Candidate during live interview with manager gets rejection text from HR. What went wrong?

Recruitment processes are often a delicate balance of timing, communication, and professionalism. Yet, a recent incident has highlighted how missteps in candidate interactions can create frustration. One job applicant experienced a situation that many consider unprecedented: receiving a rejection email while actively participating in a live interview.

The candidate revealed in a Reddit post that during a Teams interview with a hiring manager, the applicant received an Outlook notification from the recruiter stating that the company had decided to move forward with other candidates.

Although the candidate had passed the initial stages of the hiring process, the timing of the rejection felt disrespectful and insulting, especially as the hiring manager actively engaged in conversation. The applicant acknowledged being slightly underqualified for the role but emphasized that the abrupt rejection was particularly disheartening.


Immediate Reaction and Candidate Response
Feeling the need to address the situation, the candidate informed the hiring manager during the interview that sending a rejection at that moment was inappropriate and undermined the fairness of the process. The move was described as highly disrespectful to any applicant, highlighting the importance of professional courtesy in recruitment.

Online Reactions
The incident quickly drew attention on Reddit, where users expressed shock and disapproval. Several commenters noted that the company’s poor handling of communications suggested organizational issues, while others encouraged the applicant to see the experience as a warning sign about the workplace culture. Some speculated that the email may have been sent by mistake or was a result of automated processes, while others suggested the interview might have been conducted purely as a formality despite another candidate already being favored.


Several Reddit users praised the candidate for addressing the situation in real time, noting that the assertiveness was justified.

This incident underscores that a candidate’s experience during recruitment can strongly influence perceptions of a company.