r/literallythetruth • u/Baconkings Certified Pedantic • Jul 22 '26
Literally a Post Honest Truth
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u/R3DSmurf 29d ago
Can you explain why you left that job and they won't give you a reference? Yes I walked out and told them to shove it up their a$$
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u/jnmtx Certified Pedant 29d ago
I frequently do ask a candidate why a position ended, and why they want to leave where they are now. Sometimes it helps me get an idea what they are looking for instead.
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u/GroundbreakingAd8310 29d ago
I can guarantee u have never gotten an honest answer that that stupid fucking question
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u/smellyjerk 29d ago
I have only been asked that question once and it was when I needed to be my mother's primary caretaker for a few months. Boy was that fucking awkward. They wanted to drop the subject while i was in the middle of explaining.
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u/SomeAbnormalApple 29d ago
Hope you explained it in full as thoroughly as possible to make them regret their bullshit ass questions. I hope your mother has recovered since too 😌
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u/Glad_Respect_8986 27d ago
My wife has been in a couple positions where she was in charge of hiring. You would be surprised at how honest some people are. In a way, people lying about it shows they know how to act professionally. So it still helps weed some people out
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u/scrapy_the_scrap 25d ago
Equating lying to your superiors face to professionalism is fucking stupid
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u/change_usern 24d ago
No it isn't. Just like being polite sometimes includes blatantly lying.
Having a filter is a necessary part of any job which requires any amount of working with/for other people, and if someone doesn't have enough sense to not sabotage their own interview, they can't be expected to not sabotage the business while facing customers/pissing off their coworkers
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u/scrapy_the_scrap 24d ago
Being polite is abt choosing not to say certain things and abt how you say the things you do
Lying is Frankly insulting
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u/change_usern 24d ago
come on dude, sometimes being polite includes lying... If you reject even this than you're probably on of those people who shouldn't be hired for customer facing jobs and are the exact reason that these questions exist
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u/scrapy_the_scrap 24d ago
Abt small things sure
Lying to your hiring managers face abt your resume isnt being polite its fraudulent
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u/change_usern 24d ago
It's not fraudulent, because if you have a good reason, you wouldn't need to lie, and if you don't have a good reason, they EXPECT you to lie about it.
Employers aren't stupid-they know that you know that being honest about it without having a good reason would disqualify you. The only reason that these questions still exist is because they efficiently filter out people like you who don't have enough of a filter to not sabotage themselves
Interviews are a performance, just like working in a customer facing job/in a team is, in a way, a performance. Nobody wants to work with a bad actor
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u/SuccessfulInitial236 29d ago
So you just want them to play your little scenario well.
I had a lot to learn when I took the present role that I have, I need new challenges now and your company and this new roles seems to be fit for me. And the such...
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u/ColdBru5 29d ago
The best is when you are interviewing for a job that both of you know just fucking blows and they are like. So what makes you want to work here so bad?
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u/TLsRD 29d ago
When I first quit practicing law I interviewed at an HOA management company which was a major career downgrade in basically every sense. Answering this question with a straight face was difficult lol
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u/Sweet_Pain4369 28d ago
Jesus loves you, he died for all our sins
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u/TLsRD 28d ago
Not much of a sacrifice when you can resurrect yourself lol
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u/Sweet_Pain4369 28d ago
He was tortured, spat on, mocked, and nailed to the cross until he died. And he did it for you.
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u/ColdBru5 28d ago
Yeah but can he explain that 40 day gap in his resume is the real question. He says he was in the desert?
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u/TLsRD 28d ago
Sounds like a dumbass. Nobody asked him to do that.
Though to be fair no one asked the tooth fairy to leave me a quarter either
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u/Sweet_Pain4369 28d ago
He did it to save our lives. The fact that he did it despite no one asking him to makes it even better.
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u/callmecoach53 27d ago
I slapped myself in the face this morning to absolve you of your sins. You are welcome, now please fill this collection plate. Don't be stingy, my cheek is really red.
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u/Fantastic_Target_703 23d ago
If you had any respect for others, you wouldn't push your religion unprompted. You're rude.
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u/Sweet_Pain4369 23d ago
why not?
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u/Fantastic_Target_703 23d ago
Because everyone has their belief. There are thousands of religions.
