What is a job for, if not to earn a living?
One Malaysian jobseeker was left wondering this after an interviewer seemed offended by the most basic question of all: the salary.
According to the post on Reddit, the interviewer gave them the side eye before allegedly saying:
Tak kerja lagi tapi dah tanya berapa gaji, awak datang semata-mata untuk gaji jelah ni?”
(Not even working yet but already asking about the salary? You’re just here for the money, right?)
The jobseeker was stunned.
“Yes, they really said that and I still can’t believe it even though I heard it with my own two ears,” the Redditor wrote.
I mean, isn’t that what a job is? Why would I work for you if not for the salary?”
To make things worse, the jobseeker revealed they had previously been scammed by a company that promised a fake salary. That experience made them more cautious this time but clearly, not everyone sees it the same way.
Interview turned sour
What started as a normal job interview quickly spiraled into a frustrating experience.
The jobseeker described the interviewer as the “auntie” type who loved lecturing the younger generation.
“They’re the kind who will yap on and on about ‘kids these days’ having no common sense. And even if they realised they were wrong, they’d just get more aggressive,” the post read.
Eventually, the jobseeker decided it wasn’t worth the stress and chose to move on with their job hunt, leaving the awkward encounter behind.
“We work for free now, is it?”
When the story hit Reddit, netizens immediately flooded the comments section and they were not holding back.
Some expressed disbelief at the interviewer’s words:
“Um… yes? I work to get money? Otherwise why would I be here?”
“We all just love to be a slave. Literally nothing matters to us. We’re fine without food, family, time off, hobbies, clothes. We only need… work! Without wage!”
Others mocked the unrealistic expectations some employers seem to have:
“Lmao they really expecting too much. Like yes, it’s always been my dream to become a slave at a 9-5 job because life is so cheap and easy.”
And many pointed out that interviews go both ways:
“Think of it this way OP: an interview is a two-way street. You’re interviewing them too. If they say stuff like this, you don’t want to work there anyway.”
“If they can’t even pretend to be nice during interviews, imagine how terrible they are once you start working. You dodged a bullet.”
“Knowing their attitude, imagine how hard it’ll be to even get leave later.”
Hoping for a better job ahead
Despite the unpleasant experience, the jobseeker ended the post on a hopeful note, asking others to pray that they land a better job soon after multiple applications.
Many commenters also encouraged them, pointing out that companies with red flags during interviews usually signal an even worse work culture later on.
As one commenter summed it up:
“You deserve better. Good luck may the next company be one that actually respects its employees.”
Asking how much the salary in the interview should never be consider rude.
byu/dai_lu_mao_zi inBolehland
