A Reddit user recently shared an experience that struck a chord with thousands online — a company that had rejected him last year is now reaching out, asking for his professional expertise for free.
According to the post, the user went through a long interview process for a role that “felt tailor-made” but was ultimately turned down after six weeks of rounds. “No problem, it happens,” he wrote. However, several months later, he received an unexpected email from the person who had seemingly been hired for the position — now asking for his “opinion” on a new initiative and requesting access to his professional contacts.
Reddit Users Call It ‘Rude and Unprofessional’
The post quickly drew widespread attention on Reddit, where users were quick to defend the original poster’s (OP’s) position. Many labeled the company’s approach as unprofessional and exploitative, given they had rejected him earlier.
“I would send them back a contract for consulting and that you would be happy to collaborate with them at a rate of XX per hour,” one user suggested.
Another added, “That’s insane. Your only response should be in the form of a question, asking if they’re interested in hiring you as a contractor and to negotiate payment for your knowledge.”
Community Praises ‘Power Move’ Responses
Some Redditors even proposed more strategic responses to highlight the company’s inconsistency. A third user commented, “Say that you are applying your talents at a senior/executive level within the competition’s business and it would be a conflict of interest.”
The post sparked a larger conversation about professional boundaries, with many agreeing that expertise deserves compensation — especially from companies that once declined to offer employment.
(This story is based on a post shared by a social media user. The details, opinions, and statements quoted herein belong solely to the original poster and do not reflect the views of Financialexpress.com. We have not independently verified the claims.)
