You’re arguing that an 8am interview is a reasonable expectation because it aligns with traditional norms, schools, exams, military, etc. But hiring isn’t school or bootcamp. It’s a two-way evaluation of fit, not obedience.
Rejecting a candidate for proposing a different time isn’t about punctuality, it’s about control. You’re not screening for performance. You’re screening for submission. And yes, that is a red flag of poor culture.
The exam analogy is flawed. Exams are fixed because they involve thousands of people and logistical constraints. Interviews don’t. You’re dealing with one person at a time. If your flexibility is zero at this stage, candidates can reasonably assume it only gets worse once they’re hired.
And about “waking up at 3am for a partner call”, that’s a false equivalence. Those are exceptions in service of a goal, not arbitrary. If you’re asking someone to wake up at 3am because that’s the only time a key investor is available, they’ll understand.
You say it’s not a hiring filter but it absolutely is, if you’re disqualifying people based on their reaction to the slot. You’re testing who will endure anything uncomfortable without question. That’s a filter and its a bad one.
Finally, you don’t know a candidate’s commute, caregiving obligations, or other constraints. If you can’t extend flexibility during hiring, you’re signaling that individuality is an inconvenience, not a value. And that is the culture signal candidates are reading.
So no, it’s not about being “woke”. It’s about mutual respect and modern leadership. If you're filtering out thoughtful professionals because they asked for a 9am slot instead of 8, you’re not raising standards. You’re narrowing your pipeline based on a misplaced test of loyalty and only bottom barrel hirers do that.
Ah, so now you can see for yourself where your unspoken assumption behind your response.
Qn was a simple one "is calling interview at 5pm a red flag?
as topic..."
That was the qn I answered.
Nowhere was it mentioned that there is a counter proposal of 9am vs 8am.
Nowhere was there mention of candidate proposing a different timing prompting you to reply with, and I quote, "Rejecting a candidate for proposing a different time"
Neither was there any mention of inflexibility.
Plain and simple, is calling for 8am interview a red flag?
The answer for me, is no.
That is why I mentioned "interview at 8am is not a red flag" because it is not unreasonable, ppl do start work at 8am.
"interview at 8am is not a red flag" because if you're the one who needs the job, and if 8am is a red flag to you, then dont accept.
"interview at 8am is not a red flag" because it is not an unearthly timing.
"interview at 8am is not a red flag because it doesn't hint of negative culture just because interview is at 8am.
I mean really, just because an interview is set at 8am u can throw a whole spiel abt bad culture
JUST because it is 8am?
Again, nothing mentioned abt counter proposal, nothing mentioned abt interviewee asking for another time slot but employer rejected him, nothing saying that this was non-negotiable.
Your spiel about employer hiring for obedience would have been valid if the qn was one where "is it a red flag in interview is set at 8am, non-negotiable and rejected all counter proposal for timings even though I have stated my concerns/situation"
In and of itself: is interview at 8am a red flag. U really think just that alone is a red flag?
Read and answer the qn for what it is.
