayed at home.”
Several comments focused on the CEO’s behaviour rather than the pay itself. “Why four rounds for Rs 3 LPA? That too with a bond?” one user asked, calling out what they described as the “audacity” of small firms in a weak job market.
Others pointed out the irony of companies complaining about offer drop‑outs while subjecting candidates to such treatment.
“If candidates are disrespected during interviews, rejecting an offer a day before joining makes sense,” another Reddit user commented.