In a surprising turn of events, a Singaporean candidate found himself reeling after an employer rescinded a job offer mere hours after he signed the contract. The situation unfolded on September 20 as he shared his experience on the Reddit forum r/askSingapore, highlighting the pitfalls of seeking clarity on employment details.

The candidate had been offered a position on a Tuesday, prompting him to review the contract thoroughly to ensure he understood all the terms before responding. He had until Thursday to confirm his acceptance, and to avoid any misunderstandings later on, he submitted several questions regarding employee benefits. Key points of inquiry included policies on unused annual leave and the availability of flexible perks like dental coverage or gym allowances.

With responses that put his mind at ease, he eagerly signed the contract and, in a bold move, resigned from his current position, excited about his new career path. However, his enthusiasm took a nosedive when, just hours later, he received a call from the company stating that the job offer had been retracted.

Seeking answers, he reached out to both his recruiter and the company, only to be informed that his probing questions about employment benefits had triggered the withdrawal. "Is this even legit?" he lamented in his post, capturing the disbelief many felt over such an unexpected turn of events.

In the aftermath, fellow Redditors chimed in, revealing that while job offer rescissions are not typical, they are not unheard of either. One user shared a parallel experience, emphasizing that perplexingly, such scenarios are on the rise. "It’s becoming more common now, and unfortunately, it’s not something you can bring them to TAFEP or the courts for," they noted. Their advice? Leave reviews on platforms like Google and Glassdoor to warn future applicants about their experiences.

Others recounted similar situations where excessive questioning seemed to intimidate hiring managers. One commenter reflected, “I guess the hiring manager felt threatened. Looking back, I think I dodged a bullet. Can’t imagine if I joined them.”

The harsh reality of the job market was echoed by yet another user who underscored that until a candidate officially starts their new role, companies can exercise the option to retract offers without significant repercussions. “It happens in many companies because there is no retribution for doing so. It sucks,” they stated.

Amidst the discussion, pragmatic advice arose, urging the candidate to withdraw his resignation and remain in his current job until a more stable opportunity materialized. “Oof. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do. You can try to retract your resignation or continue looking for a new job,” another Redditor advised.

This incident serves as a cautionary tale for job seekers to tread carefully when negotiating employment terms. As companies become increasingly selective and cautious in their hiring practices, candidates are reminded of the importance of weighing their inquiries—balancing the need for clarity with the potential risk of an offer being rescinded.