A hiring executive’s curt and dismissive response pushed a frustrated job seeker to publicly share his experience on the subreddit Indian Workplace. The candidate uploaded screenshots of a WhatsApp exchange that quickly caught attention online. In the conversation, he declined to disclose his existing pay package and instead stated that he was looking for a monthly compensation between Rs 26,000 and Rs 29,000. The recruiter then informed him that the role offered a fixed salary of Rs 25,000 per month.
After the applicant clarified his expected pay range, the HR representative responded in a belittling manner, implying that he did not possess the capability or merit to justify such remuneration and that the company preferred candidates who better matched their standards. The tone of the message struck many as condescending and inappropriate.
Offended by the remark, the job seeker called out the recruiter for crossing professional boundaries and urged them to remain within acceptable limits while communicating with applicants. His decision to post the exchange online sparked widespread reactions from users across the platform.
The thread gained significant traction, with many commenters expressing outrage over the recruiter’s behavior. One user shared frustration over the broader employment climate, pointing out how numerous qualified individuals are struggling to secure stable work and are on the brink of taking up delivery or gig jobs to survive. According to the commenter, incompetence and arrogance in hiring processes only deepen the despair of capable professionals.
Another contributor narrated a personal anecdote involving his sister, who had briefly worked as an HR executive at a questionable organization while still in her first year of college. Despite her confidence and communication skills, she resigned within a month after discovering that even interns were not being compensated. The company allegedly rebranded itself later to avoid backlash from students who had publicly criticized its failure to pay employees for months. The commenter concluded that such poorly managed firms often appoint underqualified individuals to HR roles, resulting in unprofessional interactions not only with staff but also with prospective candidates.
After the applicant clarified his expected pay range, the HR representative responded in a belittling manner, implying that he did not possess the capability or merit to justify such remuneration and that the company preferred candidates who better matched their standards. The tone of the message struck many as condescending and inappropriate.
Offended by the remark, the job seeker called out the recruiter for crossing professional boundaries and urged them to remain within acceptable limits while communicating with applicants. His decision to post the exchange online sparked widespread reactions from users across the platform.
The thread gained significant traction, with many commenters expressing outrage over the recruiter’s behavior. One user shared frustration over the broader employment climate, pointing out how numerous qualified individuals are struggling to secure stable work and are on the brink of taking up delivery or gig jobs to survive. According to the commenter, incompetence and arrogance in hiring processes only deepen the despair of capable professionals.
Another contributor narrated a personal anecdote involving his sister, who had briefly worked as an HR executive at a questionable organization while still in her first year of college. Despite her confidence and communication skills, she resigned within a month after discovering that even interns were not being compensated. The company allegedly rebranded itself later to avoid backlash from students who had publicly criticized its failure to pay employees for months. The commenter concluded that such poorly managed firms often appoint underqualified individuals to HR roles, resulting in unprofessional interactions not only with staff but also with prospective candidates.
