Within 5 days after I applied online, the HR recruiter set-up a 30 minute phone conversation with me. His tone was almost condescending throughout the conversation. He asked me some of the standard interview questions. Here are few examples: Example 1: Recruiter: “what differentiates from the huge candidate pool we have”; Me: “Well..I don’t know who these other candidates are and what they bring to the table. This position requires experience with product launches and I have launched 9 products in last 7 years. If this is a good fit, both of us will know that very soon”. Recruiter: That’s all you got to say? Me: Yes-unless you are willing to share who those other candidates are and then I can compare and contrast my self against them. Example 2: Recruiter: “What is your current salary and what do you expect”. Me: “I’m expecting a base salary of $170k for my next job”. Recruiter: “that’s fine-what is your salary today?”. Me: “My current salary shouldn’t matter. Is $170k in your ball park”? Recruiter: “Yes, your current salary does matter. If you are making only $100k now and asking $170k, that’s not going to fly”. (he was yelling at this point) Me: “I still don’t get it. My ask is $170k- either I’m in the range or not. Salary is such a personal information-right?- say you wouldn’t share the salary you pay for similar position in your company. Would you?” Recruiter: “Ok fine. I will have to ask the hiring manager and then get back to you”. Example 3: Even though I had let him know that I’m looking for a change to get different experience/learn a different product/company, he kept stressing the point “there must be something wrong with your current company or job-tell me more about it”. By this time, I’ve had enough of “red” flags. Even though my mind was telling me to give a chance to the hiring manager, my body was not willing. I just told the HR recruiter that he doesn’t need to check with the hiring manager since I don’t want to pursue this any further. Even after that, he wrote me an e-mail back stating that he spoke to the hiring manager and I was “outside” their budget and then sent me a linked-in invitation to connect! I declined his invitation and said to my self “what a relief!”