A few months ago, I experienced an unexpected layoff from my role as a recruiter for a high-volume tech recruiting position at a cruise line. It was quite a shock, especially since I had over 20 interviews scheduled for the upcoming week. After a few days of being out of work, I received a call from one of the candidates I had scheduled for an interview. She was understandably frustrated that I didn't attend our call and expressed that it was unprofessional of me to miss it, as she had taken time off from her job to prepare for our discussion. I took a moment to explain my situation to her, letting her know that I had been let go and therefore wouldn’t be attending any interviews. After a brief pause, I added that at least she still had a company and paycheck to go to, while I was left without a job due to the company’s sudden decision. Eventually, she seemed to understand my perspective. This experience highlighted the odd dynamics that can occur when a recruiter is laid off, and how it can affect candidates who are in the interview process.