India, May 29 -- It is no secret that small Indian startups struggle to compete with the purchasing power of American greenbacks. This reality hit home for an Indian firm when a top-tier candidate declined their offer to accept a remote US role paying a handsome dollar rate, amounting to a Rs.8 lakh salary difference. However, rather than ghosting the founders, the candidate sent a beautifully transparent apology email two months later explaining his decision. The founder's viral post praising this rare act of honesty has gone viral.

"Founders love candidates who're honest and upfront - even if they don't join their startup," Gaurav Kheterpal, whose LinkedIn says he works as Chief Evangelist at Copado, wrote on X.

He continued, "Got thi...