Candidate has the best reply to hiring manager demanding 'rapport' through a one-way video interview

Job hunts are quite challenging because of the diverse expectations from different recruiters. Even before tackling the interview, one has to go through the exhausting screening process. One candidate, u/livykitty14, who applied for a managerial position in a company, shared their experience on Reddit. The candidate was shocked that the first round of screening involved a one-way video interview, and expressed their discomfort in going through the process. When they shared their hiring manager's response to this, people were simply appalled by his reasoning. 

Initially, the candidate received a communication about the interview process, where it was mentioned that the candidate was shortlisted for the Growth Marketing Manager position. As their next step, they had to attend a one-way virtual interview through an app, after which they'd be interviewed by the hiring manager and other executives. On seeing this, the candidate decided to express their discontent with having to attend a one-way video interview. They communicated that though they empathized with the hiring manager having to take up responsibilities of both a recruiter and the head of marketing, they would like to build a rapport with each other, rather than interact with a preprogrammed app. 

Explaining their reason for declining the one-way video interview, the candidate mentioned, "It's pretty distracting to speak at yourself to a camera without any opportunity to prepare for the prompts you're being asked." They emphasized their preference for an "organic conversation," in which they would gladly share about how their skills and experience would benefit the company. Thoug this person ultimatley left it up to the manager , they concluded that, "I know it'd be more productive to have a distraction-free 15-minute conversation to set our thoughts free."

The candidate communicated their preference professionally, but it still did not sit well with the hiring manager. As a response to the candidate, the manager wrote, "This stand is perplexing," and went ahead to explain why it was a reasonable method of interview. The manager argued that the app would ask the same questions that he would in a two-way interview and that it was designed to "build a rapport" with the candidates. He explained that it even provided time for candidates to think and allowed them a few retakes to get it right. He pointed out how this was similar to a two-way interview and that candidates could always have follow-up questions in the next stages of the screening process. "You may experience a little empathy for the rationale one day if you're in a hiring opportunity," he wrote.

Not just the candidate, but even other users were stumped by the manager's reasoning of "building a rapport" with an app. "Honestly the comment from the hiring manager had me creased. You'll be able to build rapport with yourself or with the video software. What a time to be alive," commented u/PinkLadyApple1. "The more people who push back against this, the sooner it can die the death we all need it to," wrote u/JustAnOttawaGuy. "I have been a hiring manager for 12 years and I will never willingly put a candidate through these until the day I retire. This person is mad," commented u/gigitee.