u/DryProduce2953

I have experienced some of the worst and most unethical hiring practices in recent years.

(1) I passed the screening call and had an interview scheduled. Then, right before the interview, I was told the company had decided to move forward with an internal candidate.

My question is simple: if an internal candidate was already being seriously considered, why was I moved forward in the process? Why was my time taken without giving me a fair chance?

(2) I completed multiple rounds of interviews, only to be told later that the position had been cancelled.

Candidates invest time, energy, preparation, and emotional effort into these interviews. Cancelling a role after multiple rounds shows poor planning and a lack of respect for candidates

(3) An interviewer simply did not show up for the interview.

The interview was never rescheduled. No apology was given. No update was provided. That is not just unprofessional. It is disrespectful.

(4) After passing the interviews, I was told the company had downgraded the position and salary. Even after I verbally accepted the offer, the promised compensation was reduced before the written offer was issued. Then, after joining the company, I realized the actual role and designation were completely different from what I had applied for, interviewed for, and agreed to. This happened at a multinational giant, which makes it even more disappointing. A company of that size should know better than to mislead candidates.

(5) In another situation, new or expired roles were opened only for me to apply, just so the company could generate an offer letter.

That made the entire hiring process feel like a formality rather than a transparent and honest process.

Overall, these experiences show how broken and unfair hiring practices can be. Companies expect candidates to be professional, prepared, flexible, and patient, but too often they fail to show the same level of respect in return. Candidates are not just resume profiles or interview slots. They are people with careers, responsibilities, families, financial pressures, and real lives affected by these decisions.

Over the past few years, my career has gone through many ups and downs. I have searched for jobs for different reasons at different times. Sometimes it was to find a second job, sometimes to make a career move, and sometimes out of real necessity.

Recently, I have noticed something unusual and frustrating. During hiring processes at different companies, I have been told multiple times that delays happened because the recruiter or hiring manager was on vacation.

I understand that people take time off. That is normal. But hiring processes usually follow timelines, and candidates are expected to remain available, responsive, and patient throughout the process. If someone involved in the decision-making process already has a planned vacation, why is the responsibility not handed over to another person? Why is there no backup plan?

From the candidate’s side, these delays can create stress, uncertainty, and sometimes real financial pressure. So when companies repeatedly use vacation as the reason for delays, it raises a fair question: is that really the reason, or is it just a convenient excuse?