Mumbai-based entrepreneur and Grump founder Senain Sawant shared a disturbing incident that occurred during an online interview with a GenZ candidate. According to Sawant, the interview, conducted due to insufficient details on the candidate's CV, concluded on a somewhat unexpected note. However, the situation took a more ugly turn with the text messages that followed the interview.
The job applicant verbally abused her during a WhatsApp message exchange for the interview. In a detailed LinkedIn post, the Grump founder explained that the company had been facing challenges in hiring the "right people" for several months. The candidates they found either had insufficient experience but unrealistic expectations or were unwilling to put in the effort despite the company’s willingness to offer them a genuine opportunity and training to advance to their desired role.
Sawant recounted that she had arranged a video interview with this candidate, who applied for the position of a social media executive. Given the lack of detailed information on their CV, Sawant decided to have a call to assess whether the candidate had the potential to work as an Executive or if they would need to start as an intern and receive training for a couple of months.
The founder shared that the interview itself began on an odd note. The candidate's camera was turned off for the "video interview." When Sawant questioned this, the candidate explained that they did not own a laptop and used a phone with outdated software, which did not allow the camera to function.
“They joined the call with the camera off, said they don't own a computer and something about iOS update not allowing video calls. I responded with, 'how do you usually work?', to which they replied, ‘My previous company gave us a laptop, but if one is needed, I can arrange’,” Sawant said.
“I asked them to join at a time when their video can be turned on, since this an interview and I need to see who I'm speaking with. They said "Fine" and cut the call,” she added.
Sawant highlighted that the tone was off from the start. " They weren't audible to begin with, and it seemed like they were out in public from the amount of noise in the background,” she wrote.
She also shared a series of screenshots of the text messages that followed after they rescheduled the interview.
In the messages, Sawant highlighted that the calendar invite clearly stated that the interview would be conducted via video. She also noted that she was unfamiliar with any iOS update that would prevent video calls, contrary to the candidate's claim.
The candidate became defensive and, according to the screenshots, insisted they had applied for the position of social media executive, not an internship. To which Sawant responded, "Your resume speaks otherwise. All the best," Sawant replied.
The candidate then replied that they were "okay skipping this one," claiming to have a year of work experience. In subsequent messages, they added, "With all due respect, don't be a b****. The arrogance you speak with." Taken aback and shocked, the entrepreneur replied, "Excuse me?"
In her LinkedIn post, she noted that the younger generation needs strong guidance.
“As a young entrepreneur myself, I am appalled by the audacity of this candidate to think it is okay to call the company founder, or anyone in a hiring position for that matter, a Bi***,” she concluded.