I recently had an experience that left me feeling frustrated about the job application process. I received a call from a recruiter who asked about my salary expectations, and after sharing my thoughts, they set me up for an interview with the director of the company. We had a lengthy conversation that lasted about an hour and a half. At the end of the interview, I reiterated my salary expectations, only to be told that they couldn't meet that figure. I was a bit taken aback, but I shrugged it off. The next day, the recruiter called to apologize, explaining that the company had already flagged my salary expectations as too high before my interview, but they hadn't communicated that to me. I understood that things happen, so I didn't dwell on it. However, today I noticed a job listing on Indeed for the same position I interviewed for, and it included all the information I had shared during our conversation. It felt like they used my insights to refine their job ad without any acknowledgment. While I'm not upset about not getting the job, I am annoyed that I spent my time providing them with valuable input that they now seem to be using for free. Part of me wishes I could invoice them for the 1.5 hours I spent consulting them. It's just frustrating.