These days, job applicants are more cautious about their potential employers who might take advantage of their time and effort without offering a worthy reward. A user on Reddit recently posted how he left an interview following just one annoying question, and the thread soon generated much buzz among the forum community.
The Redditor explained that he was excited about a position he had interviewed for. The job description looked good, the pay was adequate, and the company had great reviews. With a quick handshake from the hiring manager, they sat down prepared to talk through the details of the position.
However, the first question caught them off guard:
“How do you handle working unpaid overtime?”
Initially, the Redditor thought it was a joke and laughed. But the interviewer didn’t break the silence and instead waited for a response. The Redditor asked a follow-up question for clarification: “Is overtime mandatory, and is it paid?” The interviewer responded, “Well, we expect employees to stay as long as needed to get the job done. Everyone here is passionate about the work, and we don’t track extra hours.”
At that point, the Redditor decided to leave the interview. He stood up, thanked the hiring manager for his time, and walked out, feeling the conversation was already off to an uncomfortable start. However, after reflecting on the incident, the Redditor began to second-guess himself. “Should I have stayed and at least heard more about the job? Or was walking out the right move?”
The post quickly sparked debate, and several users shared their thoughts on unpaid overtime. One user remarked, “I will never work unpaid overtime again.” He went on to explain how he had left project management for an analyst role after realizing that he wasn’t properly compensated for his hours. While as a project manager he didn’t get paid for overtime, but was expected to work long hours. However, as an analyst, he is paid for any overtime worked, leading him to earn more than he ever did as a project manager. “I’ve been working as an overqualified analyst getting paid overtime for six years now, and I make more now than I ever did as a PM,” he added.
I walked out of an interview after one question. Was I wrong?
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Another used commented “they basically started the interview asking “are you ok with the company taking advantage of you?”. Siding with the Redditor he said “You made the right decision”.
Others chimed in, sharing their thoughts on how they would have handled the situation. One suggested that they would have simply responded with, “I don’t work for free” and waited to see how the interviewer would react. It was clear that many Redditors were resolute in their stance against working for free, especially when it was implied that overtime was a non-negotiable expectation.
The debate highlights a growing concern among workers about fair compensation for their time. In an era when work-life balance is a hot topic, more professionals are pushing back against companies that expect unpaid labor, especially when it’s seen as an ingrained part of the company culture.
Ultimately, the Redditor’s decision to walk out of the interview was rooted in a sense of self-respect and a refusal to compromise on fair working conditions. While some may argue that the decision was premature, the experience serves as a reminder to employees everywhere: no matter how attractive a job might seem, it’s crucial to evaluate not just the pay but the company’s expectations of its workforce.