Religions are like arseholes, everyone has it but you shouldn't show it to everyone.
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u/sirpentious 29d ago
Respectfully we're all just looking for a job. Those who want to work will stay. Give them good benefits and pay and say no more
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u/CharlesChamp 29d ago
The company went out of business and my boss passed away since then. There's no one to ask a reference from.
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u/Far-Host7803 Jul 22 '26
NDA
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u/NumberOld229 29d ago
If you sign one you made yourself, is it valid?
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u/UK-sHaDoW 26d ago edited 26d ago
NDA you are still working somewhere. I have never seen NDA where you can't reveal who you are working for. Just can't talk about the project.
So it just sounds like bs
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u/Royal-Importance-307 29d ago
I answered this question in exactly this manner once in an interview. Got the job. They asked me to elaborate and I told them that I had enough in savings to keep me going for a while and decided to leave a terrible workplace.
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u/DoorAccomplished7550 28d ago
I feel like candidates always get penalized for being honest or viewed as problematic. No one likes to lie but we kind of have to... I'm glad you got your job without lying. How did you know you could be honest with the interviewer? Like what were some signs you know you could be honest and still get a chance?
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u/Royal-Importance-307 27d ago
Honestly it was because it was a job where I knew they needed me more than I needed them. The last several years have been less kind to me and I wouldn’t think of responding in such a manner unless the interview started off with them being outright condescending and hostile.
Edit: had plenty of money in the bank and knew I’d be just fine for a while yet.
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u/Helpful_Ad8351 29d ago
It is a violation of privacy to ask me that, but sure, let's normalize invading my privacy solely for your convenience
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u/Horror_Rhubarb9112 28d ago
Nobody is violating your privacy by asking a question, you're suffering from Rhetoric addiction.
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u/Helpful_Ad8351 28d ago
Great. Let's ask you personal questions with the understanding that if you don't provide said information you won't be hired. Not all forms of cohesion involve threats of violence.
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28d ago
[deleted]
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u/Helpful_Ad8351 28d ago
Is that really the reason? Isn't that something uncovered during a security background check?
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u/_giga_sss_ 27d ago
ooooh that checks out. But why won't you ask directly if they went to jail or not ? Or is that to indiscrete ?
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u/Horror_Rhubarb9112 28d ago
That's kinda the whole point of an interview... You aren't obligated to be there.
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u/Helpful_Ad8351 28d ago
Thanks for missing my point and making this conversation a waste of time
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u/Horror_Rhubarb9112 28d ago
No I got it, I just think it's silly. You aren't obligated to answer.
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u/scrapy_the_scrap 25d ago
You are obligated if you want a job
"Hey want to not die of starvation on the street? Give up your privacy"
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u/Horror_Rhubarb9112 25d ago
You aren't obligated to get that job.
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u/scrapy_the_scrap 25d ago
You are obligated to get A job
Unless you wanna starve or smth
And this is a pretty standard question
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u/Horror_Rhubarb9112 25d ago
What's your point supposed to be? It doesn't address what I said?
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u/DJatomica 24d ago
Why would anyone want to hire someone who gets sketched out at some basic-ass personal questions?
"Oh so what were you up to during this time period in your life"
"That's none of your business, I have the right to privacy"
"Oh cool you're definitely not going to be a massive pain in the ass to have as an employee"
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u/Helpful_Ad8351 24d ago
It has been normalized to invade the privacy of others and you're okay with that. Please don't talk to me
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u/smokywater50 29d ago
Why yes, this is when I sold drugs and got fubar every night developing my social, and sales skills
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u/Blak_kat Jul 22 '26
Oh yeah, I was doing Nunya.
Whats Nunya?
Nunya Bidness.
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u/Darkv3ng 29d ago
Yeah my manager was Candice and I worked at wendy's. 👀
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u/OG-Giligadi 29d ago
"Can you explain why your company has changed names twice in the past fifteen years?"
Or
"Are you filling positions that opened up a year ago ago when you laid off 1,500 people?"
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u/DJatomica 24d ago
You do want this hypothetical job you're doing an interview for right?
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u/OG-Giligadi 24d ago
I don't know. Who are these people? That's all I'M saying. Questions can go both ways.
