Unemployment discrimination? I had a phone interview with a recruiter a few months ago. It went well the first few minutes but once the recruiter asked why I left my last position and I told her that I was laid off due to the downturn at my firm and economy in general, the interview ended abruptly in one minute. Yes, that quick. I realized then that I would never want to work for such a company. How do you treat people who have been laid off through no fault of their own like that? It was so obvious and unprofessional. At least have the decency to ask your next set of questions than to end it so abrupt like that, even if you personally don't want to move the person to the next steps. It is already difficult enough to go through each day without a job. Fortunately I was able to land somewhere else with great benefits and salary at a well known firm. I would never treat an unemployed person like that- you never know when you will be on the other side of the interview table.