Rejected after five interviews, job seeker watches 'dream company' repost the same 'senior role' every week - Reddit says it may not be over yet

Few career setbacks sting more than making it to the final interview only to hear "no." But what happens when the very job you were rejected from keeps showing up on LinkedIn week after week? Does it mean the company still hasn't found the right candidate, or is it simply how modern recruiting works?

That question recently sparked a lively discussion on Reddit after one job seeker asked whether they should try to get back into the running for what they described as their "dream company."

Rejected after the final interview, but the position never seemed to disappear

The Reddit user explained that they had advanced through five rounds of interviews for a senior-level role before ultimately being rejected following a culture-fit assessment.

Despite the disappointment, they said the experience remained positive. "Strong feedback throughout, and even the rejection was kind and specific, so no hard feelings there." What puzzled the applicant, however, was what happened next.

According to the post, the same position continued appearing on LinkedIn almost every week after the rejection. Because the role was based in a less desirable location, the user wondered if the company was struggling to find the right candidate.

That led to one question, "Would it be reasonable to reach out to the recruiter... and ask to be reconsidered since the role is still open? Or does reapplying so soon after a rejection just come across as not taking the hint?"

The feedback wasn't about technical skills

In the comments, the applicant revealed that the company had not questioned their qualifications. Instead, the feedback focused on how they communicated at a senior level. "They said my skillset is fine but it's how I present my ideas as a senior."

That detail became central to much of the discussion, with many Redditors arguing the feedback was actually valuable because it pointed to something that could be improved. One commenter encouraged the applicant to act on it rather than simply reapply.

"You could reach out and say that you have taken the feedback seriously and have worked to incorporate it into your professional life." Another added, "Taking a class/course on this and showing them you are improving... then reach out to them."

Others suggested working on executive communication, public speaking or storytelling before trying again.

Redditors shared stories of getting hired after being rejected

Many responses came from people who said a rejection did not permanently close the door. One Redditor recalled interviewing for a small business, missing out on the role, then seeing the same vacancy appear months later. "I decided to call the manager first. He scheduled another interview right away and I got the job!"

Another user said they reapplied to the same company years later after gaining the experience they had previously lacked. "They remembered my name... they were impressed I had gotten more experience... and I got the job."

Others described similar experiences, saying hiring managers remembered previous interviews and appreciated candidates who demonstrated growth instead of simply submitting the same application again.

Others warned against pushing too soon

Some Reddit users believed contacting the company again immediately after rejection could hurt rather than help. One commenter wrote, "If you've got the contacts... try reaching directly out to them," while another took the opposite view, saying, "Move on, you look desperate reaching out after rejection."

Several users suggested waiting until enough time had passed to demonstrate meaningful growth before applying again. Others argued that if the company truly wanted the candidate, it likely would have reached back out first.

The applicant ultimately decided to move forward

After reading hundreds of responses, the original poster returned with an update. They said they had sent the recruiter "one short, no-pressure note" expressing continued interest while also focusing on improving based on the feedback and applying elsewhere.

The applicant added that one comment about their communication style "stung a little" but ultimately proved to be the most useful advice they received.

For many readers, the story raised a question that extends well beyond a single job application: when a company says no but the opportunity refuses to disappear, is it a second chance waiting to happen or simply a sign that it's time to look elsewhere?