A Gen Z job seeker has received widespread support from social media users after walking out of a job interview when asked about his father's workplace.

In an interview for an administrative role, Micky -- who preferred not to share his full name -- was asked where his father worked. When he declined to answer, the HR representative insisted that they could not proceed with the interview without that information, prompting Micky to walk out.

The 28-year-old from Bandung, Indonesia, who posts on Reddit under the handle /u/MICKY5789, shared his experience on the platform, garnering more than 6,500 upvotes in the "Antiwork" subreddit.

Micky told Newsweek: "When asked about the details of my father's job, I felt quite reluctant, and to be honest, in other companies in my country, I was not asked about that.

"What makes this a red flag is, I'm worried that there will be intimidation by forcing candidates to comply with clauses that are not good for them, such as withholding educational certificates and allowing for discrimination by looking at the candidate's background, such as family conditions. It feels like this is less relevant and unfair to the job."

According to Micky, the interview was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Though he arrived 30 minutes early, he was left waiting for more than an hour with no explanation or apology. When the HR representative finally called him in at 10 a.m., she proceeded to take two phone calls before beginning the interview.

Micky described the interviewer as rude and dismissive. She questioned him about his nickname "in a belittling way," he wrote, before asking, "What does your father do for a living?"

After Micky provided a general answer, she pressed further, demanding specifics about his father's workplace. Feeling uncomfortable, he refused to answer, only to be told, "Then we can't continue this interview."

Rather than arguing, Micky stood up and left. Reflecting on the experience, he expressed frustration in his Reddit post over the wasted time, the unprofessional conduct of the interviewer and the invasive questioning.

Fortunately, he attended an interview at another company the following day, where he had a much more positive experience.

Patrice Williams-Lindo, the CEO of Career Nomad, spoke with Newsweek about the situation, affirming that Micky had made the right decision by walking out.

"Job interviews are not just an evaluation of the candidate -- they're also a test of the company's culture and professionalism. The red flags were flying high from the start: a late interview, dismissive behavior, and invasive questions. It is important to acknowledge what is versus what we think in situations like these and to trust our instincts wholeheartedly."

She said asking about a candidate's family background could be a veiled attempt to assess socioeconomic status or connections, which had no place in a fair hiring process.

"When an interview veers into personal territory that feels inappropriate, setting boundaries is not just acceptable -- it's essential. This type of questioning does not leave room for the fact that many of us come from different beginnings and that each of them is valid, but this question brings implicit bias to the forefront."

Williams-Lindo emphasized that a job interview is a two-way street, where candidates should also evaluate whether a company aligned with their values.

"You're not just trying to be chosen; you're also choosing the right fit for your career," she said. "Sometimes the most empowering move is to 'unmute' yourself, stand firm, and walk away when respect and professionalism are not on the table."

Micky's experience sparked a wave of discussion among Reddit users, with many supporting his decision and sharing their experiences.

One user wrote: "I'm going to make a wild suggestion. It is ok to walk out on an interview if people are more than a half hour late with no explanation or communication. Set the tone that you are not desperate and won't tolerate disrespect. Unless of course you are desperate."

Another user contrasted Micky's experience with a more positive one: "An interview I attended was delayed by nearly an hour. However, they frequently communicated that to me and offered me drinks, magazines, if I wanted to go for a walk, where a nearby coffee shop was. They were very nice and apologetic about it. The interview started with a second apology from the man who was late due to a crash on the motorway."

Some commenters argued for a more assertive approach, with one writing: "At 30 minutes I'd get the interviewer's name, walk around until I find their office, and interrupt whatever they are doing. It's called taking initiative and owning the job! Being a proactive problem solver!"