I've been looking for a new job lately because my current job isn't paying me fairly. Oddly enough, they paid for me to get a valuable certification in my field, however. So the market has been good. At the moment, I haven't even applied to anything, recruiters are calling me. Cool, I'll take it.
One staffing agency calls me for a good opportunity in my field. They ask my rate, we agree, and they set up the interview. It's a remote interview over Zoom. I get in, and I don't turn my camera on right away. When I get in, I realize nobody else has turned their camera on either, so I leave mine off. I'm more comfortable that way anyway. We exchange pleasantries.
Them: Can you turn your camera on, please?
Me: Sure.
Turns camera on. Waits for them to reciprocate. They do not.
Them: First question.
Me: Turns camera back off, begins to answer.
Them: Interrupting. I'm sorry, we can't see your video.
Me: I can't see yours.
Them: Excuse me?
Me: You didn't turn your cameras on, so I turned mine off.
Them: We aren't required to turn our cameras on.
Me: Then neither am I.
Them: That's not how this works. You are required to be on camera. We are not.
Me: I'm not comfortable with that.
Them: This is a very disheartening attitude from a candidate. You must not want this job, then.
Me: You know what? I think you're right. Closes zoom to go watch Picard.
Maybe I overreacted, but that just felt like such a red flag. The rules apply to me but not to them? Nah, I wasn't down with that.
I had an interview yesterday for a position with a little less money, but much better benefits and vacation, and they liked me enough to schedule a second interview. And I have two interviews today. So, fuck this company.
I would name and shame them, but to be honest, I don't actually remember who they were. Someone who needed tier-three IT help.