Recruiter tells candidate she wasn’t hired because she asked too many questions about money

These days, many job seekers often have a list of expectations they consider important before accepting a job, including work-life balance, benefits, and paid time off. However, despite the large number of Americans who refuse to settle for a job if it doesn’t meet their requirements, many employers simply don’t care.

This was the case for a woman named Katherine, who was told by a recruiter that the reason she didn’t get the job was because she talked too much about money.

In a TikTok video, a creator named Ben Askins, whose account is dedicated to calling out toxic bosses and companies, shared an anonymously submitted work experience about a job interview that didn’t end in an offer.

A job candidate was told her questions about money and salary cost her the job.

The exchange of messages between Katherine and her recruiter revealed how many employers think it’s taboo to talk about money and salary expectations during a job interview.

The recruiter messaged Katherine to tell her that the company had just told her that it was not moving forward with her application, and after Katherine asked why, she learned that it was a question of money.

“Yes, they said they would love to meet you, but your questions were too financially oriented,” the recruiter told Katherine. She immediately responded, “What does that mean?”

The recruiter told the applicant that the company had not been kind to her questions about the benefits and salary offered.

When the recruiter reiterated that the company hadn’t appreciated all the questions Katherine asked about money, she was surprised, saying there hadn’t even been many questions to begin with.

Katherine remembers asking a few questions at the end of the interview because she needed clarification on what was included in the benefits package, but she insisted that the rest of her questions throughout throughout the interview were about the role itself.

Intervening, Askins pointed out that Katherine had no reason to apologize or try to defend herself because it was a job interview. Candidates have the right to ask questions about their benefits, salary expectations, and anything related to money that makes them confused because…it’s a job, and in a job, money is very important, since this is what people depend on. for their livelihood.

You would think that avoiding the topic of salary and benefits would be the red flag during an interview, not the other way around!

Askins argued that the main reason people go to work is money.

Of course, we’d all like to believe that there’s more to work than “making money,” but that’s simply not the case. We all need a job to be able to live.

Every person at the top of a company’s chain is paid for their work. The fact that a candidate is supposed to claim to want to work for fun is ridiculous.

fizkes | CanvaPro

“Of course people will be interested in the price, the benefits and the package that comes with it,” Askins said. “That’s the only reason they’re in this room. This idea that you can’t ask basic questions in an interview is so frustrating.”

Askins criticized the company for denying Katherine the role simply because she asked valid and important questions. Two things can exist at the same time; a person may be interested in both the role and the benefits. Just because someone asks about money in an interview doesn’t mean they’ll be a bad employee or won’t work as hard as everyone else.

This mentality of accepting a job without discussing money is not something younger generations can relate to.

Money being a motivator for taking a job is not a bad thing, especially among younger generations, including Generation Z. Of course, this concept is nothing new. In 2016, data from job site Monster showed that 70% of Gen Zers cite salary as their top motivator at work, along with health insurance.

Gen Zers also want to work for a company that aligns with their overall vision. More than half (53%) of Gen Zers would reject a job if the employer’s mission didn’t align with their sociopolitical values, according to a United Way of the National Capital Region survey of 1,000 Americans , 495 of whom were members of Generation Z.

Talking about money or anything else you think is important to you before considering a position at a company is not a bad thing, and doing it during a job interview is the best time to do it .

The interviews aren’t one-sided, but Katherine’s rejection could be seen as a blessing in disguise. Who wants to work for an employer who refuses to be transparent and doesn’t value open communication?

Nia Tipton is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and journalism who covers news and lifestyle topics focused on psychology, relationships and the human experience.