HR rescinds job offer despite assuring the candidate he had the position after 5 rounds of interviews: 'My job offer has been kept on hold indefinitely'

Most interview processes do not need to be so extensive. If a potential employer is requiring that you undergo four or five rounds of interviews and assignments for a mid or entry-level position, that's a glaring red flag. You might as well walk away while you still have your dignity. Otherwise, you are going to be stuck working for someone who either overdoes it or simply doesn't know what they want.

This brings me to another point about interviewing. While the power dynamics are inevitably skewed as one person has the potential to make an offer that the other person wants, we cannot forget the reality that interviewing is a two-way street. Sure, the interviewee is responsible for demonstrating their qualifications and skillset while giving a sense of their work ethic and overall vibe. 

However, the interviewer is equally responsible for representing the image and reputation of the company. That means treating potential employees with respect and being transparent about all the details and logistics moving forward, both in terms of what the actual job will entail and in terms of the timeline for the interview process. A lack of transparency about these areas can give off the implication that these people have no idea what they are doing or who they are looking for. It's about time that we make this kind of transparency standard across industries. If we have a set number of expectations for interviewees to follow, the same should be said for interviewers.

Keep scrolling below for this author's story about the time he applied for an entry-level content writer position. Somehow, the interview process for this role lasted five rounds of interviews, which was already a bad sign. The fact that the human resources representative eventually had to rescind a job offer that was nearly a done deal shows exactly who these people are.

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  • "HR rescinded the job offer after assuring me multiple times that I’ve got the job"

    A bearded man in a suit and tie speaks opposite a man in a blue suit with his back to the camera.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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  • Of course, as frustrating and unnecessary as this experience was, at least the author didn't end up having to work for these people. Imagine having to find out on day one that you're working for an indecisive and disorganized bunch of people who don't even know if they're in need of a content writer or a content marketer. In the end, this guy definitely dodged a bullet. We just wish he didn't have to go through all this false hope first.

  • I've been looking for a job for about 3 months now. I had to quit my last job because the company would make me work on the weekends and during sick leaves as well. It got to a point where I was extremely sick and overwhelmed.
    via vandyj883
  • Ever since that I've been looking for a job (as a Content Writer) and after countless applications, I finally landed one (or it seemed like it).
    via vandyj883
  • After 4-5 rounds of interviews I finally got shortlisted at a company. After salary negotiations, the HR kept reassuring me that I'll be receiving my offer letter shortly. The HR kept giving the reason that the offer letter is ready and just the CEO's approval and signature is pending, and that I'll be onboarded this week itself.
    via vandyj883
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  • After asking for continuous updates for more than 3 days, the HR now informs that they are actually looking for a Content Marketer and my job offer has been kept on hold indefinitely. I was really upset and the HR kept saying that it's the upper- management's decision and that there is nothing she can do about it.
    via vandyj883
  • I am beyond angry and frustrated at this point. And this is after all the documentation and background verification checks. I devastated. am
    via vandyj883
  • A bearded man in a suit and tie smiles at the remarks of the man in a blue suit opposite him, with his back to the camera.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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  • Why do companies make candidates go through all of this when they aren't even clear about who they want to hire in the first place??!
    via vandyj883
  • Trikki1. Just to be clear: HR did not rescind your offer. They were the messenger of a hiring process that the ceo and hiring team created.
    via vandyj883
  • A bearded man in a suit and tie points to himself as he speaks opposite a man in a blue suit with his back to the camera.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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  • puns_are_how_ey... HR didn't rescind your offer. The CEO decided they needed something else. HR is just the face of it.
    via vandyj883
  • Glum_Possibility_3... . Sadly, I've seen this happen - a breakdown in communication between levels of management. What probably happened is that everything was cool until the CEO had to approve, and they asked, "Why are we doing this? I think we need a content marketer and not a content writer. Go back to the drawing board."
    via vandyj883
  • AtticusAesop • 4-5 interviews for a content writer? That would be my first red flag.
    via vandyj883
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