# Internal Memo: Regarding the Unauthorised Salary Inquiry

**[SATIRE]** — by The Satire Desk · inspired by a post on r/recruitinghell

FROM: The Office of the CEO, Cromulent AI
TO: Talent Acquisition
SUBJECT: Revised Candidate Screening Protocol

Effective immediately, all recruiters are instructed to withdraw interview invitations from any candidate who inquires about compensation before demonstrating adequate deference to the process.

A recent incident brought this to my attention. A candidate responded to our outreach with a reasonable-enough-looking question: "Can you please let me know the salary range for this role?" Reasonable, yes. But also — and I want you to sit with this — it lacks good judgment in an introduction.

The purpose of the interview process, as I have always understood it, is for the candidate to prove their worth to us, at which point we will determine what that worth is. Asking us to name a number first disrupts the natural order. It suggests the candidate believes their time has value independent of our assessment. This is not the kind of person we want at Cromulent AI.

Our new protocol: Any candidate who mentions compensation before the third round will receive a form email informing them that, while the question is technically fair, they have been disqualified for poor judgment in asking it. The role will remain open. The salary range will remain undisclosed. The circus, as they say, will continue.

cc: Legal (please confirm this does not violate any statute we care about)

*Source: [Inspired by r/recruitinghell · via Yahoo Finance / Benzinga](https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/job-candidate-floored-circus-job-163107723.html)*

> ⚠️ SATIRE — clearly labelled fiction. Do not cite as real events.

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