"Not Desperate": Career Coach Turns Down Employer, Cites HR’s Bad Behaviour During Interview
- A career coach went viral after rejecting a job offer, citing the HR manager’s late arrival and condescending tone during her interview
- She shared her experience, detailing how the HR manager accused her of using AI on her résumé and how she stood her ground
- Alongside her post, she posted a screenshot of the rejection email she sent, explaining why she would not join the company
A Nigerian career coach has gone viral after she sent a rejection mail to an employer when the HR manager, who was supposed to interview her, arrived 10 minutes late and spoke to her in a condescending manner.
She shared a detailed story online, adding a screenshot of the email she sent to the company to show she would not be moving forward with them because of her experience and the way the interview was handled.
Source: Twitter
Nigerian woman goes viral for turning down job
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The lady, identified on social media as @thetechychef, sparked massive reactions after narrating the incident on X (formerly Twitter), with many people also sharing similar experiences.
According to her, she went for an interview, and before the scheduled time, she noticed that the HR arrived about 10 minutes late.
To make matters worse, he allegedly accused her of using AI to draft her résumé.
Her statement:
“I had an interview today.
"HR: ‘Your résumé is filled with AI.’
"Me: ‘Your CEO has AI all over her LinkedIn post with emojis everywhere.’"
She explained how she responded to the HR’s remarks during the interview.
She continued:
“This was after he arrived 10 mins late to the interview and started sounding condescending.
"An interview is a conversation! I’m also assessing you, so if you act crazy, I will withdraw my application.”
Source: Twitter
She concluded her post by stating firmly:
“Over here, we’re not desperate!
Alongside the post, she shared the screenshot of the rejection email she sent to the company. It read in part:
“Hello Hiring Manager,
"Thank you for taking the time to interview me for the Career Coach position. After careful consideration, I’ve decided not to move forward with your company.
"There are two key reasons for this decision.
"First, the interview began later than scheduled, which gave me concerns about time management and respect for candidates’ schedules.
"Second, during the conversation, I found Mr. James’ tone to be condescending, which left me with doubts about the culture and communication style within the team.
"I value professionalism, mutual respect, and a collaborative environment, and unfortunately, my experience during the interview did not reflect these values.
"For this reason, I will be withdrawing my application.
"Thank you once again for the opportunity, and I wish your team success moving forward.”
Her statement immediately went viral, with many netizens flooding the comments to share their thoughts.
Reactions as career coach rejects company
@akdesign_s wrote:
"Aura for aura. No time!"
@Oluwapelumi_SMM said:
"While I was job hunting 2 months ago, I got a role and the first team meeting was terrible, everyone was condensing towards each other, I left the call and sent my resignation letter the same evening with no plan on the next job."
@Kaothaj added:
"I just learnt something. I'm having a physical interview for the role of a social media intern; what could be done online. And I will make sure I carry myself very well. It's just an internship."
@nextlevel71 said:
"That might've been your opportunity to prove how useful AI is in the Job role the potential impact it has, if fully harnessed."
@KnawtieGbedu wrote:
"Typical me. A few years ago, I got a bank teller job and turned it down, even though I had no other job in sight. Some people in superior positions feel like they own you once you start working for them. Oga move!"
@Sir_Adeeyy added:
"This is how you know people who take their career and work life seriously. I love that you respect your work ethics- no Job is worth being disrespected over.'
@Pretttyebi shared:
"One time, the interviewer told me in quote “if not for your certification we won’t be having this conversation” because I asked for the pay, after telling me the salary, I replied him that if I saw that salary he won’t see my CV.'
@RhoKinaseMD said:
"Good job This is what some recruiters fail to realise: an interview is also an opportunity for the candidate to assess whether the company would be a good fit for their own career progression, work-life balance, etc."
In a follow-up to her viral rejection email story, Legit.ng reached out to Nigerian career coach and remote work advocate, @thetechychef, to gain further insight into her perspective on job interviews, self-worth, and workplace standards.
When asked how she felt after sending the email to the company, she said:
"This is an interesting question. As a leader and coach who knows her worth and the value I can offer, I go into any interview or meeting with nothing to lose. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, so if our values don’t align, there’s no need to force it. I had no regrets sending the email. I felt good about my response, which is why I made sure to be respectful and professional, despite how I was treated during the interview."
On the message she hopes her story conveys to employers, she added:
"Posting the email wasn’t for visibility or clout. I didn’t even know it would go viral. Across all platforms, I’m a leading voice for remote work and fairness in the workplace and recruitment process. My post was meant to tell people that they don’t have to reduce their self-worth just for a paycheck. While I understand some people don’t have a choice, those who do know the value they bring and can respectfully decline to work under management that doesn’t appreciate them.
She further shared her thoughts on the growing confidence among Nigerian job seekers in rejecting roles that don’t align with their values:
"I’ve not seen many people with the resolve to do that. It’s hard out there, and I understand. From the reactions to the post, people know they should say NO, but often feel they can’t because of the economic climate. I encourage people to upskill and build their self-confidence so they realize they have so much to offer to the economy at large."
Her insights highlight the importance of self-worth, professionalism, and assertiveness in the job market, especially in navigating interviews and recruitment processes.
Nigerian man turns down company interview
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently wrote about a Nigerian man who boldly turned down a company’s interview invite after securing another job, sharing his epic rejection email online.
The concerned individual, Emmanuel Akpe, revealed that after receiving a job offer elsewhere, he decided to decline the previous company’s interview invite.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
