Job candidate gets interview invite, only to be accidentally CC'd on an email in which the hiring manager declares he's ‘out’, candidate replies: ‘That message wasn't meant for me’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 28, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

Oh, the horror of accidentally emailing something to the wrong person, and being unable to take it back or delete it, who has not experienced that delightful roller coaster of emotions?

The moment after is like going through the five stages of grief: Denial, convincing yourself it didn't happen. Anger, mostly at yourself, for letting this stupid email slip away between your fingers. Bargaining, maybe they wouldn't see the email, or maybe it would get lost somehow in the process. Sadness, possibly over your job and your future. And then lastly, when there is nothing left, acceptance. 

Depending on the severity of the situation, the person who was not supposed to see the email, yet definitely did see it, might respond to your mistake. The consequences can vary from face-palming embarrassment to a full-on life-changing moment. And to be honest, we don't know which is worse.

The mistake in the story below will probably not change anyone's life, but it was definitely embarrassing. It was even more hilariously awkward when the person who was not supposed to read the email decided to reply, and all of that is waiting for you to read if you scroll down.

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  • 01
    MONDAY 11.
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    Got an interview invite… then got CC’d on the “he’s out” email. What would you do?

    Zoom Meeting Hello E I apologize for not being available for the previous interviews, I was hoping we would be able to schedule a Zoom meeting for us to be able to get acquainted. Would you be available Monday afternoon? Thank you, Austin C Lead Developer Department of information Technology "DoIT" 1 NEW MESSAGE To: CC: Summarize 08:50 Pretty sure is said Bart is out. Lisa is not the authority on this matter. Cancel the request to Bart and apologize.
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  • 03
    So I recently interviewed with a panel of four people at a county courthouse for an IT developer role. One guy
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    couldn't make it to the interview. A week later, I get an email from that same guy asking to schedule a Zoom meeting
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    to get acquainted. Cool, right? Well... not for long.
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    Shortly after, another panelist replies to that email CC'ing everyone, including me and says:
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  • 07
    "Bart is out. Lisa is not the authority on this matter. Cancel the request to Bart and apologize."
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  • 08
    ...and yes, Lisa is the one who actually seemed to like me during the interview. So I guess I got
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    the boot and a live show of their messy internal drama. I knew some people in the panel had reservations,
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    but this? Come on. If your team can't even handle email coordination or basic professionalism in a hiring process - why would I want to work there?
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    Not sure if I should hit them with a polite "thanks for the opportunity" or go full scorched earth and call it what it is. Thoughts
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  • Keep scrolling to read the update and Bart's hilarious and tactful reply!

  • 12
    Academic_Actuary_590 Respond and tell them your strongest trait is awareness and proofreading.
    via Academic_Actuary_590
  • 13
    Snarkerston I would reply "I thought we all agreed Bart was in"
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  • 14
    Boring_Potato_5701 Maybe ask, "So WHO said Bart is out? I'm confused."
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  • 15
    xeno0153 Maggie's getting the job.
    via xeno0153
  • 16
    thecrunchypepperoni Reply to the email, let them know you were CC'd, thank them for their time. This is obviously a huge oversight on their part.
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    Update - Part 2

    Sent 1 MESSAGE Bart Το Cc: Lisa > Summarize Zoom Meeting Hi all, I thought we all agreed Bart was in. I'm sure that message wasn't meant for me, but no worries, no apology necessary. I appreciate the opportunity to interview with the team and get a feel for the role. If you find yourself looking for someone whose skill set includes a strong focus on awareness, attention to detail, and yes, proofreading, feel free to reach out. Wishing you the best in your search, Bart
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  • 18
    Good afternoon, everyone! First off, a huge thank you for all the interest and advice on my previous post about the job application
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    email. The comments were amazing - some serious, some hilariously funny, and some truly thought- provoking.
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  • 20
    I ended up going with a professional yet witty approach, aiming for a "mic drop" without burning any bridges.
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  • 21
    I sent the email out at 8 AM. I'm not really expecting a response, but I'll be watching to see if anything comes in. Unless I
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    hear back, this will likely be the final update on this situation.
    via Teacup690

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workplace-stories hr professional manager job hiring manager email work job candidate message hiring workplace reddit thread Reddit mistake
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