‘I Thought They Were Joking’: Pune Man Claims HR Asked Him To Work Without Pay For 8 Months
'I Thought They Were Joking': Pune Man Claims HR Asked Him To Work Without Pay For 8 Months
A job interview is usually where candidates are asked about their skills, experience, and future goals. But for one job-seeker in Pune, the conversation took an unexpected turn when he was reportedly asked if he was willing to work for several months without any salary.
The incident came to light after a Pune-based candidate, Pranav, shared his experience on X (formerly Twitter). His post quickly went viral, sparking discussions about unfair hiring practices and the growing concerns faced by job-seekers.
According to Pranav, he attended a walk-in interview with high hopes, as finding a job has become increasingly difficult. However, during the very first round with the HR team, he was reportedly asked whether he would be willing to work without pay for the next six to eight months. He claimed the HR representative told him that if everything went well, the company would then consider offering him a salary.
Pranav said he initially thought the statement was a joke. He expressed disappointment, saying that after spending years studying, building projects, learning new skills, and preparing for interviews, being asked to work full-time without pay was shocking.
He also pointed out that the offer did not resemble a regular internship, as there was no stipend, structured training, or clear employment plan. In his opinion, the arrangement placed all the risk on the candidate while the company had no commitment.
Sharing more details, Pranav claimed the company appeared to be run by only two people the CEO and an HR representative even though it had organised a mass walk-in recruitment drive. He clarified that he was not criticising the company’s size but felt that candidates deserved transparency and respect for their time.
Pranav ended his post by encouraging other job-seekers to value their skills and time. He said that while gaining experience is important, unpaid full-time work should not be accepted as a normal career opportunity.
His post received widespread attention, with several social media users sharing similar experiences. One user claimed that many startups in Pune rely on unpaid workers to support their early operations. Another user, who said they hire for their own startup, commented that if a company cannot pay employees, it should consider offering them equity as co-founders instead of expecting them to work for free.
Disclaimer: This report is based on claims made by a social media user. Pune Pulse has not independently verified these allegations, and the company mentioned has not publicly responded to the claims.
