A job seeker received a harsh rejection email from a CEO after applying for a consultant position, which many perceived as “rude” and “unprofessional.” The applicant, who lacked a Master’s degree, claimed the requirement wasn’t mentioned in the job posting. In the CEO’s response, he criticized the applicant for submitting an “irrelevant” application and failing to do basic research. This interaction, which occurred within 12 hours, took place directly via email, as the company lacks an HR department. The CEO’s tone sparked outrage and discussions about workplace conduct, with some suggesting the candidate should share his experience publicly.
A job seeker was taken aback after receiving a blunt rejection email from a CEO, which many people considered “rude” and “unprofessional.” In a Reddit post, the candidate shared that he had applied for a consulting position, but the CEO responded by labeling the application as “irrelevant” and reprimanding the applicant for “wasting” their time. The reason behind the rejection? The candidate did not possess a Master’s degree, which was a prerequisite for the role.
“I applied for a consulting position directly via email to the CEO — as instructed in the job listing. This was the response I received after he inquired about whether I was currently a Master’s student. The requirement for a full-time occupation or the need for an MSc degree was not mentioned in the job description at all,” the post stated. The job applicant received a reply to his application, but it was far from the courteous rejection letter he had anticipated.
The email stated, “Your failure to conduct even minimal research and your decision to waste my time with an irrelevant application clearly indicates that you are not a suitable fit for any role.”
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Was told I wasted a hiring managers time for rejecting a job offer
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The applicant further disclosed that the company did not have an HR department, and his entire interaction with the CEO occurred within a 12-hour span. He noted that while rejection is a common part of job searching, the CEO’s response was unsettling.
“They don’t even have an HR department or an application portal, since the way of applying was to send my application directly to him (who is the CEO of this company) via email. He asked whether I’m still a Master’s student — which he could’ve easily verified in my CV in seconds — and after I clarified, he replied in this manner. The whole communication transpired within 12 hours. I’m not upset about the rejection, as that’s part of the job-hunting process, but this response is a major red flag,” the user remarked.
The CEO’s email ignited outrage, with many labeling it “rude and unprofessional.” Some even suggested “naming and shaming” the company, while others shared their own unpleasant experiences with job rejections.
One user commented, “Reply back that a company with a CEO taking time out of their ‘busy’ day to write nasty rejection emails isn’t worth working for.” Another added, “Following that with ‘Kind regards’ is absurd. I hope you leave a Glassdoor review and include this as a screenshot if you can.”
A third individual stated, “As a recruiter, I find this behavior appalling. The best aspect of my job is human interaction; I would never send such a response. Please don’t assume we are all like this.”