Guy responds politely to job rejection email, ends up scoring an interview in a positive turn of events: “Life is strange’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jan 17, 2026 4:00 AM EST

When this job seeker receives a rejection email, they decide to keep it classy. In a stroke of luck, they manage to receive an interview invitation.

Job interviews manage to affect your nervous system in the same way a stampede or the action of skydiving would. You don't know why your adrenaline is pumping as much as it is, but there's no way to stop it. You use all of the ATS keywords,  manage to word vomit all about B2B sales and brand-safe marketing, and you flash your pearly whites as much as you possibly can. This is the job market, and you are the court jester. You can only hope that work royalty, that is, people with jobs, like you enough to bring you back for a second interview. Heck, maybe they'll offer you the job on the spot!

It's never that simple. Even after doing everything right, they'll digitally deliver that dreadful rejection email (if they are courteous enough to do that). How do you respond? Do you respond at all? It's not self-righteous to believe that their rejection doesn't warrant a response from you, but sometimes, you gotta get 'em with kindness. You know, courteous, sickening kindness. You just might get what you were looking for all along. Scroll to read about a job seeker who politely responds to a rejection email and eventually lands an interview for a role better-suited to his resume.

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  • man smiles at camera as he works on his laptop
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "My friend decided to reply to a job rejection email. He got an interview from them."

    My friend was at his wit's end with the job search. He was part of a major layoff at his old company at the beginning of March, and he's been grinding ever since.
    via AlfredoZulauf
  • For two months, he's been applying to about 20-30 jobs every day with no response at all.
    via AlfredoZulauf

  • This is the sad reality of the job market for the last five years. You see job seekers on forums lamenting about the 1000 applications they sent in that month, how they used a resume tool to fine-tune their resume for each job they apply to…

    No matter what job seekers do, they can't seem to catch a break. So, when you do receive a rejection email after numbing yourself to the pain of hearing nothing at all, it feels like your demise. Not for this job seeker, though.

  • A few days ago, he got another one of those automated rejection emails. You know the canned response: Although your qualifications are impressive, we've decided to move forward with other candidates..
    via AlfredoZulauf
  • He was about to just archive it and move on, but he noticed the email wasn't from a do not reply address, but from a real person.
    via AlfredoZulauf
  • Suddenly, he decided to try his luck and send a quick reply. What did he have to lose?
    via AlfredoZulauf
  • So he sent a brief message that said: Thank you for letting me know. I'm disappointed, of course, but I've been following your company's work and I'm very impressed.
    via AlfredoZulauf
  • Please keep me in mind if any similar roles open up in the future. Then today, he got an email from the same recruiter.
    via AlfredoZulauf
  • I'm serious. Hi \ [Friend's Name\], thanks for your gracious response. As it happens, another position on the same team just opened up, and your profile seems like a great fit.
    via AlfredoZulauf
  • He had completely written off this company. Now he has an interview scheduled for Friday afternoon.
    via AlfredoZulauf
  • person handing their resume to a job interviewer
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Life is strange, really. A little bit of professionalism can open a door you thought was shut for good.
    via AlfredoZulauf
  • inconspicuousex Thank you for rejecting my application. I would like to inform you that I reject your rejection, and will therefore start my duties next Monday. Warm regards,
    via inconspicuousex
  • Practical_Wind_1917 Always shoot your shot. You never know what you might get. I did that with my current job. Not all the qualifications they were asking for but I got the interview and got the job
    via Practical_Wind_1917
  • Gingertitian AND ALWAYS COUNTER THEIR $$ OFFER
    via Gingertitian
  • ProfessionalSea6268 I would bet their software filtered you off and no on ever even reviewed you. Then you emailing back triggered someone to actually look who you were and they saw you were a fit.
    via ProfessionalSea6268
  • yorkshirewisfom Right Place at the Right Time.
    via yorkshirewisfom
  • NoCauliflower 1474 That's how I got my first job after my graduate program! Life is weird sometimes!
    via NoCauliflower1474
  • TallTinTX Your friend showed class. Good with that the company rep recognized it. That reflects well on them.
    via TallTinTX
  • Urby999 It's becoming rare to even get rejection lately, never mind even an automated one from HR. If it's from a real person, it's definitely worth a thank you for considering me email. Never know as OP demonstrates. Now a days it's usually HR ghosting you
    via Urby999

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career advice work resume story job interview
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