How shady job rejections, corporate disrespect, and salary games are turning workers into silent job seekers – and why I’m done sugarcoating it.
***
You know, I’ve gotten plenty of job rejections in my life. Usually they’re filled with polite little fluff like,
“We’ve decided to move forward with other candidates,”
or
“After careful consideration, you’re not quite the right fit.”
But the one I got today? It was different.
It didn’t say I lacked the experience. It didn’t say they found someone who wowed them more.
It said:
“After reviewing your salary requirements, we have determined that we’re unable to meet your expectations.”
And I’m sorry, but what? Because my salary request was literally within the range they listed in the job posting. So now I’m sitting here like… okay, so which one is it? Do you actually not want to pay people fairly, or are you just blaming “salary expectations” to avoid telling the truth?
Because the truth is: some companies don’t actually want qualified, experienced people.
They want a deal. They want someone who brings a full résumé of value but is too tired, desperate, or burned out to ask for what they deserve.
***
🙄 The Myth of Salary “Expectations”
We’re constantly told:
“Always negotiate your salary! Don’t undersell yourself – you’ll be stuck with that pay!”
But companies like this one? They punish you for doing exactly that.
They say they’re looking for talent, but the minute you assign that talent a fair price, suddenly you’re “too expensive.”
***
Not My First Disrespect Rodeo
This whole thing reminded me of something that happened years ago when I worked at my first bank.
I found out a new hire was making more than me – by a dollar an hour.
She wasn’t bilingual (I was).
She didn’t balance the ATMs (I did).
She wasn’t helping to open accounts in two languages (I was).
And still… she started higher.
And yes, she was white. I don’t think that was a coincidence.
Instead of flipping out, I did what I thought was the “professional” thing. I scheduled a one-on-one with my manager. I laid out my case. I asked for a raise based on merit.
He said he’d “get back to me.”
He never did.
So I quietly started applying to other banks. I left. And you know what? That’s what people do when they feel disrespected.
***
Companies That Lowball Open Their Own Exit Door
The irony is, companies who operate like this think they’re winning.
They think, “We’ll just hire someone who’ll accept less.”
And they might.
But that person? They’re already updating their résumé.
They’re already applying to better companies.
They’re already mentally checked out and watching Indeed like it’s Netflix.
Because accepting a job to survive is not the same as being grateful to work there.
***
Employment Is Starting to Feel Like a Joke
I recently saw a post where someone shared a quiz they had to take to apply for a job.
One of the questions was:
Why are you getting this job?
The answers included:
- To pay your bills and live
- To support the company’s efficiency and mission
They picked the honest, human answer: to pay bills and survive.
They got it wrong.
Apparently, the “correct” answer was to support the company – because God forbid your reason for working be… staying alive in this economy?
***
The Real Cost of Hiring Cheap
You know what’s actually expensive?
Constant turnover.
These companies think they’re “saving money” by lowballing salaries or rejecting people who ask for fair pay – but they end up paying way more in the long run.
Why? Because the people who accept those underpaid jobs are often:
- Already quietly resenting the company
- Still applying elsewhere
- Planning their exit before they even finish onboarding
So what happens?
They leave.
And now the company has to spend thousands onboarding and training someone else – who probably does the same exact thing.
It’s a cycle of wasted time, money, and morale.
All because they didn’t want to pay someone fairly the first time around.
Hiring the right person at the right pay = loyalty, growth, stability.
Hiring the cheapest person possible = a never-ending game of musical chairs… that the company keeps losing.
Reputation Is Everything (And Employees Talk)
Here’s what companies forget:
Employees are walking billboards.
If they feel valued, they’re going to tell their friends. They’re going to say,
“Hey, my job’s actually pretty great. You should apply!”
That’s how solid referral pipelines are built. Some companies even offer referral bonuses because they want people like their best employees to bring in more good people.
But the flip side?
If you feel underpaid, overworked, and dismissed?
You’re not just staying quiet about it – you’re warning people.
“Don’t apply there. They don’t treat you right.”
And your friend tells their friend.
And someone else leaves a brutal Glassdoor review.
And suddenly that company’s name is floating around with a stink on it. 💩
That’s how reputations crumble.
Not because of scandals. But because enough employees quietly tell the truth.
I’ve learned to always check Glassdoor reviews now. If employees say they don’t feel respected or valued? That tells me everything I need to know.
So if a company wants to keep good people around and attract more?
Pay them fairly.
Respect their time.
Treat them like they matter.
Because if not? Your best talent won’t just leave – they’ll make sure everyone else knows to stay away too.
***
🚩 If You Can’t Afford Me, Don’t Post the Job
Bottom line? If you post a job with a salary range, don’t act shocked when someone actually wants to be paid within it. And if someone asks for more, be an adult – like one company I loved working for once did. They said, “Hey, we think you’re a great fit, but this is the cap we can offer. Are you still interested?” I said yes. I got the job. I flourished.
See? Communication works.
But if your first response is, “Nope, your worth is inconvenient to us,” then I don’t want to work for you anyway.
I’m not just looking for a job. I’m looking for dignity. Respect. Humanity.
And if that makes me too expensive?
Then I hope you enjoy your revolving door of underpaid, overworked hires.
I’ll be somewhere better.
💙Love, Loops