Job seeker gets rejected even after acing four rounds of interviews: ‘No matter what…’

Lengthy recruitment procedures can seriously stretch a candidate’s patience, and one Reddit user recently shared a frustrating experience that resonated with many job seekers online. The individual revealed that after clearing four separate interview stages, they ultimately received a rejection email instead of an offer. The story was posted on the subreddit Recruiting Hell, a forum known for highlighting the darker side of hiring practices.

According to the post, the organisation was in the process of shifting to a new internal system and was actively searching for someone whose background almost perfectly mirrored the role’s requirements. The candidate explained that their own professional experience closely matched what the company needed, which made the prolonged process seem promising from the start. After each interview round, the communication from the employer appeared highly encouraging, creating the strong impression that the position was already within reach.

The final stage involved a conversation with the company’s chief executive officer. During this interaction, the CEO reportedly mentioned that no applicant had ever progressed beyond the first round before, making the candidate’s advancement feel even more significant. Rather than being a traditional assessment, the discussion largely focused on outlining the responsibilities of the role and what the candidate’s day-to-day work would involve. This further reinforced the belief that the hiring decision had practically been made.


Following the interview, the candidate sent a polite thank-you email, expressing appreciation for the opportunity. The response they received was filled with enthusiastic and flattering remarks, which only strengthened their confidence about securing the job. At that point, there seemed to be little reason to expect a negative outcome.

Despite all the positive signals, a rejection message arrived shortly afterward. The recruiter explained that the company had chosen another applicant who possessed marginally more experience. The message also noted that the Reddit user had performed exceptionally well throughout the process and was considered the second choice for the position. While meant to soften the blow, this explanation added to the disappointment.

The post quickly gained attention, prompting an outpouring of reactions from other Reddit users. Many expressed empathy, sharing their own unsettling experiences with unpredictable hiring decisions. Some commenters felt that labelling someone as a runner-up after such an extensive process was unnecessary and insensitive. Others recounted even harsher situations, including relocating for a job only to be laid off weeks later or arriving on the first day of work only to be told there had been an internal mistake.