'NoBoDy WaNtS tO wOrK': Job candidate gets rejected and blocked by potential employer for asking one clarifying question

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Oct 3, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

People seemed to be divided about who was in the wrong here. This candidate had applied to a lot of jobs and finally got a phone call from a potential employer. During the conversation, the Redditor asked over the phone if they made this inquiry about the position today because they couldn't quite remember. That became an immediate turn-off to the employer, who not only told the candidate that they wouldn't be a good fit for the position (an awful and overused phrase), but the employer also blocked the candidate's number.

That's when the candidate did some sleuthing and called again from a different number to try to get the name of the recruiter and the name of the company. Clearly, the search was not that smooth and not that successful since the employer blocked them yet again. The candidate began to wonder if the business was shady or something, but folks in the comments pointed out that OP messed up the interview in the first place and couldn't just admit that this is why they were blocked. Some people feel the need to construct the narrative that they weren't the ones who ruined their own opportunity. What do you think happened here?

For more stories like this, here's one about an employee who learned that promotions at his company were never based on merit.

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  • 01
    Textile - "As if being rejected isn't bad enough...
    via Magnet.me
  • 02
    Font - As if being rejected isn't bad enough, a hiring manager blocked my number and the interview ended before it even started. But you're right, "NoBoDy WaNtS to work." I responded to a help wanted ad for a sales job that paid six figures.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 03
    Font - Mind you, I'm in San Diego and the guy who posted the ad called me from a phone number from a Colorado area code which threw me off. He called and asked for me by name and said I responded to his ad. Me: Yes, this is her. I asked him, "Did I make this inquiry today?" The reason I asked "did I make this inquiry today" is because I applied to a lot of businesses so I wanted to verify his name/his company's name. He said, "Never mind. You're not a good fit." Before BLOCKING MY NUMBER so I co
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 04
    Font - About an hour later I called him from my 2nd number and said, "Hey, I have a bone to pick with you. You called me to interview me earlier. Do you mind explaining why you were so abrupt with me?" Him: "Uh...no I didn't" He then texted me saying, "My apologies for any misunderstanding. I can tell that you would not be a good fit. I wish you success in your job search."
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 05
    Font - Yup, that's right. I was rejected for asking, "Did I make this inquiry today?" THAT IS HOW BRUTAL employers are. Who knows, maybe if I had just kept my mouth shut, he'd be my boss today.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 06
    Font - I hate the line about you not being a good fit. Jobs always say that, but why can't they follow it up with explaining exactly why you're not a good fit? How can you possibly re- examine yourself and better prepare for the next application if you have no idea why the previous one rejected you? It's so vague and it's really unfair. It's sad to see that this is happening across the board and basically all industries.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 07
    Font - I'm the type of person who needs to get to the bottom of a mystery. So I fruitlessly typed his cell phone number into multiple websites and found NOTHING!!
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 08
    Font - Later, I tried contacting him again with a different name and saying I was interested in the opportunity. I asked him, "What's your first/last name and company name and location?"
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 09
    Font - Him: Unless you've sent me a resume we really have nothing to talk about. I only interview people who've emailed me a resume. Me: That's fair. I'm not asking for an interview yet. I'm only asking for your name and company name.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 10
    Font - Him: No resume. No interview. Simple as that. Me: Unless you are some sort of criminal I see no problem with you telling me a company name, location, and first and last name. He didn't like that reply and blocked that number too.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 11
    Font - The fact that he's so secretive and refuses to tell me his first and last name, company name, location, him blocking my number and most alarming that he hides behind a burner number are all huge red flags. I am 100% assuming there is something horribly wrong with him like the "sales job" is a cover for the mafia.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 12
    Font - I told this story to my fried Kelly and she said, "Don't beat yourself up. You did nothing at all wrong. He was being an unprofessional
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 13
    Font - I want to make it abundantly clear that employers don't owe applicants employment. Nobody owes anybody anything. I absolutely CAN take no for an answer. If he had interviewed me and then called me 24 hours later and said, "I slept on it and I think I'm gonna pass." I would totally respect his decision.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 14
    Font - Who's willing to bet this dude is one of those people that says "nobody wAnTs To WoRk". Well, I wanted to work for him but he needs to learn the lesson that beggars can't be choosers.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 15
    Font - stegogo 22 hr. ago He sounds like the type who tries to recruit for Kirby vacuum sales or Cutco sales. They are super shady 219 Reply Share
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 16
    Font - matty_nice 22 hr. ago IDK, you sound like the weirdo here. Why are you constantly harassing someone, with multiple phone numbers and "identiies", that already told you NO, and even said they don't like you. I asked him, "Did I make this inquiry today?" That's a negative way to start off an interviewer.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 17
    Font - I hate the line about you not being a good fit. Jobs always say that, but why can't they follow it up with explaining exactly why you're not a good fit? It's typically used when you're just not a good fit, but there aren't objective reasons for it. Maybe you have a bad personality, which is something the interviewer probably thought with your exchange(s). It's also used as a generic excuse to avoid any arguements. If they gave you an objective reason, it likely leads to an arguement. The
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 18
    Font - How can you possibly re- examine yourself and better prepare for the next application if you have no idea why the previous one rejected you? Well, the interviewer doesn't care about that. "Nobody owes anybody anything."
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 19
    Font - If you want to re-examine yourself? Don't harass people, even if you think you were wrong. Don't make fake idenities. Don't call from other phone numbers if you were originally blocked. No means no. I absolutely CAN take no for an answer. Doubt. Lol.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream
  • 20
    Font - Fit Technology8240 - 21 hr. ago It doesn't sound like he's running a real business, or like someone you'd want to work for, but I do think your question in the beginning was off putting. I usually say something like, "I'm so sorry, I've sent out a few resumes recently, can you let me know which position this is for?" I've never had a problem.
    via u/BartSimpsonIceCream

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workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work reddit thread Reddit company job interview interview toxic-work-environment
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