When did asking whether a job pays become a sign you’re not «aligned with the mission»?

A job applicant thought they were interviewing for a normal Content & Community Lead position at a wellness startup. Everything changed when the founder revealed there was no fixed salary, only access to a valuable network. After the candidate questioned how that could replace a paycheck, the company decided they simply weren’t the right cultural fit.

This has to be one of the craziest things I’ve ever read on this website. This person applied for a job that sounded very interesting and was right up their alley. They had a first interview that went very well, and later on had another one that ended up causing things to just… not work out. The man who was interviewing had a weird shirt; that could tell that the company had other missions and things in mind. 

During the conversation, the man mentioned that they are looking for someone who is not that interested in money, but more willing to help the company get settled in the market… and the response the candidate gave was just so funny. It not only caused the man to get offended, but right after they finished the interview, the company posted a LinkedIn post talking about how entitlement can ruin your chances of getting a job. 

We don’t think it’s the entitlement, but the intention of hiring someone to do a lot of work, only for them not to get a single penny back and be compensated with the «incredible network» they have… which is something no one can prove unless they start working there. Needless to say, it’s good to be able to ditch those workplaces where people are too demanding and expect a lot more than what they can give back.