'Still can't process what just happened': Candidate left stunned after startup interview ended in just five minutes, sparks debate

Job interviews can be stressful, but most candidates expect at least a few questions about their background, projects or work experience. One job seeker was left shocked after an interview with a startup reportedly ended within five minutes.

Sharing the experience on Reddit, the candidate said the interviewer skipped the usual introductions and jumped straight into a technical question.

The abrupt ending left the applicant wondering what had gone wrong.


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‘I still can’t process what just happened’

In the now-viral post, the Reddit user explained that they had prepared for the interview and even had open-source contributions to discuss.

However, none of that came up during the conversation.

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"So, I gave an interview to a startup. He didn’t asked about me, or anything related to projects or experiences (I have open source contributions)."

Instead, the interviewer reportedly focused on a single coding-related question.

"He straight way asked one question, I explained him that (coding interview) & after that he said, ‘No according to me, you’re not the candidate we were looking for!’"

The candidate was caught completely off guard.

"I still can’t believe about how fast it ended."

According to the post, the meeting was wrapped up almost immediately after the answer was given.

"He straight way ended the meet & I can’t process that, like what just happened."

Reddit users say the candidate may have avoided a bad workplace

The post quickly attracted responses from other professionals who shared their own perspectives on the experience.

Many commenters argued that the short interview may actually have saved the candidate time.

One user wrote:

"You probably dodged a bullet. Take it positively, that startup wasn’t meant for you."

Others felt the interviewer's directness, while harsh, was preferable to a lengthy process that ultimately led nowhere.

"Really, I think that's fine. He wanted something and you weren't that. Didn't waste your time further. Doesn't make you a worse candidate, just not what he was looking for."

Another commenter added:

"Better than larping back n forth for 2 hours and then ghosting."

Some users questioned the hiring process

While several people appreciated the quick decision, others were critical of the interview approach.

Some felt that judging a candidate based on a single question fails to provide a complete picture of their abilities.

The original poster noted that their projects, experience and open-source work were never discussed.

This led some Redditors to question whether the company had already formed an opinion before the interview began.

A few users even suggested that certain startups conduct interviews for reasons other than genuine hiring.

One commenter claimed: "Startups posting fake openings to increase their followers and company visibility, I faced this kinda interviews too."

There is no evidence that this was the case in the interview discussed on Reddit, but the comment reflected a frustration that some job seekers say they have experienced during their job searches.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.