Company rescinds job offer after a 3-month interview process when employee asks who their manager would be

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 29, 2026 10:00 AM EDT

Is it a crime to ask too many questions?

The job interview process is famously not an easy thing to go through. Any job that's worth having is going to make it at least a little bit difficult to work there. The process might be long and drawn out, as you're both getting to know each other and finding out if it's the right fit. There is a lot that can go wrong in this process, on both sides. It's frustrating, though, to invest in something and not see any return. It takes a lot to put your life in a holding pattern while you're looking for work, and you don't want to lose out on something that you've spent months investing in. This happens all the time when looking for jobs, though, and it's exactly what happened to this worker, who had an interesting interview process. 

This person rightfully had a lot of expectations about what they wanted out of a job. They wanted to make sure they didn't end up in a situation where they were going to be taken advantage of, so they were doing their due diligence when it came to the job search. They wanted to know just what their employment at this place was going to look like, and leave no stone unturned when it came to asking questions. 

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  • A woman reviews a resume in her hands
    via Resume Genius

    Model portrayal.


    A woman reviews a resume in her hands

  • Rescinded a job offer after I asked who my manager would be (after 3 months of interviewing).

    I just had a job offer pulled for the sheer audacity of asking about reporting structure. After putting me through a 3 month interview process, they nickel and dimed the compensation three separate times - slashing the base and cutting the bonus twice, which gutted the overall package by $30,000.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • The only reason I was even considering accepting such a massive pay cut after 3 months of jumping through hoops, is because I was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer, right on the heels of taking a year off to battle breast cancer. I honestly think they knew my situation and assumed they could take advantage of a vulnerable candidate with an employment gap.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • On top of the pay cuts, the Chief of Staff was already throwing up red flags during interviews, including casually bad mouthing a current assistant she wanted to fire and several people dropping the person that was formerly in this position did not get along with her.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • When the offer letter finally arrived, I sent a brief, polite email to HR asking for clarification on the reporting structure, specifically whether day to day management, PTO approvals, and performance reviews fell under the Chief of Staff or the Executive.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • HR responded to withdraw the offer entirely, claiming my question about reporting structure "gave them concern." Translation: They spent 3 months dragging me along, thought they had someone they could exploit
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • and micro-manage, and the second I asked a basic professional question, they panicked. Which by the way, I had to turn down two other offers waiting on this one and they offered me much less than what I initially agreed to interview at.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • Huge bullet dodged. Know your worth and never let a company weaponize your gap or health history against you.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • A woman signs documents on a table
    via Gabrielle Henderson

    A woman signs documents on a table 

  • Asking questions is always a good thing. It comes from a curiosity of spirit, and it makes people reflect on what they're saying. When you're interviewing for a job, it's essential to ask questions. It not only shows that you're interested and invested, but it lets you in on what working there might look like. This is an incredibly important part of the process. But is there such a thing as too many questions? The company in this story seemed to think so, or at least that there were certain questions that raised red flags. Keep reading to see what happened here and let us know your thoughts.

  • Commenters gave their ideas about what happened.

    Cultural-Answer-321 They were never serious.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • NoRegrets-518 They might have wanted you to quit as your high medical bills would make their insurance go up.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • jodrellbank_pants 3 months!!! Id have ignored it after a month, there is no job worth interviewing for 3 interviews nevermind 3 months. You don't know my abilities after 2 interviews your not a good fit for me and you'll
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • obviously be a nightmare to work for because you have zero management skills, at best your interview team is useless and not worth the effort. What's next a colonoscopy?. Interviews are not a one way street, they tell you an awful lot about the company you're applying to join.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • Just the body language. alone is sometimes enough to put me off a company.
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • Temporary_Client7585 Better off not being there, they're flakey as h I. Sorry you're dealing with cancer again! I've had thyroid cancer twice (I'm an anomaly) and the treatment is pretty easy for the most part. Feel free to DM if you have questions on the process. Good luck!
    via Relevant_Ideal2359
  • KidenStormsoarer huh...wonder if that's enough to fall under promissory estoppel
    via Relevant_Ideal2359

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job coworkers working toxic-boss workplace bad bosses toxic-work-environment
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