Company puts candidate through 9 interviews and a take-home assignment for a $120K-$160K job, then claims the salary was an "error" and offers $95K: ‘That number is insulting’

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Aug 12, 2026 2:30 PM EDT

Nine interviews should lead to a job offer, not a surprise salary rewrite.

Imagine clearing interview after interview, completing a major take-home assignment, and meeting roughly 25 people, only to discover the job you applied for apparently never existed as advertised. This candidate stuck through nine rounds for a role listed at $120K-$160K. After postponing the decision three times, the recruiter finally called with an "error": the real ceiling was just $95K.

We all know that the job market is crazy, and getting a well-paying job nowadays seems like the most impossible thing ever. Companies know there're a lot of candidates out there, and not only take the time they need while assessing them, but they also play around with salary rates and benefits they can offer. This leaves every single interested candidate disappointed and very angry.

This exact thing happened to this OP, who decided that nine interviews with a potential company were going to get him a secure offer for sure. This position was not only right up his alley, but the salary rate was insane, and he was more than eager to land the job. However, things took and expected turn when, after the longest recruitment process ever, HR told him that the original $120K-$160K rate was going to be around $95K.

As we can all imagine, the candidate was absolutely angry and devastated, and confirmed how extreme the job market is right now. In other times, when people had more options as to where to find employment, companies were more respectful with time and were not as playful as they are now. We hope that this person can finally find a job that is willing to pay him what he deserves, and that he doesn't have to go through this process again without any more disappointment.

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  • Frustrated job candidate at his laptop after learning the advertised salary range was changed at the end of the hiring process.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Frustrated job candidate at his laptop after learning the advertised salary range was changed at the end of the hiring process.

    Licensed media provided as editorial context.

  • I just got off a call with a recruiter and honestly, I'm still furious. I went through an exhausting 9- step interview process with this company. A large take-home assignment, hours of preparation
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • before each call, and several panel interviews that were 75 minutes each. In the end, I'm pretty sure I spoke with around 25 people.
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • The pay range in the posting was $120k to $160k. The process was messy from very early on. Around the fifth interview, they kept telling me I was in the "last step,"
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • and then, magically, another call would appear that same week. I already have a job, so I didn't have to do this, and that's probably the only reason I was able to put up with all of it for this long.
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • After I did everything they asked for, they dragged out the decision and postponed it 3 separate times. This morning, they finally called me. The
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • recruiter said there had been an "error" in the job listing and that the highest they could go was $95k.
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • That number is insulting given my experience, especially since I match all the "required" skills and most of the "nice to haves" they had listed. Honestly, I'm shocked
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • by the audacity. How are companies allowed to waste people's time like this with no consequences?
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • Job candidate meeting with a recruiter after completing multiple interviews and a lengthy hiring process.
    via Unsplash+ (via Mina Rad)

    Job candidate meeting with a recruiter after completing multiple interviews and a lengthy hiring process.

    Picture does not depict real parties.

  • In situations like this, where employees or candidates were disrespected by employers (or recruiters), Redditors get very offended and want to know the name of the company so they know what to avoid in the future. Of course, that's not the point of wanting to share a story. They also explain that companies behave this way because they know people accept offers like this.

  • my_peen_is_clean nine rounds for a bait and switch pay range is nuts, that's not a typo, that's a strategy they keep stringing people along hoping someone's too tired to say no respect for walking away anyway it's insanely hard to find decent offers now
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • Glum_Cheesecake9859 Bait and switch. I would tell them to go f themselves
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • tonkatruckz369 If i was to bet on it i would guess that they did this whole thing on purpose in hopes you would be too invested/desperate to turn them down on the reduction of wage. There really do need to be laws put in place to reign in this kind of behavior from companies.
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • elciddog84 They do it because people accept the offers. Once folks quit letting themselves be strung along for i sulting offers, they'll have to change tactics. Wondering if they'll counter when you tell them to go f*@k themselves.
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • Money-Tiger8002 Tell him GFY and block. Name and shame.
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • madhandgames And yet youre not going to tell us the name of the company....
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • Infamous-Yard2335 Get an Orientation day and go through the onboarding, than when they give you a start day pull tell them you want a salary of 150k or you are walking
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • Job candidate feeling frustrated after spending weeks navigating an exhausting nine-step interview process.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Job candidate feeling frustrated after spending weeks navigating an exhausting nine-step interview process.

    Scene shown is a visual representation.

  • rm_MassA I would send an invoice for all the wasted time. And definetely blast them with all those people from your Interviews in Copy. They should known their time of being wasted by incompetent recruiters.
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • asher030 Reply with "Oh that's fine, I'll take the part-time position for $95k. Will mean I'll have to work elsewhere as well to make ends meet but at least that means this company gets my services as well as the schedules will allow. Now once they up to $150k, I'll be able to drop the other and go fulltime, so just let me know when to start" f with em a lil :P
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • WelshLove the wanted free work out of you never do that, if they insist explain to them your freelance rate this will soon sort out the wheat from the chaff, Also early in the process email and confirm the pay range if not replay be a ghost f that sh
    via Front_Astronomer9983
  • avd706 Tell them you'll get back to them, and keep stalling.
    via Front_Astronomer9983

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job market job candidate salary rate job interview
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