As societies progress and workplaces become more diverse and inclusive, one would expect a corresponding advancement in professionalism and respect. Unfortunately, reality often shows something different. Workplace harassment incidents, which can range from verbal abuse and bullying to sexual harassment and discriminatory behaviors, are on the rise. In certain situations, these incidents are more complicated and challenging to identify.
Recently, a woman in Noida applied for a job, expecting to have a business-related interaction with a recruiter. Instead, she received improper and unsolicited text messages. In one of them, the recruiter even asked to send her full picture. Shocked and unsettled, she never thought a standard step in the job application process could have become a frightening nightmare. Her story, initially shared on Reddit, went viral on social media.
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Noida recruiter sends creepy messages to a female job applicant
A Reddit user has recently spoken out about a creepy encounter with a recruiter following an application for a personal assistant position in Noida. She even shared the screenshots of their conversation. She headlined her post, writing,
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Am I in the wrong for feeling creeped out over this?
In her post, she wrote,
Applied for a job in Noida in the role of a Personal Assistant. The pay is good but the person/recruiter is being extremely creepy. I’m pretty sure this isn’t the industry norm. Before this convo, he even asked me if I was married! This is so disheartening.
The candidate began the discussion with a standard wage question, asking if there is any other opportunity for negotiation on the same. However, instead of answering what she asked, he asked her to send her picture.
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The applicant soon raised her objections over his request, telling him that she would send her documents only after receiving her offer later. However, the recruiter didn’t stop at this. He went on to ask her to send her Instagram profile, saying that it is essential for the PA profile.
Nevertheless, the applicant remained professional, said that her Instagram profile is private, and asked how it is relevant for the interview. She also said that she would be more glad if he scheduled her interview rather than asking irrelevant questions.
Later in the comment section, the author of the post shared another screenshot, saying that the recruiter might be from the company named VRN Digital. The screenshot of the conversation, now going viral on social media, reveals how the recruiter hinted at “enjoying” a tour with a senior officer, later clarifying that “enjoy” meant staying with the senior officer, implying a se*ual relationship. When the applicant asked for clarity, the recruiter pressed further, questioning her openness and explicitly asking if she was willing to have sex.
The woman, refusing to be intimidated, repeatedly asked for clarity and direct answers while asserting her discomfort. The exchange took a sharper turn when she mentioned that her uncle is an IAS officer and warned the recruiter that she would forward the screenshots directly to him. The recruiter’s final response: a dismissive “Good luck.”
Have a look at the post:
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Am I in the wrong for feeling creeped out over this?
byu/psychellnotcycle inIndiaCareers
How did netizens react to the post?
The article quickly gained popularity and sparked a flood of comments from Reddit users. While many netizens expressed anger and support, some of them even asked for stringent action against these kinds of recruiters. Have a look at some of the responses:
Unfortunately, this is not the first time such an incident has occurred, and what’s even more disheartening is that it’s unlikely to be the last. Recruiters misusing their position and violating professional boundaries is a troubling pattern that continues to repeat itself. To stop this, victims will have to raise their voices openly, and companies will have to implement more stringent laws.
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What do you think about this? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section of this article.