'Overly Confident, Too Attractive': Reddit Post Lists Unbelievable Reasons Why Job Applicants Get Rejected

Job rejections are a part of the hiring process, but a recent discussion on Reddit has shed light on some unusually absurd reasons candidates have been turned down. A user revealed that their cousin, a hiring manager at a popular company, shared insights into why certain qualified individuals fail to land jobs.

Among the unusual reasons cited were being “overly confident” and even being “too attractive,” which was deemed a potential distraction in the workplace. Other factors included not wearing what was considered appropriate interview attire, “appearing desperate,” and even “smiling excessively.”

Surprisingly, the use of “too many filler words” during conversations and offering a weak or no handshake were also highlighted as reasons for rejection. Another issue raised was candidates failing to ask the “right” questions during interviews.

The Reddit user, shocked at the subjective nature of these rejections, added, “I was surprised by this, as some of these factors are beyond a candidate’s control.”

In an update to the post, the user made it clear that they personally disagreed with their cousin’s views. “As someone currently navigating the challenges of job recruitment, I find her beliefs to be misguided,” they wrote.

The post, titled “Reasons why some candidates don’t get hired”, quickly gained attention as Reddit users engaged in a lively debate.

A user commented, “In other words – you just have to be perfect for them, but you can’t know how to be perfect for them and they won’t tell you.”

Another wrote, “It’s like cooking a meal for someone you don’t know, never met, and don’t know their name. You have to make something they absolutely love or no job.”

“OP’s cousin sounds like an idiot who shouldn’t be let anywhere near hiring decisions,” a comment read, while another agreed, saying, “Agreed, OP’s cousin sounds like a giant boomer. I also hire people, and I strongly disagree with most of these.”

Someone else wrote, “Overly confident = ‘know your place, peasant’. It’s ironic when it’s applied disproportionally to minority candidates.”

A user thought the hiring manager was “unprofessional”, saying, “How unprofessional do you have to be to justify your hiring decisions based on physical attributes like attractiveness or smiling? At this point, HR is hiring solely on “vibes” because none of those reasons are related to qualifications.”

Since being shared, the post has garnered 1,400 upvotes and more than 500 comments.