In a bizarre twist of the modern hiring process, a recruiter recently revealed on LinkedIn why they rejected a candidate, and the reason has left netizens both shocked and bemused. The story surfaced on Reddit’s r/LinkedInLunatics after a user shared a screenshot of the post.
“Pure Desperation” Behind Rejection
The LinkedIn post landed on Reddit with the title “Right Candidate, but uh oh, too close to the camera. Rejected,” describing an interview gone unexpectedly wrong. The recruiter wrote, “I once interviewed a candidate who said all the right things ... but leaned so far into the camera I thought he might crawl through the screen. Great resume. Solid skills. But the vibe? Pure desperation.”
The post emphasized the recruiter’s philosophy: interviews are not about showing neediness. “Recruiters can smell neediness faster than we smell coffee in the morning. Interviews aren’t about begging for a seat at the table. They’re about seeing if both sides fit. Pro tip: show up curious, not desperate. Confidence is memorable. Neediness? Not so much.”
The candidate’s credentials appeared strong, but according to the recruiter, their proximity to the webcam projected an unintended “vibe of desperation,” which led to their rejection.
Netizens Call It “Completely Unhinged”
Reddit users reacted with disbelief and sarcasm. Comments ranged from “Completely unhinged” to humorous critiques like, “I would think that a company looking to hire someone with a great resume and solid skills would also love them to be desperate—they could negotiate a lower salary. But instead, this recruiter threw the resume in the trash because of a tiny lean.”
Others highlighted the absurdity and potential bias of the decision. One user warned, “The fact that people like this exist, and decide if people get a job or not, is very scary.”
The incident has sparked wider discussions about what truly matters in interviews, especially as remote and hybrid formats become standard. Experts note that body language and posture can influence perceptions, but the interpretation of such signals should be weighed carefully against a candidate’s skills and experience.
“Pure Desperation” Behind Rejection
The LinkedIn post landed on Reddit with the title “Right Candidate, but uh oh, too close to the camera. Rejected,” describing an interview gone unexpectedly wrong. The recruiter wrote, “I once interviewed a candidate who said all the right things ... but leaned so far into the camera I thought he might crawl through the screen. Great resume. Solid skills. But the vibe? Pure desperation.”
The post emphasized the recruiter’s philosophy: interviews are not about showing neediness. “Recruiters can smell neediness faster than we smell coffee in the morning. Interviews aren’t about begging for a seat at the table. They’re about seeing if both sides fit. Pro tip: show up curious, not desperate. Confidence is memorable. Neediness? Not so much.”
The candidate’s credentials appeared strong, but according to the recruiter, their proximity to the webcam projected an unintended “vibe of desperation,” which led to their rejection.
Netizens Call It “Completely Unhinged”
Reddit users reacted with disbelief and sarcasm. Comments ranged from “Completely unhinged” to humorous critiques like, “I would think that a company looking to hire someone with a great resume and solid skills would also love them to be desperate—they could negotiate a lower salary. But instead, this recruiter threw the resume in the trash because of a tiny lean.”
Others highlighted the absurdity and potential bias of the decision. One user warned, “The fact that people like this exist, and decide if people get a job or not, is very scary.”
The incident has sparked wider discussions about what truly matters in interviews, especially as remote and hybrid formats become standard. Experts note that body language and posture can influence perceptions, but the interpretation of such signals should be weighed carefully against a candidate’s skills and experience.
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