Job applicant gets rejected for role, faces criticism for being try-hard in HR interview feedback: 'Our team values authenticity'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Feb 12, 2026 9:00 AM EST

Job seeking is exposure therapy for rejection sensitivity.

Some studies suggest that it takes more than 200 applications for the average applicant to land a job, and there are plenty of people out there who have likely sent out even more copies of their resume than that. For those who cannot rely on a friend of a friend to pull some strings and find them work, the employment market is a brutal and unforgiving place where you learn to get used to ghostings and denials.

The only thing worse than receiving yet another email talking about your application not being selected is making it all the way to an interview, then being told that they decided to go with another candidate. Just because it is a normal part of the process doesn't make it any less painful. 

In order to complete the humiliation ritual, many applicants decide to ask for feedback to see what it is they could do better the next time they are blessed with the opportunity to schedule some one-on-one time with yet another manager and HR department. This can be useful information, but not every company is as thoughtful in their assessment as they could be.

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  • A professional woman takes notes on paper, sitting at a table in a meeting room. Another woman is sitting in front of her
    via Andrej Lišakov (Unsplash+)

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

  • One job applicant found herself on the receiving end of an unpleasant surprise after applying for a job and being rejected. When she received her feedback on how she had interviewed, she felt that the comments she received were not just unhelpful but also borderline inappropriate.

    The HR department of the company informed her that she had come across as “overly eager to please” and was trying too hard, which meant she would not be a good fit for them as they disliked having team members with “people-pleasing tendencies.” She wanted a second opinion on whether she was taking this email the wrong way.

  • HR told me they don’t accept try-hards and people pleasers after my interview

    I applied for a role I found on Jobcat and just heard back after the interview.
    via No-Presentation298
  • Interview Feedback External Inbox Dea 3:47 PM ↑ Thank you for taking the time to interview with us. After careful consideration, we've decided not to move forward with your application. To be candid, our team values authenticity and confidence. During the interview, your approach came across as overly eager to please and, at times, trying too hard to say what you thought we wanted to hear rather than presenting your genuine perspective. We don't build teams around people-pleasing tendencies or r
    via No-Presentation298
  • Two professional women sit at a table in a meeting room, one with an open laptop and cellphone in front of her
    via Andrej Lišakov (Unsplash+)

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

  • They rejected me (fine, that happens) but the feedback said I came across as overly eager to please and that they don't build teams around people- pleasing tendencies or rehearsed enthusiasm.
    via No-Presentation298
  • They also told me to reflect on how I present myself and that confidence is more compelling than excessive accommodation.
    via No-Presentation298
  • Is this normal? Or even appropriate? I get that not being a culture fit is a thing but the wording felt unnecessarily personal and condescending.
    via No-Presentation298
  • A professional woman holding papers greets two other professional women
    via Andrej Lišakov (Unsplash+)

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

  • DeMessenZijnGeslepen I'm surprised some companies even have individualized rejection letters like that.
    via DeMessenZijnGeslepen
  • RandomA9981 This will actually help you. Being overly agreeable will result in being used and underpaid at every turn.
    via RandomA9981
  • Bosto2025 Actually, I read that as "You came off as disingenuous and we don't believe you." Be thankful they gave you that feedback and use it to make yourself better. As my former employer always said, "feedback is a gift".
    via Bosto2025
  • TransmigrationOfPKD I love that they provided honest feedback. I agree that it comes across as personal because it's so blunt, but I don't find it inappropriate (of course, only you know for sure because you were in the interview)
    via TransmigrationOfPKD
  • Kilbim Actual good feedback after an interview. Gives you things to reflect on and possibly improve!
    via Kilbim
  • I_Want_A_Ribeye Most rejections are just "after careful consideration we have chosen to go in a different direction yada yada." This is at least helpful for the future
    via I_Want_A_Ribeye
  • Possible-Rope-1260 You should get on your knees and thank God that you actually got interview feedback rather than an automated decline Email with no idea how to improve yourself moving forward.
    via Possible-Rope-1260
  • montessoriprogram Idk why people are praising this lol. This does not come across as genuine feedback to me, it sounds. like someone did not like you personally. Still worth considering what they said, but I wouldn't take it at 100% face value because it sounds like you might have. pressed this persons specific buttons.
    via montessoriprogram
  • NoSubstance7767 Wow, never seen anything like this. It's kind of cool tho. It's good feedback actually.
    via NoSubstance7767
  • GoodMedium3600 Everyone saying this is great feedback meanwhile I think this person is an asshole and you dodged a bullet Imao.
    via GoodMedium3600

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feedback hr email work human resources workplace job interview interview job application
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