HR claims they 'lost' employee's application for promotion after they hired an external nepo candidate for the job: 'Did you send it by carrier pigeon?'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Mar 31, 2026 10:00 PM EDT

Nothing is more disappointing than realizing you never stood a chance. 

There is nothing more frustrating than putting so much effort into something and then realizing that it could never be yours, due to systems outside of your control. This is when you run up against structural inequality, and you realize how powerless you actually are. No matter how much work and effort you put into a project, it might not succeed for reasons beyond your control. That's how the world works, you suppose, and go home with a little less light in your eyes than before. You hope this doesn't happen to you in the workplace, but you can never be sure. You hope that you can build up enough goodwill with the people with whom you collaborate that they will see your strengths and reward you in kind. 

That's what happened to the employee in this story, who thought they were doing all the right things. They thought they had gone through the proper channels to work their way up at their place of work, but they soon discovered that it wasn't enough. When you submit a job application, you're putting yourself out there. Especially if it's for a higher position at your current job. It's a vulnerable thing. You display your wants and needs, and they decide if you're the right person for the task. If it doesn't work out, it might make it kind of awkward to stay at your job. But these are the risks you take. 

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  • A man sits at a desk with is hands on his face
    via JESUS ECA

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

  • HR lost my application and hired an external nepo hire for an internal promotion.

    I give up. Applied for a promotional role internally. HR apparently lost my application and forgot to forward it to the hiring manager.
    via bobcat734
  • I enquired about when interviews would be to the hiring manager and he said "Oh, that role has already been filled". "We never received your application". So, either they did genuinely lose my application. Which is outrageous in itself.
    via bobcat734
  • Or they already had somebody else lined up and went against all their own fair hiring policies. I called them out on it and said "how did you hire somebody in 2 hours that's an impressive turn around considering the deadline has only just passed this morning".
    via bobcat734
  • And then I was told; "Not to challenge the system" or "ask questions". Like does that even mean. Does that mean they admit they didn't follow their own HR procedures. And are scared of being found out.
    via bobcat734
  • If so, I've basically been rejected due to a nepotism hire and their own HR policy says this could be seen as a form of corruption and bribery. WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME THIS HAPPENS TO.
    via bobcat734

  • This employee, though, learned the hard way that things aren't always fair when it comes to hiring. You might be the most qualified person for the position, but that doesn't mean that you are going to get it. The way they didn't get this promotion, though, was even more upsetting. They didn't know that that level of disrespect was going to come from within their own company. So they reached out to the internet for some advice, which it gave in return. Commenters also gave their support and sympathy, which is sometimes more needed than advice. 

  • Commenters gave their opinions and takes.

    ReaverRogue Did you send it by carrier pigeon or something..? Surely you've got an email record of it?
    via ReaverRogue
  • A man sits in front of his laptop at work, contemplating
    via Fábio Lucas

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

  • Main_Breadfruit_3674 No record of electronic application?
    via Main_Breadfruit_3674
  • jaybirdie26 Is it something you can take to an ethics committee or something? If they are afraid of repercussions, I'd try to be those repercussions.
    via jaybirdie26
  • A1sauc3d It means time to start looking for a new job. Start sending out apps and see if you can find something better because you clearly can't count on upward mobility at the place you are now. Sorry that happened though </3
    via A1sauc3d
  • olneyvideo Sounds like it was "posted" to follow rules/laws but they had their candidate before you even heard about the job. I once saw a posting at my company for a job I wanted. It would have required me moving to a regional HQ area. I called a guy I know who was in that dept and asked about housing/schools in the area. He straight up said oh man, from what I've heard that's gonna be Bill's job. I knew the deal, thanked him and moved on. Later that afternoon my boss, who was a great guy, sent
    via olneyvideo
  • Adventurous-Depth984 On this timeline, they were always going to go with the nepo hire. You have an email sent item with your resume. It wasn't "lost", they were never actually looking for them.
    via Adventurous-Depth984
  • tallmattuk if you cant "ask questions" now is the time to question why youre there. It sounds like a very autocratic environment and i'd be looking for a better job out of there you can then tell HR in your exit interview what you think of them
    via tallmattuk
  • Groundbreaking Mall54 the "we lost your application" move is HR code for "we already had someone picked before the listing went up." two hours to fill a role means the interview was a formality and someone was getting that job no matter what. i had the exact same thing happen at an old gig, turned out the new hire was the directors nephew. shocking absolutely nobody
    via GroundbreakingMall54
  • StoverKnows Rules only matter when the people in charge want them to. This happens all the time. The system exists to give an appearance of fairness. The world isn't fair. The game is rigged. Your best bet is to go elsewhere. People who change companies regularly make about 30% more over time. Loyalty to a company is foolish, they aren't ever loyal to you. Sorry you had to go through this. It's wrong, even though it happens all the time.
    via StoverKnows
  • porterbrown >HR lost my application We have determined... that's a lie.
    via porterbrown

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nepotism employee hr work human resources application nepo baby job application
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