I just had one of the most frustrating experiences with a recruiter that I've ever encountered. I've been applying for jobs for months, and it's been a tough journey. You send out countless applications, often without knowing if a real person even looked at them. Finally, I got a call from a recruiter about a local position, and the conversation went well. She seemed genuinely interested, explained the role, and scheduled an interview. I took time off work, prepared thoroughly, and drove across Houston to the interview. After checking in, I waited for about 30 minutes before I decided to ask the receptionist for an update. She looked puzzled and started checking things. When she asked who I was supposed to meet, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. I tried calling the recruiter, but there was no answer. I texted and emailed her, but still nothing. I ended up leaving and driving all the way back home, feeling completely disheartened. Three days later, I finally heard back from her, but it was just a vague apology about being busy. It was incredibly disrespectful, especially considering I had taken time off work and navigated through heavy traffic just to be there. What bothers me the most isn't even missing out on the job; it's the blatant disregard for my time. If I had done something like this, I'd be labeled as unreliable or unprofessional, but it seems like recruiters can get away with it. Maybe I'm overreacting because job hunting is already so stressful, but this experience left a really bad taste in my mouth. Has anyone else faced similar issues recently, or did I just have an incredibly unlucky encounter?