Really unprofessional recruiter

[Anonymous]

Just a rant. I know it’s an employers market right now and with folks desperate for jobs recruiters have all the power. But in so frustrated with an experience I had today.

First screening call for an executive role. This is a hired executive search firm not an internal recruiter. Recruiter calls 5 minutes late (not a big deal but first annoyance of many). We exchange pleasantries and she asks me some basics about whether the salary range is okay and whether I’m also interviewing elsewhere. We proceed to start into substantive questions and I start hearing loud sirens, traffic, other people taking, and an ice cream truck. I lose my train of thought and I say as much to the recruiter that her background noise is distracting. She then goes “oh I forgot to ask you if you’re interviewing elsewhere.” I told her I already answered that.

The whole thing felt so unprofessional particularly for this level of position. I’m tempted to provide feedback to the firm and the company. This is not my top choice job, so willing to maybe that the risk of not advancing…. But seriously WTH?

Would you provide feedback if this was your experience?

[Anonymous]

I think recruiters are generally terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think recruiters are generally terrible.

Agreed. I once had a recruiter ask me if I was planning on having kids. Before recommending me for any positions. So it could’ve been worse I guess? But if I were the company I’d want to know about this because it’s the first impression you have of the company itself.