# The CEO made him wait 40 minutes with no apology. So he rejected the offer on the spot.

**[TRUE STORY]** — by Entrepreneur · Bengaluru · via Reddit

A fresh graduate arrived on time for an interview at a Bengaluru startup. The CEO kept him waiting 40 minutes, then launched straight into questions without acknowledging the delay. Impressed by the candidate's answers, the CEO offered him the job on the spot. The candidate declined, explaining afterward on Reddit that the absence of a simple apology signalled a "severe lack of empathy." He later became a successful entrepreneur himself and said the experience shaped how he hires: "If he had just said sorry before starting the interview, the situation might have been different."

*Source: [Reddit via News18 · Jul 3, 2026](https://www.news18.com/viral/severe-lack-of-empathy-bengaluru-entrepreneur-rejects-job-after-founder-keeps-him-waiting-40-minutes-offers-no-apology-ws-l-10188629.html)*
[← Back to stories](https://www.goodbyeinterview.com/stories.md)
[Corrections](https://www.goodbyeinterview.com/corrections.md)