The recruiter called my salary expectations “cute.” I closed the Zoom. Did I overreact?
“I’ve been job hunting for 4 months. Fully remote only, which already cuts the pool in half. After weeks of ghosting, you get genuinely desperate when something finally lands on your calendar.
Got a screening call for a mid-level role at a startup that looked decent on paper. I researched them, prepped my answers, joined early.
About ten minutes in, the recruiter asked about compensation. I gave a completely standard range based on my experience and the market. She literally laughed and said “that’s cute, most remote candidates aren’t expecting that kind of number.”
I asked if there was flexibility or equity to offset it. She said “we offer a great culture and a lot of autonomy.”
I said “I don’t think we’re aligned, thanks for your time” and hit leave.”
Author: Kayitsi.com
