Woman aced every round for a $325K startup role but still got rejected — then the recruiter called with a reason she never expected
The job market is harder than ever, and it's challenging to get recruiters to even look at your resume, let alone respond. Threads user Chanel Coco, who also goes by (@chanelcocofive), fortunately received a reply and went through the interviews. Unfortunately, she was informed that she was not chosen. Sharing the story on March 17, 2026, the woman explained that she was "distraught" with the rejection when the company offered to share feedback over a call. Dejectedly, she agreed, only to hear something that transformed her perspective.
"A startup contacted me for a role paying $325K a year," she shared. Despite going through all the interviews and doing well, she was not selected. While she was heartbroken over the rejection, she received a message from the hiring manager, who wanted to speak to her and give her feedback. The interviewee was reluctant at first, but agreed. During the call, it was revealed that although the employers were impressed by her performance, they found her overqualified. "We felt this role was beneath you. You would get bored. The role we think you deserve hasn't been created yet. We need more capital to build it for you," they explained.
Coco also shut down trolls who called her story fake by posting a screenshot of the email she had received. It mentioned how they couldn't give her feedback in writing but were glad to speak with her over a call. "It really shows how many of you believe Black women are incapable of landing high-level roles. I personally know several Black women in lucrative positions, people in San Francisco making $500K in tech," she wrote. Receiving active feedback from recruiters gives candidates time to reflect on the areas they need to improve. However, for Coco, the rejection redirected her to a better path and showed her that she was capable of more. It became an encouragement to chase bigger dreams.
Many appreciated the company's professionalism but thought it would have been better if they'd given her a chance and helped her grow instead. @delainadashae said, "That’s nice, but they could’ve chosen you and then elevated you into the next role they build. You could’ve even trained your replacement." @awaitsnyc wrote, "This happened to a friend of mine. True to their word, 6 months or so later, they called him with an offer for a new role." @veganroyalty remarked, "You are excellent and deserve all the recognition."
For more such informative and motivating stories, follow @chanelcocofive on Threads.
More on Amplify
Teen got hit by tornado on his way home from job interview—then company's response blew his mind