Latest news with #RitikaAgnihotri
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Delhi-based HR executive receives unwanted shayari, flirty WhatsApps from rejected male candidate; LinkedIn post viral
A bizarre job application lands in the inbox of a Delhi recruiter, replacing the resume with romantic poetry — and sparking a larger conversation on harassment in hiring. For college students entering the job market, here's a cautionary tale on what not to do. In a rather filmi (and unwanted) twist to a job application, Ritika Agnihotri, a Delhi-based talent acquisition specialist at an IT firm, recently shared on LinkedIn how a male job seeker sent her shayari instead of a CV — turning what should have been a professional conversation into a cringeworthy episode of unsolicited romance. The episode unfolded when Ritika, after politely informing a candidate that he wasn't selected for the role, received a WhatsApp message that read like a page out of a romantic Bollywood script. "Muskan Ban Jata Hai Koi, Dil Ki Dhadkan ban Jata Hai Koi, Kaise Jiye Ek Pal Bhi Unke Bin, Jab Zindgi Jeene Ki Wajah Ban Jata Hai Koi (sic).' Instead of moving on, the candidate followed it up with another series of texts: "Aap sundar etne ho main aapko dekhne k baad ab tak ni bhul paya mam (sic)" and "You are the most beautiful girl in the world." If that wasn't enough, Ritika reported missed calls in the middle of the night from the same person. Sharing screenshots of the messages on LinkedIn, Ritika questioned how HR professionals are supposed to respond to such inappropriate behaviour. "How are we supposed to respond to applicants who not only lack professionalism but also basic communication sense?" she asked in her post. The post quickly went viral, striking a chord with many HR professionals and LinkedIn users who voiced their support. The responses were a mix of outrage, concern, and practical advice. A user suggested, 'We should disclose their identity to teach them a lesson and prevent them from targeting others. Blocking alone won't stop such behavior. Some may argue that this could ruin their career, but if we don't take action, they will continue to harass others.' Another added (seemingly from experience), 'I usually just let them know, I will be sending screenshots to current and future HRs of their companies, it works like magic. Trust the word.' Some even joked about hiring such candidates just to fire them within the month with no notice, while others urged HRs to stick strictly to email rather than sharing phone numbers to maintain a professional boundary and record. While the incident may seem laughable at first glance, it touches on a deeper issue: the lack of respect many professionals — especially women — face while simply doing their jobs. In Ritika's words, this wasn't a one-off. She also received other flirtatious texts and late-night calls from male candidates — clearly crossing the line between personal and professional. If you're just stepping into the professional world, this is your friendly reminder: a job application is not a dating app. Professionalism, clarity, and respect go a long way — and HRs are there to hire talent, not to entertain midnight shayari.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Indian Express
Delhi candidates send romantic messages to HR on WhatsApp instead of CV, leave recruiter stunned
In an unusual incident, a female talent acquisition specialist from Delhi was left baffled after a hopeful applicant decided to skip the resume and instead sent her a romantic shayari over WhatsApp. The poetic message shared by the HR on LinkedIn turned what should have been a professional interaction into an awkward and inappropriate exchange. Ritika Agnihotri, a recruiter at Depex Technologies, shared her experience, posting screenshots of several messages she had received from male candidates during the hiring process. What she exposed wasn't just unprofessional, it veered into outright flirtation. 'One candidate sent me shayari, while another commented on my looks and even gave me missed calls in the middle of the night,' she wrote. One message she received read, 'Muskan ban jaata hai koi, dil ki dhadkan ban jaata hai koi, Kaise jiye ek pal bhi unke bin, Jab zindagi jeene ki wajah ban jaata hai koi…' Another texted her saying, 'Aap sundar itni ho main aapko dekhne ke baad ab tak nahi bhool paya ma'am. But jo sach tha woh bola, gussa mat hona. You are the most beautiful girl in the world.' Frustrated, Agnihotri questioned how recruiters are expected to deal with such behaviour. 'How are we supposed to respond to applicants who not only lack professionalism but also basic communication sense?' she asked. See here: Her post quickly gained traction on LinkedIn, with many users expressing similar concerns and calling out the lack of boundaries some job seekers exhibit during the hiring process. 'We should disclose their identity to teach them a lesson and prevent them from targeting others. Blocking alone won't stop such behavior. Some may argue that this could ruin their career, but if we don't take action, they will continue to harass others,' a user wrote. 'I usually just let them know, I will be sending screenshots to current and future HRs of their companies, it works like magic. Trust the word,' another user commented. 'The best way to handle this is to expose them not hide them,' a third user reacted.
India Today
24-05-2025
- India Today
Delhi woman shares inappropriate messages she got from candidate rejected for job
A Delhi-based woman, a Human Resources (HR) specialist by profession, shared a post about receiving inappropriate messages from a rejected candidate. Her now-viral post has raised questions about workplace boundaries and professional a now-viral post on LinkedIn, Ritika Agnihotri, who works as a talent acquisition specialist at Depex Technologies, shared screenshots of the candidate's persistent and inappropriate messages after he failed to secure a job. advertisementShe detailed how the individual continued to reach out with unwelcome calls and unsolicited poetry. 'How to handle this kind of candidate? Any comments/suggestions?' Ritika said in her post. Her question triggered reactions from professionals across various industries, a majority of whom condemned the candidate's behaviour and expressed a look at the viral post here: Several LinkedIn users said that this wasn't a one-off incident, but part of a larger pattern faced by recruiters, particularly women. One of the users, who identified as a hiring manager, said that exposing such individuals could help prevent further harassment. 'We should disclose their identity to teach them a lesson and prevent them from targeting others. Blocking alone won't stop such behaviour. Some may argue that this could ruin their career, but if we don't take action, they will continue to harass others,' the comment usually just let them know I will be sending screenshots to current and future HRs of their companies; it works like magic. Trust the word,' a user said. Another user pointed out that the messages weren't simply unprofessional; they were unethical. 'The individual's message was not just inappropriate - it was very wrong and a clear violation of professional ethics and boundaries. Such behaviour must be condemned and dealt with seriously,' they the comments here: Ritika has not revealed the candidate's name, but her post has prompted many to speak out about the need for better safeguards for recruiters. Her experience has opened up a larger conversation on maintaining respect and professionalism during the hiring process.
