A recent Nigerian graduate has gone viral on TikTok after sharing a job interview experience where a recruiter singled out her 2024 graduation date as 'a very big red flag' before the interview had even properly begun.
Graduate recounts recruiter's comment
The young woman, who posts under the handle @discovering_meee, recounted the incident in a video posted on 3 July 2026, speaking directly to camera with visible frustration. She explained that the graduation date the recruiter took issue with was already listed on her CV, making the comment all the more baffling since the recruiter had scheduled the interview after reviewing her documents.
She argued that flagging the graduation year mid-interview was not only unprofessional but also pointless. If the recruiter considered a 2024 graduation date disqualifying, she said, the right thing to do would have been to never invite the candidate in the first place rather than raise it as a problem once she was already seated.
On-screen captions reinforce frustration
On-screen captions in the video reinforced her points, saying: 'Imagine spending years earning your degree only to discover that graduating recently has become a personality flaw,' and 'The job market is already tough enough. The least we can do is treat candidates with basic professionalism and respect.' She did not get the job.
Viewers react to the viral video
The video drew significant engagement, with many viewers sharing their own experiences or weighing in on recruiter conduct. @Diva said: 'I feel she was jealous of you.' @Favour Omoregbe wrote: '2024 is fresh ke? God please.' @THE OYINDA ALOGBA shared: 'I also graduated 2024 and I use to let interviewers know I'm a fresh graduate.'
@Olumide offered a broader perspective: 'Do most of you realise graduating 2024 does not mean you are new to the job market, some people have been in the job market for 2-4 years.. I wonder why most HR don't look at other factors that makes you qualify they focus on your year of graduation to find reason to pay you less.. years of experience and graduating year are two different things.'
Mother gets rejected at job interview
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian single mother of four who attended a job interview shared her unexpected and sad experience. She opened up about being rejected after telling employers her age, as mentioned in the post.
