Candidate asks to reschedule final interview, hiring manager’s response raises immediate red flags: 'We value dedication here'

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Cata Holmes • Writer
Jun 2, 2026 1:00 PM EDT

Is it a job interview or the first stage of workplace indoctrination?

Job interviews are already stressful enough without turning into strange tests of loyalty. Most employed candidates have to balance interviews around existing responsibilities, which is why a little scheduling flexibility is generally considered normal. Recruiters and hiring managers deal with this every day. That is why people tend to get suspicious when a simple request to move a meeting suddenly becomes a conversation about commitment, dedication, or proving how badly someone wants the job.

For many workers, one of the biggest advantages of the interview process is getting a glimpse into company culture before accepting an offer. The questions employers ask, the way they communicate, and how they handle reasonable requests can reveal a lot about what daily life might look like after getting hired. Sometimes the interview itself ends up being the strongest warning sign a candidate could possibly receive.

Stories like this resonate because many employees have encountered workplaces that expect personal sacrifices to be treated as signs of passion. Whether it is working late, answering messages after hours, or putting work ahead of existing commitments, some companies blur the line between dedication and unhealthy expectations. Job seekers are becoming increasingly aware of those dynamics and are more willing to walk away when something feels off.

The discussion also highlights a growing shift in workplace attitudes. More employees are questioning the idea that professionalism means being endlessly available or proving commitment through inconvenience. While employers want enthusiastic candidates, many workers believe mutual respect should start long before the first day on the job. After all, if a company struggles with reasonable boundaries during the hiring process, people naturally wonder what happens after they are on the payroll.

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  • 01
    Professional interview meeting between a recruiter and a job applicant.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Hiring manager speaks with a candidate during a formal job interview.

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

  • 02
    I've been interviewing for a new role while still working full time, which I figured was pretty normal and something recruiters deal with constantly. The process with this company had already dragged on for almost a month. Phone screen, two Zoom interviews, personality assessment, the usual circus.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 03
    Last week the recruiter emailed saying the hiring manager wanted a final interview "ASAP" and sent me a calendar invite for 1:30 PM on a Tuesday. Problem is, I work onsite and that's literally during the busiest part of my day. I replied within like 15 minutes apologizing and asked if there was any availability before 9 AM, after 5 PM, or even during lunch.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 04
    The hiring manager responded directly instead of the recruiter and said: "We're really looking for candidates who are excited enough about the opportunity to prioritize it appropriately."
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 05
    That immediately rubbed me the wrong way because... what does that even mean? Am I supposed to walk out of my current job in the middle of the afternoon and risk over my team for a company I don't even work for yet?
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 06
    I tried staying professional and explained that I'm still employed full time and just needed a little flexibility. He replied with "That makes sense. We just value dedication here."
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 07
    At that point the entire thing started feeling like some weird loyalty test. Especially because if they already expect people to sacrifice their existing responsibilities BEFORE even getting hired, I can only imagine what actually working there is like.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 08
    I ended up withdrawing my application. Funny enough the recruiter emailed me two days later asking if I'd reconsider because the team was "very impressed" with my background lol
    via bookmarkcollector

  • The story quickly gained attention in r/jobsearchhacks, where readers debated whether the hiring manager's comments were a harmless attempt to gauge enthusiasm or a major warning sign about company culture. As more people weighed in, many shared similar experiences, while others pointed to the response received by u/bookmarkcollector as exactly the kind of red flag job seekers should take seriously.

  • 09
    T4whereareyou If they were seriously impressed, they would have some flexibility.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 10
    Throw Away4now2022 "And I'm looking for a company that appreciates commitment to the job at hand..."
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 11
    Job applicant discusses career opportunities during an in-person interview.
    via Unsplash+ (via Mina Rad)

    Candidate participates in a professional job interview with a hiring manager.

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

  • 12
    jimmychitwood317 Good for you. I would have done the same thing. That was a shoddy move by the hiring manager.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 13
    jonkl91 As a recruiter, a good hiring manager will make time for candidates they want. The hiring manager is already showing red flags. You did the right thing.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 14
    slapbumpnroll Sounds like a corporate culture you might not want to join.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 15
    IncidentalApex Dedication apparently means over your current company for the chance at another job. Don't blame you for withdrawing.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 16
    SyphiliticScaliaSayz When recruiters schedule phone screens or interviews during work hours, I get it, that's when they are working. ~But so am I.~ If they get a snippy when I stand firm on "after 4 when I'm done for the day" I say no thanks. I'm not slicing into my day and wasting PTO for a maybe or to be lowballed.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 17
    EuphoricShopping6601 I think you dodged a bullet here...they can be flexible on timing. It'll be interesting to see if an "opening" suddenly comes up next week for you.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 18
    poliosaurus3000 Yeah, I'd nope the f out. It's likely to see how much they can ab e you, and I wouldn't count on an offer even if you did this interview. It's 1 of two things, 1. like you said, a weird loyalty test. 2. they need someone quickly because of poor planning. Either way, do you really want to deal with that?
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 19
    Hiring manager welcomes a new employee following the hiring process.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Candidate and recruiter shake hands after a successful job interview.

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

  • 20
    Mkheir01 A potential employer that wants you to screw over your current employer is one that expects loyalty to them and to nobody else. These companies are always the ones to say "we're like a family here!" expecting you to bend over backwards and sacrifice your personal life for them. Good on you for running away from that.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 21
    kajeyn I would respond that you were showing commitment...to your current employer, just like you will show them commitment when THEY are your employer.
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 22
    jitnyc Funny cause if you were unemployed with a free schedule, they wouldn't have bothered at all. Everything today is all bs
    via bookmarkcollector
  • 23
    Prudent-Poetry-2718 I had a recruiter twice try to schedule an interview during a time/day I specifically said I was not available. I withdrew my application. If they're already disrespecting my time, I'm not interested.
    via bookmarkcollector

  • Many commenters ultimately felt the candidate made the right call by walking away. While interview scheduling conflicts happen all the time, readers argued that the response itself revealed far more than the request ever could. For many in the discussion, professionalism, flexibility, and respect should be mutual long before a new employee ever signs an offer letter.

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hiring manager job candidate job interview entitled people
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