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A job applicant went viral after receiving a rejection email while still filling out an online application. The candidate had entered only an email address before being declined
A job applicant went viral after claiming they received a rejection email before even completing the application process (Image-AI)
A job seeker’s bizarre experience with an online hiring portal has gone viral after they claimed they were rejected for a position before even submitting their application.
The unusual incident surfaced on Reddit, where the applicant shared their experience under the title, “I got rejected while I was applying.” According to the post, the user had just begun filling out an application for a Director of Rehabilitation position when they unexpectedly received a rejection email from the employer’s recruitment system.
What made the situation particularly baffling was that the applicant had not uploaded a resume, entered any work history, or formally submitted the application. The only detail reportedly provided at that point was their email address to create an account.
Calling it a new stage of “recruitment hell,” the Reddit user wrote, “New level of recruiting hell unlocked? Things I had NOT done when I received this email: Uploaded a resume, entered any information besides my email address to create an account, hit submit.”
Despite the incomplete application, the company’s automated email suggested that the candidate had already undergone evaluation. The rejection message read:
“Thank you for your interest in the Director of Rehabilitation (Job ID: 2026-70651) position. After review of your resume, skills, and experience, we have decided to pursue other candidates who more closely meet our needs at this time. Please visit our website to see our future openings that may be a better fit for your experience. Thank you, Talent Acquisition”
The bizarre exchange quickly gained traction online, sparking criticism of modern recruitment platforms and the growing reliance on automation in hiring processes. Several users speculated that the rejection may have been triggered by a technical glitch or an outdated job listing.
“Perhaps the position is actually filled but the listing was erroneously still up? Your using the page triggered that update by them or it was coincidentally done while you were using it?” one user commented.
Another mocked the situation, writing, “New level of recruiting hell just dropped, Get rejected before completing the application.”
Some users pointed to the increasing role of artificial intelligence and applicant tracking systems in screening candidates. “AI filtered you out for not hitting some must have’s in your resume,” one person joked, despite the applicant never uploading one.
Others sympathised with the candidate’s frustration and criticised the repetitive nature of online job applications. “Imagine all the time they saved you from having to enter all the information already on the resume you already submitted which they weren’t even going to read anyway,” another comment read.
A different user shared a similar experience, saying, “Hmm, i got a rejection for a rehab center even though i never finished filling out the application too! they also kept emailing me to ‘remind’ me to finish my application. wonder if they all use ADP.”
Meanwhile, one commenter compared the rejection to social awkwardness in real life, writing, “That’s the equivalent of walking up to a girl and having her just say ‘no’ before you say a word.”
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