A Reddit user recently shared this confusing and frustrating experience that many startup employees might relate to. “I’m honestly still trying to process what just happened,” wrote the user, who joined the company as a Product Support Associate. “After 5 rounds of interviews, the co-founder seemed really impressed. I received the offer the very next day.”
From excitement to confusion
The user, who has almost three years of startup experience, was looking forward to the new role as a step forward in their career. During onboarding, they spent time shadowing colleagues to learn the product and workflows. “Everyone had slightly different ways of handling tickets and communicating with clients, so I was still trying to understand the preferred approach,” the user explained.
Startup termination sparks debate online. (Reddit Image)
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A particular incident highlighted the tension. During a shadowing session, the manager noticed a grammatical error in a draft email that hadn’t been sent yet. The employee typically prepares rough drafts first before refining messages.
Despite understanding that mistakes can happen during onboarding, the user was let go without clear explanation before even having a chance to request a one-on-one discussion to explain their workflow.
Reddit community weighs in
Comments on the post reflect both empathy and frustration with startup practices. One commenter suggested, “Either they intentionally over-hire and have a shady process where they only keep the newbies who meet certain untold standards. Regardless, it sucks, and was completely unfair to you.”
Fintech onboarding gone wrong: Draft email cost job. (Reddit Image)
Another added, “Support agents are easy to hire and a dime a dozen. Perhaps they expected someone with three years of experience would catch on quicker. Whatever the case, it wasn’t a good fit and reflects poorly on them.”
A third commenter criticized the company’s recruitment process: “5 interview rounds doesn’t sound like a smart way to hire! It’s a huge time mismanagement if you hire someone and let them go before they even contribute.”Lessons or red flags?
The incident highlights a common dilemma in high-growth startups: balancing rigorous hiring with effective onboarding. Many employees face unclear expectations, short evaluation periods, and snap decisions that leave them confused and frustrated.
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