Last month, I applied for a remote position at a tech company (I’d prefer to keep the name private). The role sounded like a great fit, aligned perfectly with my background and interests, and the fact that it was fully remote made it even more appealing.
Since January, I had been actively looking for new opportunities. The culture at my current company and the lack of growth had been weighing on me, so when a recruiter from this dream company reached out, I was genuinely excited.
The day of the onsite interview was a little chaotic. I made sure to create a clean, distraction-free setup, just like a proctored exam environment. My desk was completely empty, nothing on the walls, just a cup of coffee next to me as I got ready for the system design round.
When the interviewer gave me the prompt, I walked through the problem step by step organizedly. Honestly, the question was quite manageable, and by the end of the session, I actually felt really good about how it went.
Then came the call the following evening.
The timing was odd, it was late, and I almost missed it. When I picked up, the HR said:
“We’ve received feedback from your system design interview.”
“After reviewing your session, we’ve decided to close your application due to concerns of potential misconduct.”
I was stunned.
They were essentially accusing me of cheating, with no explanation, no details, and no opportunity to respond or clarify. Just… done.
This was only the second serious job I had pursued since moving to the U.S., and I had put in real time, energy, and preparation. I followed the rules. I gave it my all. To be dismissed like that, with such a serious accusation and zero transparency, felt deeply unfair.
For days, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I kept wondering: Did I do something wrong without realizing it? Is this something that happens often in the industry? Or was I just incredibly unlucky?
And then… another part of me started asking harder questions. The HR rep had an Indian accent, and the process overall felt rushed, opaque, and oddly impersonal. I truly don’t want to jump to conclusions or reinforce stereotypes, but anyone who’s worked in tech long enough knows there are insider networks. Sometimes people protect “their own” or subtly make room for someone they already have in mind.
I’m not saying that’s definitely what happened here.
But I’d be lying if I said the thought didn’t cross my mind.
I know I’m not the only one who has felt this way, especially as an immigrant, or someone outside those circles.
When hiring decisions are made behind closed doors, with no transparency or accountability, how are we supposed to trust that the process is fair? How are we — the outsiders, the underrepresented, the non-traditional candidates — supposed to stand a chance?
I still don’t have closure. I still don’t know what I was accused of doing.
But I know one thing for sure: I didn’t cheat.
So I’m sharing this because I genuinely want to ask:
Has this happened to anyone else? Is this normal? Or did I just get incredibly unlucky?
