To think that was an inappropriate thing to say in an interview?

[SharpMintBeaker]

Went for a job interview and at the end, the interviewer said “here’s the thing. This kind of money can corrupt people.” It felt like a weird power trip or like he was implying I didn’t deserve the salary. AIBU to think that was unprofessional and a bit insulting?

I’ll bite OP, what sort of salary are we talking?

Sounds like they have been burned before - but regardless I would find it a weird thing to have said, although I wouldn't have been offended as they wouldn't know me from a bar of soap at interview stage.

A bizarre thing for an interviewer to say. Almost unbelievable.

Yes, almost. 😉

I don’t think the exact figure is really the point. Whatever the salary band, it felt inappropriate to frame it as something that “corrupts people” rather than discussing expectations, responsibilities or performance.

Personally, I would have rubbed my hands together like Mr Burns and said "Excellent.".

🤣🤣🤣

I was once winked at with a click by the candidate at the end of the interview. He didn’t progress to the next round.

OP, I’d have responded that I like a challenge.

It sounds like the interviewer is unhinged.

what on Earth does he mean? How can a salary (regardless of level) corrupt? Surely it is power and access to information that corrupts - makes people vulnerable to be briefed.

i don’t understand how a salary of any level can corrupt someone? Was he quite stupid?

That was exactly my confusion. I couldn’t work out what he was trying to communicate by saying it or how it was relevant to the role. It just felt like an odd thing to introduce at interview stage.

What sort of company is the job for? What industry? What size company? I can’t imagine that happening anywhere I’ve worked or applied for jobs at.

Are you joining the mafia? 🙂

Was the salary advertised? It just sounds so odd.

I know this will be in the private sector - of it’s a large company it might be worthwhile contacting this persons superior. They shouldn’t be allowed to interview.

would you be working for this person if you got the job?

Well, yes, op, the figure is exactly the point.
Come on, you’re dying to tell us what you’ve been offered 😁

My response probably would have been - ok

My thought out response - money only corrupts if the person is already of flawed character 🤔

Is it similar to what you're currently on? In which case I'd hope I'd have said 'well it hasn't so far'

Did the last person in that position do a runner with the silverware or something?!

Should have told them you'd need them to add another digit to tempt your corruption.

😂

Is it the kind of career where you could be bribed or where there are huge bonuses that are not consistent or guaranteed (and could lead you to try to game the system)? He might have been (stupidly, inelegantly) trying to gauge your reaction to that?

Money corrupts people all the time.

However, this interviewer should never have mentioned it.

You sure you weren't interviewing for a role with a rather moderate pay rise and he sarcastically said “careful now, make sure all this extra money doesnt corrupt you!”

How would a salary corrupt someone?

I would’ve asked if there was something wrong with their control framework if their staff were so vulnerable to corruption?!?

is the job even something that can be corrupted ie director of planning at the council?!

You've seriously never seen (or heard of) money corrupting people?

Corruption is specific though- accepting bribes, doing dysfunctional things in the job to benefit yourself or someone else.

how could you corrupt yourself with your earned salary?!