I recently applied for a Technical Support role at Applied Materials and received a call from the recruiter, Lokesh. Unfortunately, the interaction left a very poor first impression. The conversation was limited to asking about my years of experience and current CTC. As soon as I shared my current compensation, I was told, “We don’t have that kind of budget.” When I politely asked about the budget for the role, I received a brief answer, and the call ended abruptly. A recruitment conversation reflects a company’s first impression, and I expected a more professional and respectful interaction. Even if there is a mismatch in salary expectations, it can be communicated courteously. The experience was disappointing enough that I lost interest in pursuing the opportunity further. I hope the company invests in improving the candidate experience, as respectful communication goes a long way.