Viral Reddit thread: Unnamed tech company gets 12,000 applications for job opening, interviews 450, hires 0

A viral post on Reddit has put a spotlight on questionable hiring practices in the tech industry after one company reportedly rejected every single applicant for a coder’s role — despite receiving over 12,000 applications and conducting 450 interviews.

The story, which has gained massive attention on social platforms, has sparked frustration among job seekers and hiring professionals alike.

According to the original poster, who was one of the applicants, the firm kept extending the interview process with increasing technical demands.

Some candidates reportedly completed multiple rounds — including coding assessments, whiteboard sessions, and system design interviews — only to be told that no one met the bar.

This revelation led Redditors to speculate whether the company ever truly intended to fill the position in the first place.

Hiring or benchmarking? Community raises doubts

Many users suspect the company was using the recruitment process for benchmarking purposes — essentially extracting information on coding styles, project approaches, and problem-solving methods without plans to onboard any candidate. This practice, while not illegal, has drawn criticism for being unethical and wasting candidates’ time.

Others noted that constantly shifting job descriptions, unrealistic expectations, and a disconnect between HR and tech teams are becoming increasingly common in the post-pandemic hiring landscape.

“This isn’t just one company. I’ve had 6-7 interview cycles stall or end with no decision in the last 12 months,” one commenter wrote. “It feels like companies don’t know what they want anymore.”

Reflects a growing disillusionment in the tech job market

The post’s virality taps into a broader sentiment of disillusionment among tech professionals, especially junior and mid-level engineers. Despite headlines about AI booms and record-breaking valuations, many companies have tightened hiring due to economic uncertainty, restructuring, and automation.

Some users shared similar experiences where companies either ghosted applicants after interviews or cited vague criteria for rejections. A few even suggested that internal teams might be using hiring cycles to validate tech stacks or gather feedback on their coding challenges.

While the identity of the company remains undisclosed, the discussion has reignited calls for more transparency in hiring — from clearer job descriptions to structured feedback after interviews.