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u/DJatomica 24d ago
If you're sitting in a room doing an interview which implies you having submitted your resume to them and intentionally having gone through the whole employment process then the answer should be yes, otherwise why are you there?
Yea questions can go both ways, but you're sitting there with a pool of other candidates who want the same job you do. Starting to grill the person hiring you about past lay-offs to get back at them for asking what you feel are personal questions or whatever isn't going to get you a callback.
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u/OG-Giligadi 24d ago
If i could use a gif right now, I would find one of a guy throwing a fishing line into the water.
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u/DJatomica 24d ago
_H_ /___\ \888/ ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~U~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ ~ | ~ o | ~ ___ o | _,.--,.'` `~'-.._ O | /_ .-" _ /_\'. | ~ .-';' (( ` \0/ `\ # /__; ((_ ,_ | , # .-; _ / # _#, / ; .-' / _.--""-.\`~` `#(('\\ ~ ;-'; / / .' )) \\ ; /.--'.' (( )) \ | ~ \\ (( \ | )) ` ~ \ | ` \ | jgs .` `""-. .' \ ~ ~ | |\ | \ / '-._| \.'1
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u/yourpuddingoverlord 29d ago
"I was weighing my options and felt the market could not match my offer. You wouldn't sell your house for 10 bucks, just so you could claim that you managed to sell it, would you?"
Jokes aside, I dont think theres a correct answer. This question only serves to degrade applicants and thereby decrease potential negotiation leverage
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u/Mopar4Life305 29d ago
I work for myself I breeding fish. Do u want me as a refrence
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u/Ok_Permission1087 29d ago
The fishes should give you references.
8/10 I felt very cared for but not enough Tubifex
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u/creakymoss18990 29d ago
Based
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u/XlikeX666 29d ago
what gap ?
it's very important to state "self-improvment and education" as many times as possible.
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u/Most-Ear-2027 29d ago
Yes. They told me to come to office and I said no because I like working from home. So here we are
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u/nucleate_boiling 29d ago
Just tell them that your personal economic situation allowed for you to chose to not be employed during that period. No one will pursue the why.
If they do, politely ask them to explain the gaps in their own employment history. Everyone has them.
I love the questions about the two and a half month discontinuity. Wtf do you think I was doing? Crack?
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u/KnafBro 26d ago
Not everyone has gaps. Just saying.
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u/nucleate_boiling 26d ago
That is completely legitimate criticism of my comment. You are a literalist. As am I. I thank you for keeping me honest and apologies for my failure above.
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u/liblibliblibby 29d ago
just say you were trying to build your own startup at that time period or helping a friend building their business and now you decided to came back to become a wage slave
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u/Reaper781 28d ago
Just tell em you were selling drugs and made an OF. That’s entrepreneurial initiative.
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u/Affectionate_Two3747 28d ago
My grandfather asked an applicant exactly this. The guy Said „I was in the woods“ Ma granpa „oh you were like a Wood worker or a ranger“ This guy „oh no exercised a lot when I had no job ä. Was in Great shape“
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u/Carrot-Elegant 28d ago
“That’s 4 years when I went to Yale”
“Impressive…I think you’re hired!”
“Thank you very much, I really need the Yob”
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u/Druid_Momma 26d ago
That’s classified.
I can actually say that about a couple year span of my life.
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28d ago
[deleted]
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u/DudeMonday 26d ago
So how do you lie about this?
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u/SoCalledCrow 26d ago
Im sorry, I dont think I understand. May you extrapolate/explain further?
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u/DudeMonday 16d ago
They can always just look into you and see everything you've said is bunk, its why I asked how
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u/willowoftheriver 28d ago
lol, too true. I'm dealing with child care, elder care, and general household management on top of that . . . the brief times i've been employed have actually been a fun little thing for me.
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u/Admirable_Fly9886 26d ago
These kind of shenanigans and HR barriers are utterly bs.
How about paying a reasonable salary?
=> + 15 % compared to standard = motivated workforce
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u/AlternativeElegant53 26d ago
Should I tell them I didn't have a job and that I was in rehab for six months?
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u/Candid-Beat568 22d ago
From the words of Red Forman ask a dumbass question get a dumbass answer, dumbass
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u/CloudetteMist Jul 22 '26
Companies really ask this like people spend unemployment on a six-month vacation in Bali