I recently had a screening call with a recruiter named Raksha, and unfortunately, the experience was quite disappointing. During the discussion about compensation, the conversation became unprofessional and personal. Instead of focusing on role alignment or expectations, the recruiter questioned my layoff, implied it reflected poor performance, and suggested that I did not deserve even my current CTC. While I understand that compensation discussions can involve negotiation, making assumptions about a candidate’s past performance—especially without context—is neither appropriate nor respectful. A layoff is often a business decision and does not define an individual’s capabilities or value. This interaction gave me serious concerns about the company’s communication standards and overall candidate experience. Professionalism, respect, and constructive dialogue are essential in any hiring process, and unfortunately, those were lacking in this case. I hope the organization takes such feedback seriously and ensures that candidates are treated with fairness and respect moving forward.