BTech graduate gets a job offer. But one question cost him the job and also got him kicked out of college placement

A young engineering graduate with a BTech degree believed he had successfully secured his first job through his college’s campus recruitment process. The opportunity came from a local firm that participated in on-campus hiring, and everything initially appeared to be in order. However, a single clarification request ultimately resulted in the loss of the offer and led to his exclusion from all future placement activities at his institution.

The incident was shared on the Developers India subreddit by a Reddit user who described the situation involving a close friend. According to the post, the student had been selected during the campus placement drive, where the job listing clearly stated an annual salary package of 3.5 lakh rupees. When the official appointment letter arrived, the compensation mentioned was reduced to 3 lakh rupees per annum. Unsure whether this was an error or a revision, the student sought guidance from a senior professional who was already employed at the same organisation.

The senior advised him to draft a respectful email to the company’s human resources department, requesting clarification about the difference in the salary figures. To ensure openness, he was also advised to include relevant stakeholders in the email chain. Acting on this suggestion, the student sent the email on December 24.


What followed was unexpected and unsettling. Within a few hours, a representative from the company contacted him and bluntly stated that the organisation had not originally intended to hire him and had extended the offer only because of its association with the college. The situation quickly escalated. His joining date was scheduled for January 1, and he had already arranged travel from his hometown in preparation.

On December 30, just days before the start date, the college placement office informed him that the company had withdrawn the offer. The explanation provided was that he should have approached the placement cell before communicating directly with the employer. The company further justified its decision by claiming it could not accept what it described as unprofessional conduct.

The consequences did not stop there. The student was also barred from participating in any further placement drives conducted by the college. This severe action sparked debate online, with many questioning whether merely asking about a salary discrepancy warranted such a response.

Several Reddit users expressed strong support for the student. One commenter noted that seeking clarification about reduced pay is entirely reasonable and blamed corporate ego and institutional power dynamics. Another pointed out that while involving the placement cell might have been wiser, the punishment was excessive and possibly saved the student from joining a toxic work environment.