[crossroadsguy]

I was rejected in a hiring process because a co-worker worked there. They asked him for feedback in the final hiring decision. I was being considered for a senior staff role. The meeting room had two of my ex-co-workers. One was the person who had referred me and was my tech lead at a previous work place. This (feedback giver) co-worker (my peer; from yet another work place) told them all was great and hunky dory but "he is a work life balance kind of person". I was not hired. Also, my two co-workers there didn't know each other really and didn't know they both had worked with me in the past until that meeting. Company had connected those dots on LinkedIn.

[p1anecrazy]

Good riddance. A “work-life balance kind of person” is not a negative characteristic; even more so at a position where your behavior is an inspiration to many people

[crossroadsguy]

Well, I live in India. “Being available” and making others do the same is the national managerial obsession.

[ocschwar]

Which is why I am sitting right now in a meeting and the presenter is logged in from Bangalore and I don't even want to know what `TZ=Asia/Kolkata date` will tell me.

[tesnorindian]

People should reject this mentality and live their life.

[reactordev]

Their GDP would suffer.

[dust-jacket]

Yeah this person saved you.

They were asked if you'd fit in and they gave the most diplomatic, polite feedback that they knew would be be taken as a no. Their comment was a pretty clear admission that this was not a "work life balance kind of company".

[reactordev]

Once upon a time, when the tech talent pool was smaller, there was this really caustic individual I used to work with that loved to argue. They would never give praise or say something like "oh that's cool!" but would rather debate everything. A few years later, I'm now working at a different company and someone comes to me asking to help them review a resume. It was that individual. I was clear about what talent this individual brought but I also added my anecdote about their behavior at the previous company. I gave them room though to find out for themselves. During the interview with that individual, they asked a few questions that would elicit this kind of behavior and they did not disappoint. They did not get the job.

I treat everyone I work with with respect but I also don't go so far as to let them into the inner circle. I wish people could just respect people but I've seen too many office politics sessions to know better. I wished to make friends with some coworkers outside of work but it never amounted to much.

[ido]

Sounds like you dodged a bullet and the coworker did you a favor.