Recruiter Goes On Wild 'Rant' After Being Asked About Pay: 'No Value Now'

A job candidate has exposed a recruiter's stunning response to their inquiry about compensation, sparking outrage online.

Aryan Aggarwal, an 18-year-old student in Melbourne, Australia, shared the alleged recruiter's message in images that went viral on Reddit's "Antiwork" forum Thursday. "I asked him the pay he's offering and he went on a big rant," Aggarwal titled the post, which has amassed over 25,000 votes. You can read the full post here.

Screenshots showed that Aggarwal sent his resume to the recruiter, who asked if he was interested in joining the disability industry.

"I'd be interested but it depends on the pay you're offering," Aggarwal replied.

The recruiter's long, bitter response sent the internet into a tizzy.

"We need someone who is into work more than money," said the reply. "I do not know you at all, I was booking an initial meeting with you to discuss if you would like to use your skills in the industry. It seems you value money more than your work. Although we pay as demanded but I do not like your approach."

The recruiter went on to lecture Aggarwal about his industry, saying, "the disability sector is not about money."

He closed with, "I discussed your resume with my team and thought you would be a great fit for the marketing team. But I see no value now."

Aggarwal told Newsweek he was "shocked and angry" when he first read the message.

"How could he say something like this in reply to my simple question?" he wondered. "He wrote that message in such a way that it made me think that maybe I made a mistake asking for the pay."

In Australia, it is legal for companies to prohibit employees from discussing their salary through "pay secrecy clauses." These clauses can quash workers' bargaining power and significantly widen the gender pay gap, according to Australian firm Sprint Law. Pay secrecy is legally unenforceable in the United States and the United Kingdom, which banned the practice to combat discrimination and the disempowerment of employees.

Australia's national gender pay gap stands at 13.8 percent, according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) of the Australian government. On average, women earn $255.30 AUD ($170.90 USD) per week less than men.

Aggarwal's Reddit post shocked readers online, with many arguing the candidate had dodged a bullet.

"Honestly his response is literally the best-case scenario," said one comment. "Block this clown without responding and move on."

Another mocked the recruiter, summarizing his message as "'I discussed your resume with my team and thought we'd love to exploit you. But I see no opportunity now.'"

Aggarwal shared his final blunt response to the recruiter with Newsweek.

"I wasn't aware that asking for pay for the work you're supposed to be doing is considered rude," he said. "It doesn't matter what sector it is. No one is here to work for free."

He added, "All the best. Hope you find someone who's more into work than money for your team."

Job applicants from across the world regularly go viral for exposing brazen recruiters.

On Wednesday, a frustrated Redditor said a recruiter insisted they give up $40,000 in salary to join a new company, claiming the applicant was currently "overpaid."

Another recruiter became the butt of internet jokes last month for their angry outburst in response to an applicant's salary expectations.

Meanwhile, a pay transparency advocate went viral in April for recording herself asking strangers on the street to disclose their jobs and salaries, leading many viewers to realize they were underpaid.

Update 7/20/2022, 10:15 a.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from the job candidate.