# A Startup That Actually Paid Candidates for Their Time

**[WIN]** — by Tech professional · via r/developersIndia

A Reddit user who had grown accustomed to the gruelling norms of hiring in India posted in disbelief after interviewing with a small US startup. The process consisted of one introductory call, two paid assignments, a single technical interview, and a group discussion — all scheduled within a clear, communicated timeline.\n\n"Even if they reject me, it'll feel fair," the poster wrote, "because they valued my effort."\n\nThe contrast was stark: in their home market, multi-round marathons with unpaid take-home projects that sometimes ended up in production were treated as standard. Here, a company too small to waste anyone's time had built a process that respected it. The post resonated widely, with thousands of commenters sharing their own rare encounters with humane hiring and wondering aloud why it was so uncommon.

*Source: [r/developersIndia · 5k+ upvotes](https://www.businesstoday.in/amp/latest/trends/story/indian-interviews-feel-like-a-circus-viral-post-praises-us-startups-fair-paid-hiring-process-497022-2025-10-06)*
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