Ask the SEO Wizard
Dear O Mighty SEO Wizard,
A job candidate I turned down left a bad review. Can I remove it?
— an owner of a bakery in Sellwood, adapted from a question on r/smallbusiness
Asked
I told a candidate, kindly, that they didn't get the job. A few days later they left my bakery a negative Google review. I reported it, but I'm not holding my breath.
The Wizard answers
Maybe. This is one of the few cases where removal has a real chance.
Google’s review rules are about customer experiences. A review from someone who never bought anything, posted because they didn’t get a job, falls under Google’s “conflict of interest” rule. Here’s what to do:
- Report it with the right reason. In your Google Business Profile, report the review and choose conflict of interest. Don’t pick “I don’t like it.”
- Use the Reviews Management Tool. It lets you track the report and appeal if Google says no. Appeal once with a short, factual note: this person interviewed for a job and has never been a customer.
- Reply publicly while you wait. Keep it short and calm: “We don’t have any record of you as a customer. It looks like this may be about a hiring decision. We wish you well.” Don’t share details about the interview.
That reply matters more than you’d think. People reading it will understand what happened, and you’ll look like the adult in the room.
And keep perspective. One odd review on a bakery with plenty of good ones barely registers. The best long-term fix is the same as always: a steady stream of new reviews from people who love your bread.