Mumbai Entrepreneur Shares Troubling Interview Encounter with Derogatory Job Applicant

Mumbai, 31st July 2024: A Mumbai entrepreneur recently shared a troubling encounter with a job applicant who allegedly used derogatory language during their job interview process. Senain Sawant, the founder and creative director of Grump India, recounted her experience in a LinkedIn post, including screenshots of the WhatsApp exchange with the candidate.

Sawant detailed her challenges in hiring suitable candidates for her start-up, noting that many applicants either lacked experience and had unrealistic expectations or were unwilling to put in the necessary effort despite the company’s willingness to train them. She emphasized that the recent incident marked a new level of frustration.

The applicant had applied for a social media executive position, but their CV lacked sufficient details for an immediate decision. Sawant had arranged a Google Meet video interview to evaluate the candidate’s potential for the role or to consider them for an internship if needed.

However, the candidate joined the call with their camera off and mentioned technical difficulties, claiming they did not own a computer and had issues with an iOS update. Sawant requested a video interview and asked the candidate to join at a time when their camera could be used, as it was crucial for her to see the interviewee. The candidate agreed but ended the call abruptly, displaying a disinterested attitude and background noise that suggested they were in a public place.

The candidate later sent a series of messages that left Sawant stunned. She expressed her disappointment with the candidate’s unprofessional behaviour and the disrespectful comments they made. The candidate argued that they applied for an executive role and not an internship and expressed frustration over the situation. Their messages included a disrespectful remark directed at Sawant.

Sawant responded by stating that the candidate’s comments and professionalism were disappointing and thanked them for clarifying their level of experience.

The post received supportive comments from social media users, who empathized with Sawant’s experience. Many agreed that the younger generation often exhibits an entitled attitude, and noted the importance of soft skills training for job seekers. Entrepreneurs advised Sawant to move on and continue her search for the right team members.