Impolite recruiter wrongly rejects job candidate over location: 'You need to pay more attention to postings'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Nov 22, 2025 11:00 AM EST

To put it mildly, it's an interesting time to be searching for a job as an employee — or looking for a candidate as a recruiter. You don't have to tell that to this person, who is clearly in the trenches already, but their exchange with a recruiter is a good reminder of what it's like for people on both sides of the job-searching equation. 

The issue is that it's become quite easy to apply for a job. Too easy, in fact. On a lot of job-searching sites these days, you can submit your résumé in just a few clicks, and the sites are thrilled to promote that to those seeking employment. That means that thousands of people are going to be applying to the same position, whether they're really qualified or not, because what do they have to lose? If you can apply to be a CFO or senior manager in like 3 clicks, why not do it? 

This mentality has a cost, though. Now, instead of having a handful of candidates to pick through, hiring managers are inundated with waves of applicants who may or may not be qualified for the role. And for candidates, this might mean that instead of applying for 10 jobs and getting an interview for 2, they're applying for 100 and getting a call back for just 1. It's a tough problem to solve!

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  • In a text exchange shared below, this person shared a peek into the interview process when a recruiter impolitely dismissed them over a misunderstanding. The recruiter seems frustrated, but this worker still probably dodged a bullet by avoiding them. On to the next application! 

  • 01

    'Recruiter unnecessarily closed my job application'

    Woman in white suit jacket in office setting puts pen to paper on clipboard while looking at man in gray suit sitting across from her
    via Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash+

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

  • 02

    Here's the first thing the recruiter messaged this person:

    Today You have a very impressive resume, however we need to close your file as you are living in and we are located in NY. Remote option is not available as clearly stated in the posting. Good luck with job search.
    via u/Outrageous_Biscotti
  • 03
    Hello! Thank you for your consideration. While I'm currently in I am not here permanently and am actually looking to relocate to New York City. Please let me know if this changes anything. Thank you!
    via u/Outrageous_Biscotti
  • 04
    You should have said it in a cover letter. i get so many people looking for remote options that I am tired of it. But in any case, i already closed your application and indeed does not allow to reopen one. You need top ay more attention to postings.
    via u/Outrageous_Biscotti
  • 05
    I was aware it was an in-office position; I read the posting carefully. Best of luck filling the position. Thank you for your time and consideration. Read 3:49 pm
    via u/Outrageous_Biscotti
  • 06
    Not sure why you'd be so needlessly rude to an interested applicant. I've been having a tough time finding a job as it is, and this just made my day even worse. Seems like I dodged a bullet though, thankfully.
    via u/Outrageous_Biscotti
  • 07
    CarlLlamaface They need top ay more attention to their typing.
    via u/CarlLlamaface
  • 08
    Ej_boose "You need top ay better attention" a lot of irony in this one
    via u/Ej_boose
  • 09

    This person had some kind words and prudent advice for this job seeker

    SANtoDEN As an internal recruiter, I'm sorry for this interaction. The recruiter is unnecessarily rude, and also lazy. That being said, they are right, a TON of applicants apply to out-of-state roles and are just hoping or assuming it's remote (even if the posting explicitly states the job requires hybrid or
    via u/SANtoDEN
  • 10
    onsite). I would create a version of your resume for the top 3 or whatever cities you are looking to relocate to. At the top of your resume, write "Relocating to NYC"
    via u/SANtoDEN
  • 11
    ItsTheWineTalkin You're too nice, I would've told them to fuck right off after their second message.
    via u/ItsTheWineTalkin
  • 12
    0 You probably don't wanna work for a company with such sloppy HR practices. Does not bode well for how they run the rest of their business.
    via u/Ok_Chemist6567
  • 13
    Unless there is a specific residency requirement associated with the position, they shouldn't be using your address to disqualify you. Opens them up to liability because a persons ZIP Code can be highly correlated with discriminatory factors.
    via u/Ok_Chemist6567
  • 14
    Instead of unceremoniously closing your file, you're willingness to relocate should've been part of their screening process. That's not just fair to you, the candidate. That protects their business from liability against claims of discrimination.
    via u/Ok_Chemist6567
  • 15
    TRUEequalsFAL... I would never work with a recruiter who talked like that to me.
    via u/TRUEequalsFALSE
  • 16
    Giant_Swigz If you can't proofread a professional email, I don't wanna work with you anyways.
    via u/Giant_Swigz

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