A job offer is usually seen as a moment of relief for many people looking for work. But sometimes the details behind an offer raise uncomfortable questions. One job seeker recently shared such an experience online, describing a hiring condition that left him shocked and unsure about whether he should accept the role at all. The story was shared on Reddit, where the individual explained that the company had given him a very unusual first assignment if he joined the team.
Job offer came with a surprising condition
In the post, the job seeker said the company made it clear that his first major responsibility would be to learn everything from the person currently doing the job. However, the plan did not end there. Once the knowledge transfer was complete, the new hire would be expected to terminate the employee who trained him.
He wrote, “I got an offer for a new job, but there’s a big catch. They told me my first primary task is to spend time with the person currently in this role, extract all his expertise and important information about the place, and then I have to fire him within 60 days.”
According to the post, the current employee has been with the company for more than a decade and built many of the systems that the business still relies on. That detail made the situation feel even more uncomfortable for the person considering the job.
“Apparently, this guy has been with the company for over ten years and is the one who built most of their important systems from scratch. I feel like a huge scumbag for even considering this, and frankly, the plan seems incredibly stupid on their part,” he wrote.
Responsibilities were not clearly explained
Another issue that worried the job seeker was the lack of clarity around the role itself. The hiring manager reportedly told him he would eventually take over all of the current employee’s responsibilities, but those responsibilities were not explained during the interview process.
He said the company expected him to figure that out while working with the person he was supposed to replace. “What’s more infuriating is that they also want me to take over all his responsibilities, but the hiring manager was very vague and didn’t specify what those responsibilities are. That’s part of what I’m supposed to find out from the man I’m supposed to fire.”
The situation left him feeling uneasy about the company’s approach. “The whole situation seems shady and very alarming. Am I crazy, or should I run away from this immediately?” he asked other users.
Online reactions were divided
The unusual workplace situation sparked a wide range of responses from people in the discussion thread. Some suggested the job seeker should be careful before trusting anyone involved. One commenter advised caution, saying, “If I were inclined to do something like this, I would not be confiding anything until I had gotten the lay of the land for at least 2 weeks first.”
The same person also pointed out that the situation might be more complicated than it appears. “OP does not actually know who the villains in the story are. Maybe it’s the employer. Maybe it’s the incumbent. It could easily be both.”
Others, however, saw the situation as a warning sign about the company itself. One commenter wrote bluntly, “if they do him dirty, they’ll do you worse, run.” Another user raised a similar concern about long-term job security, noting, “OP, just bear in mind that you will be fired similarly one day if you take this job.”