A job interview that was supposed to be a step forward in a candidate’s career has instead turned into a frustrating lesson about trust and corporate promises. A Reddit post shared by an anonymous user details how a mid-sized service-based multinational company in India allegedly pushed the candidate into travelling for an interview with assurances of reimbursement, only to go silent once the process was over.
The post, titled “Forced to travel for an interview with reimbursement promise — now company ghosting me”, has sparked discussion among professionals online, many of whom say the situation is sadly familiar.
Travel pressure despite clear refusal
According to the candidate, the issue began when he got scheduled for a face-to-face client interview in Bengaluru. The candidate said he clearly informed the company’s HR team that travelling on the given date was not possible due to a family commitment and requested that the interview be moved to another day. Despite this, HR reportedly insisted that the travel was mandatory and assured the candidate that the cost of bus tickets would be reimbursed.
The candidate initially refused to travel, even after the reimbursement assurance. What eventually changed their mind was a direct call from a senior leader at the company. The candidate said a director-level manager personally reached out and stressed the urgency of the situation. During the conversation, the director reportedly said that this was a client interview and he would not get another slot, adding that he could not place any other candidate in that position. The manager also reassured the candidate that even if he was not selected, the company would still reimburse the travel expenses. The director further told the candidate that he was genuinely wanted for the role and that the travel costs would be taken care of.
Trusting the assurance given by someone at a senior level, the candidate agreed to make the trip. He travelled overnight and spent around ₹4,000 on bus tickets to attend the interview.
However, the candidate said the situation changed completely after the interview concluded. According to the post, HR’s tone shifted, responses slowed down, and communication became inconsistent. When the candidate followed up about reimbursement, HR allegedly replied by saying, “We need to check company reimbursement policy.” After that, emails reportedly went unanswered and phone calls were not picked up.
The candidate described the experience as a sharp contrast between the aggressive persuasion before the interview and the silence that followed afterward. “This isn’t about ₹4000 anymore. It’s about accountability,” the candidate wrote, adding that he has call recordings and documented communication to support their claims.
The post also warned that if the company continues to ignore the issue, the candidate may share the full incident publicly on LinkedIn, including the company’s details, so that other job seekers do not face a similar situation.
Reddit users react
The story drew reactions from other Reddit users, many of whom expressed frustration but little surprise. One commenter, identifying themselves as a software worker, reacted bluntly, saying that once he read “mid size service based,” he did not need to read further and claimed that such behavior from Indian companies and managers is widely known.
Another user, who described themselves as a founder based in Delhi, said the company’s conduct was not acceptable and questioned why organisations take such risks when incidents can easily be made public and damage reputations. He suggested sending a polite email warning that the matter could be shared publicly if the reimbursement is not processed. A third commenter offered practical advice, saying candidates should avoid relying on reimbursements and instead ask companies to book travel and accommodation in advance for interviews.
The post, titled “Forced to travel for an interview with reimbursement promise — now company ghosting me”, has sparked discussion among professionals online, many of whom say the situation is sadly familiar.
Travel pressure despite clear refusal
According to the candidate, the issue began when he got scheduled for a face-to-face client interview in Bengaluru. The candidate said he clearly informed the company’s HR team that travelling on the given date was not possible due to a family commitment and requested that the interview be moved to another day. Despite this, HR reportedly insisted that the travel was mandatory and assured the candidate that the cost of bus tickets would be reimbursed.The candidate initially refused to travel, even after the reimbursement assurance. What eventually changed their mind was a direct call from a senior leader at the company. The candidate said a director-level manager personally reached out and stressed the urgency of the situation. During the conversation, the director reportedly said that this was a client interview and he would not get another slot, adding that he could not place any other candidate in that position. The manager also reassured the candidate that even if he was not selected, the company would still reimburse the travel expenses. The director further told the candidate that he was genuinely wanted for the role and that the travel costs would be taken care of.
Trusting the assurance given by someone at a senior level, the candidate agreed to make the trip. He travelled overnight and spent around ₹4,000 on bus tickets to attend the interview.
However, the candidate said the situation changed completely after the interview concluded. According to the post, HR’s tone shifted, responses slowed down, and communication became inconsistent. When the candidate followed up about reimbursement, HR allegedly replied by saying, “We need to check company reimbursement policy.” After that, emails reportedly went unanswered and phone calls were not picked up.
The candidate described the experience as a sharp contrast between the aggressive persuasion before the interview and the silence that followed afterward. “This isn’t about ₹4000 anymore. It’s about accountability,” the candidate wrote, adding that he has call recordings and documented communication to support their claims.
The post also warned that if the company continues to ignore the issue, the candidate may share the full incident publicly on LinkedIn, including the company’s details, so that other job seekers do not face a similar situation.
Reddit users react
The story drew reactions from other Reddit users, many of whom expressed frustration but little surprise. One commenter, identifying themselves as a software worker, reacted bluntly, saying that once he read “mid size service based,” he did not need to read further and claimed that such behavior from Indian companies and managers is widely known. Another user, who described themselves as a founder based in Delhi, said the company’s conduct was not acceptable and questioned why organisations take such risks when incidents can easily be made public and damage reputations. He suggested sending a polite email warning that the matter could be shared publicly if the reimbursement is not processed. A third commenter offered practical advice, saying candidates should avoid relying on reimbursements and instead ask companies to book travel and accommodation in advance for interviews.