I rejected a company after 2nd round for the first time ever 🚩

A Tech Professional Turned Down a Company After a Toxic Interview — And People Are Applauding

After a rude, dismissive second-round interview with senior leadership, one experienced tech worker decided to withdraw her application — and her email to HR struck a chord with professionals everywhere tired of toxic management culture.

The OP, a woman with a master’s degree and over seven years of experience in tech, had recently been laid off from a remote position. While working a junior in-office job to stay afloat, she began interviewing again — looking for a company that valued collaboration, empathy, and forward-thinking leadership.

When she landed an interview with a promising tech company, things started out well. But her second-round conversation with senior leadership left her stunned — and ready to walk away.

🚩 Red Flags From the First Minute

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“He was rude, dismissive, and honestly toxic,” she wrote. “Wouldn’t even turn his camera on — but made me stay on video. He spoke in a micromanaging tone, asked questions but interrupted every time I tried to answer.”

Despite the unprofessional behavior, she stayed calm and polite. But the red flags kept coming.

“If you’re good at your job, you’ll never get laid off.”

That was the moment she realized how disconnected his leadership mindset was. “I politely explained that layoffs happen for many reasons — budgets, strategy, restructuring — but he just kept repeating that same line,” she said. “Like it was some kind of mantra.”

“You Can Go Ahead With the Other”

The final straw came at the end of the conversation. When asked if she was interviewing elsewhere, she answered honestly: yes — she was in final rounds at another company, but still exploring fit.

“He got offended and literally said: ‘You can go ahead with the other, I won’t hold you back,’” she wrote. “I couldn’t believe how childish it was. I stayed polite and thanked him for his time, but in my head, I was done.”

That night, she sat down and drafted a professional but firm email to HR — withdrawing her application and making it clear why.

“With a master’s degree and 7+ years in tech, I value environments where leadership is collaborative, empathetic, and forward-thinking. Unfortunately, I did not feel this alignment during my recent conversation.”

“If this is how leadership talks to candidates,” she added, “I can’t imagine how they treat employees.”

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Knowing When To Walk Away

It’s the first time she’s ever rejected a company — and she admits it felt strange at first. But now, she’s proud she did. “I’ve been through layoffs, restructures, toxic managers — I know what I want. This time, I chose peace over paycheck,” she said.

Her post ended with one question to others in the field: “Would you walk away too — or take the job and hope it’s better once you’re in?”

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Readers didn’t hesitate to respond — and the overwhelming answer was: walk away. Many shared similar experiences with “red flag” interviews that predicted toxic leadership down the line.

“If they treat candidates this way, imagine how they treat employees with less leverage.”

“That ‘If you’re good you won’t get laid off’ line tells you everything you need to know about their culture.”

“You did the right thing. Interviews are two-way — they’re auditioning for you too.”

Others noted that standing firm and setting boundaries early can save years of burnout and regret. “You don’t owe anyone your sanity,” one commenter wrote.

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🌱 Final Thoughts

Interviews reveal more than resumes ever will. If leadership can’t show basic respect during an interview, it’s not going to magically appear after hiring. OP’s story is a reminder that saying “no” is sometimes the most professional move you can make.

What would you have done?
Would you still take the offer, or would you walk away like she did? Share your thoughts below 👇

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