Techie Rejected for ‘Sounding Like a Robot,’ Internet Roasts the Ironic Job Rejection
In an ironic twist that quickly went viral, a software developer shared his unusual job rejection email after being turned down for “sounding like a robot.” The incident sparked a wave of humorous reactions online, with many users pointing out the robotic tone of the rejection itself.
The job seeker, a Reddit user, applied for a Senior Front-End Engineer role at a US-based company. Instead of receiving the typical polite decline, he was met with a blunt and robotic-sounding message stating: “We’ve determined that you are a robot, and we will not be moving forward with your candidacy.”
He posted a screenshot of the email on Reddit, captioning it with a witty remark: “I love getting called a robot by a robot.” The candidacy rejection quickly caught the attention of social media users who found the irony amusing and relatable.
The developer did not take the rejection lightly. In response, he reached out to the recruiter, assuring them that he was, in fact, human. He wrote: “I assure you that I am not a robot. I am curious as to why you think this?” Along with his message, he shared his LinkedIn profile, highlighting his six years of experience as a Software Developer and his current position at a college.
In a clever parting shot, he flipped the script by asking, “Are you sure you are not a robot?”
The exchange struck a chord with the online community, who quickly began sharing their own takes on the story. One Reddit user joked, “AI decided you are an AI,” poking fun at the idea that an automated system might have misclassified a human applicant. Another quipped, “Imagine being a human and failing the Turing test,” referencing the famous test designed to distinguish humans from machines.
Many users also empathized with the frustrations of modern job hunting. One wrote, “I get ghosted all the time, and Matthew the ‘robot’ gets an actual rejection?” highlighting how many candidates struggle to even get a response from employers.
While the company behind the rejection has not commented publicly, the candidate’s experience has become a relatable moment for job seekers navigating increasingly automated hiring processes. The episode underscores a growing concern about the depersonalization of recruitment, where algorithms and templated replies sometimes create awkward and ironic situations.
In the age of AI and automation, this story serves as a humorous reminder that even when technology is involved, there’s still a very human side to job searching—and sometimes, that human touch can get lost in translation.
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