Archive · 12 Jun 2025
Techie Rejected For Being 'Too Relaxed' in Startup Interview
A tech worker applied for a job at a startup, going through several interviews and getting good feedback.
However, they were rejected in the final HR interview because they seemed 'too relaxed'.
The company felt they weren't a good fit for the startup environment because of this.
This surprised the applicant, who had worked in startups before, and even the recruiter was confused.
A post about this rejection went viral, with many people criticizing the company's unusual reason for rejecting the applicant.
A software developer was rejected for an SDE role at a startup.
The reason for rejection was the candidate seemed 'too relaxed' during the final HR interview.
The candidate had previously received positive feedback throughout the interview process.
The recruiter was also surprised by the HR's decision.
The Reddit post about the rejection went viral, sparking discussions on hiring practices.
- Who
- A software developer and an unnamed startup's HR department.
- What
- A software developer was rejected from a startup for being 'too relaxed' during an interview.
- When
- June 12, 2025 (reported)
- Where
- India (location of the startup and Reddit user)
- Why
- The HR department deemed the candidate unfit for a startup role due to being 'too relaxed'.
Candidate Perspective
Startup HR Perspective
Interview Demeanor
Candidate Perspective
The candidate, who has worked at startups before, was shocked to be rejected for appearing 'too relaxed.'
Startup HR Perspective
The company believed the candidate's demeanor did not align with their expectations for a startup environment.
- Role Applied For
- Software Development Engineer (SDE)
- Reason for Rejection
- Too relaxed in interview
- Interview Stages Completed
- Introductory call, take-home assignment, technical interview
- Feedback Received
- Positive throughout the interview process
- Platform
- Post Title
- I was rejected because I was relaxed during the interview