This is to some extent a generational thing, but yes. It’s rude. If you’re not ready to politely reject numerous candidates, don’t interview them.

If you get a shitty rejection letter, you should see it as a lucky escape. A rejection burns both your bridge and theirs.

If it’s especially shitty, there is nothing stopping you publishing it as a signal to others that a recruiter or employer is wasting people's time.

Especially if you just did a coding exercise that looks suspiciously like code they might put a value on.

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bitwize an hour ago | parent [-]

And this is why ghosting is a thing.

We've entered into an era when self-defense is more important than outdated notions of politesse. In dating, for instance, it's usually advantageous for a woman to ignore (ghost) a man she wants nothing to do with rather than reject him, to avoid the argument or retaliation that may come with explicit rejection. Too many bad actors have changed the strategy. If you can't handle ghosting, maybe you don't belong in the job or dating markets.

	▲	dofm 36 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Dating is different. It's IMO fully inappropriate to draw that comparison. Professionals act professionally. Ghosting is profoundly unprofessional. It is their job to manage the process with full information. End of story. > If you can't handle ghosting, maybe you don't belong in the job or dating markets. Ehhh? This is a very weird, I think silly, perhaps even insulting thing to say. I can handle it. I just think it's fucking rude from a potential employer —- someone that I have wasted my time and perhaps might have actually risked my job security to interview with. Not every employer reacts well when they find out you're out there going to interviews, and they do find out. As a freelancer, if I go to an interview it is my time they are wasting if they aren't going to handle the process professionally.