A Reddit post has sparked debate over unusual reasons some hiring managers might reject job candidates, according to a user whose cousin works in recruitment for a large company. The post revealed that certain candidates are being turned away not for their qualifications or experience, but for reasons like being "overly confident" or even "too attractive," which the post claimed could be distractions in the workplace. Other unconventional reasons included improper interview attire, smiling too much, or appearing overly eager during the interview.
In addition to these reasons, the post detailed that small etiquette mistakes, such as a weak handshake or failing to ask insightful questions, could cost candidates the job. The Reddit user expressed surprise, writing, "I was surprised by this, as some of these factors are beyond a candidate's control… I respectfully disagree with my cousin's views. As someone currently navigating the challenges of job recruitment, I find her beliefs to be misguided."
The post triggered a wave of responses from other Reddit users, many of whom were critical of these hiring practices. "How unprofessional do you have to be to justify your hiring decisions based on physical attributes like attractiveness or smiling?" one user asked. "At this point, HR is hiring solely on 'vibes' because none of those reasons are related to qualifications."
Reasons why some candidates don’t get hired byu/Significant-Buy-4496 inrecruitinghell
Another user pointed out that traits like confidence and smiling are vital in certain industries. "Being 'Overly Confident' and 'Smiling Too Much' are both traits required in business development/client-facing roles… I would say these two are required in some industries," they said.
Other commenters shared their own experiences with seemingly arbitrary rejection reasons, such as age, nervousness, making off-colour remarks, or not fitting in with the team. "Some of these are ignorant, and some are just downright absurd. Not employing someone due to involuntary physiological responses in a stressful situation (sweating and turning red) only demonstrates the hiring manager's immaturity and toxic work culture," wrote one commenter.