Job seeker replied 'thank you' to a rejection email marked ‘Do not reply’ — two days later, an unexpected response landed in his inbox
Job hunting can be exhausting, especially when rejection emails keep piling up despite your best efforts. One candidate got tired of back-to-back rejection emails and was about to archive another email he received. Just when he thought the opportunity was gone, he noticed the email was directly from the recruiter and decided to reply with a thank you. The employee's friend, who posts on Reddit as u/Heavy-Beginning-5951, shared the story on November 3, 2026, and said his reply turned a disappointing email into an unexpected turn of events.
Responding to a rejection email actually worked for my friend
by u/Heavy-Beginning-5951 in jobsearchhell
The person who shared the story said their friend had been looking for work since his team was downsized in early March. The search had worn him down, especially after sending out 10 to 20 applications a day with very little response. So when another rejection email arrived, he was ready to move on. But noticing that it came directly from a recruiter rather than an automated address, he decided to reply politely, thanking them for considering him and adding, “I'm still very interested in the company, so please keep me in mind for any future roles that might be a good fit.” He didn't expect much, but just two days later, the same recruiter emailed him back saying, “A spot on the team has actually just opened up unexpectedly.” The recruiter then asked if he was available for a call the following week, and he now had an interview scheduled for Tuesday.
The friend was apparently stunned by the recruiter's response, especially since he had already assumed the opportunity was gone. What began as a routine rejection suddenly turned into another chance to interview for the role. The person sharing the story felt it was a good reminder that a little courtesy can sometimes make a difference, even when things don't go your way.
Other Reddit users shared similar experiences and thoughts. u/Sir_Prise2050 said, "I actually got a job with a good response to a rejection letter. It's possible." u/Iluvxena2 reminded, "Easier to catch flies with honey than vinegar." Meanwhile, u/Bearinn shared a different opinion, writing, "It sounds like the team is growing rapidly or the last candidate quit after a few weeks or stopped showing up"
A rejection isn't always the end of the conversation. A thoughtful response won't guarantee another opportunity, but it can leave a positive impression and keep the door open. A similar story involved another job seeker who turned a rejection into a new opportunity by responding thoughtfully. After being told he wasn't the right fit for a role, he reached out to the hiring manager and asked if they knew of any teams that might suit his skills better. The manager connected him with two people, and one of those introductions eventually led to a job offer two months later. He even got to help shape the role before joining the company.
For more of their posts, follow u/Heavy-Beginning-5951 on Reddit.