Techie who took leave for job interview, gets into trouble: ‘Manager angry, feeling stressed…’

A professional recently shared his ordeal on the Reddit community Developers India, describing the mental strain of pursuing new employment opportunities while still holding a full-time position. In a post titled about taking time off for an interview, confusion from HR, and an upset supervisor, he explained how the situation spiraled into anxiety.

The individual mentioned that he is currently employed on a full-time basis but has been attempting to change companies. Roughly a week earlier, he had completed the initial stage of an interview process and was informed that he had progressed to the next round. The following evening, a representative from the company’s human resources team contacted him and arranged the second round for the next day at 4:30 PM, to be conducted virtually. To attend the meeting without disruption, he applied for leave from his present job. However, he had already used leave the previous week for a different interview, which had irritated his reporting manager.

From early morning onward, he repeatedly requested the meeting link required to join the virtual discussion. At first, the HR team assured him that the link would be shared once they arrived at their workplace. Later, they conveyed that there had been a mix-up because several applicants had identical names and asked him to remain patient while they sorted it out.


As the scheduled time approached, he still had not received any joining details. He described sitting anxiously, feeling increasingly pressured. His manager had already cautioned him about taking frequent time off, adding to his stress. The uncertainty and lack of communication left him feeling mentally overwhelmed, prompting him to ask the online community whether others had experienced similar challenges during job transitions.

Members of the forum quickly responded with practical advice. One user recommended opting for remote work on interview days if possible, reserving a private meeting space at the office, or stepping into quieter areas such as a cafeteria or parking zone to attend calls discreetly. The commenter added that they had completed numerous interviews from their workplace without formally requesting leave.

Another participant suggested choosing work-from-home options, reporting sick when necessary, and avoiding official leave unless the interview round demanded extensive same-day preparation. They also pointed out that many cafés offer suitable environments for working temporarily outside the office.