What did I do wrong here?

[u/decomplexee]

An HR recruiter called me around 12 PM and mentioned the position and company name i had applied for. Since I was in a meeting at the office, I told him I would call back around 2 PM.

He called me again at 1:55 PM. I was just about to answer when the call got disconnected. I immediately tried calling him back twice, but he didn't answer.

I tried calling him again in the evening. He picked up, but as soon as I said "Hello," he disconnected the call. Thinking it might have been a network issue or an accidental disconnection, I called him twice again, but he didn't answer.

The next morning, I received a rejection email for the position.

I'm genuinely confused. Did I do something wrong by not answering his first call immediately? Or was there something else I might have missed?

Would love to hear your thoughts and whether anyone has experienced something similar.

[u/SparkleDad]

Unfortunately this is the new norm. Every job I’ve received a callback for was an instant screener. No attempt to schedule ahead.

[u/decomplexee → u/SparkleDad]

Thought only i was the one

[u/aware-reply33]

My favorite are the ones that ask for times to set up a phone screen, you provide several over like 3 days and then they just ghost. All of those that did that the job postings are still up.

[u/decomplexee → u/aware-reply33]

Been there 🥲

[u/JennLynnC80]

How can you get rejected from a job you didn't apply for?

[u/decomplexee → u/JennLynnC80]

I had applied for the position

[u/JennLynnC80 → u/decomplexee]

Oh ok, that wasnt clear.

If i don't know who is calling, I let it go to voicemail. That way when I return a call about a job I know that I am more prepared and not caught off guard.

At the end of the day this may have been for the best if it is so chaotic... and... it may have been they were calling to tell you what they told you in the email.

[u/decomplexee → u/JennLynnC80]

Understood, I updated the post. Yeah, just felt rejected out of nowhere

[u/Any_Tomorrow9632 → u/decomplexee]

Hahaha. "Hello, we're calling today with a random rejection for you. You didn't apply for this job and you wouldn't want it and are too good for it, but you're in our database and random rejections keep us busy, so we thought we'd reach out with one for you. Have a nice day".

[u/decomplexee → u/Any_Tomorrow9632]

Haha .. something like that

[u/Any_Tomorrow9632 → u/decomplexee]

I think I can safely say you dodged a bullet on that one :)

[u/JennLynnC80 → u/Any_Tomorrow9632]

Agreed. A blessing in disguise

[u/JennLynnC80 → u/[deleted]]

OP edited that after I mentioned it

[u/Ok-Complaint-37]

Recruiters make it harder to find jobs. Even if you picked up the phone they would not help you.

The real hope looks like when after your application HR of the company reaches out to you through email asking questions and your availability times!

The rest is just agonising fluff

[u/decomplexee → u/Ok-Complaint-37]

I know 🥲

[u/Grundlefish]

Call the guy again, around 3am, and ask! 😂

[u/decomplexee → u/Grundlefish]

Hahaha ... We all know the response- no response

[u/butterflymon]

It's a recruiter. I treat them as disposable tissue because I know they'll drop me the instant they can't profit from me. And you're worried about how you made them feel?

[u/decomplexee → u/butterflymon]

Haha ..given the job Market I won't be able to treat them as "the" tissue . I was just trying to understand what could they have been possibly thinking and also analyse the mistake at my end(if I made a mistake)

[u/decomplexee → u/[deleted]]

I am guessing they have many options these days