A Reflection on Being Ghosted by a Sub-Species Known as the “Recruiter”

They must be exposed for the incompetent pinheads they are

In 2018, I lost my gig as an Associate Creative Director at a large marketing agency, over the phone. It was a layoff due to a business loss as opposed to an outright shit-canning.

Even though I was repeatedly told I’d be “eligible for rehire,” they refused to pull the trigger, even when I applied for jobs that were far less senior in scope than my previous position.

My fellow boomers know why I wasn’t rehired, don’t you? I had the misfortune to be born in the wrong friggin’ decade!

Since then, while writing on Medium and working on my screenplays, I’ve applied to several positions that I knew I’d kill if given the opportunity. Yet, I’ve not come close to an interview, other than a couple of phone chats with employment recruiters, a particularly nasty breed…a “sub-species,” as I think of them.

I’ve railed against recruiters, or “talent acquisition specialists” as they often like to be referred to, in several stories. I’m worked in the creative arena, and in my long career, most of the recruiters I’ve interacted with are utter nimrods. I can say this confidently because I’ve done the leg work with these people and sadly, most of them don’t have a clue as to how to treat an individual who only wants a shot…who merely wants to prove themselves, even though a career spanning more than thirty years should be proof, enough.

Recently, I was contacted via email by a recruiter who asked if I’d be interested in a month-long copywriting gig. She reached out to me, mind you, unbidden. I’d never heard of her, or her company.

I checked out the job description and knew that I’d be perfect. She’d found my profile on LinkedIn, or StinkedIn as I often refer to it, as it’s a bullshit site where people are happy to back-slap and glad-hand but lack the stones to speak out when confronted by injustice in the workplace.

But, that’s my humble opinion, folks, and not necessarily one that this fine publication shares.

You can probably guess what happened, next. I contacted this airhead, who looked to be in her early twenties, according to her LinkedIn profile, and expressed my interest in moving forward.

They love that phrase, along with “next steps” and “reaching out.” Plus, you can expect every sentence this species’ utters to end in a question mark.

I didn’t receive a response. Crickets. Nada.

So, I waited a few days to give her the benefit of the doubt even though in my gut, I sensed what was happening. I thought that perhaps she was busy with other projects and/or candidates.

But, I knew that was bullshit.

I emailed this twit one more time to find out what the hell was going on and still, nothing.

I’d been ghosted by an abject idiot. And, I’d had enough.

Age discrimination in the workplace certainly isn’t news. But, it’s prevalent AF. In my experience, more so now, than ever. To such an extent that employers no longer bother to try to hide their disdain for the “older worker.”

As a writer with a vast and varied background, I struggle to determine what these individuals believe I cannot bring to a party.

Do they think I don’t understand the workings of social media? Of SEO? What is it? Do they think I live in a box or are they simply insensitive douchebags who don’t “get it,” until their own asses are out on the street?

I vote for that last bit. Where “humanity,” is concerned, I’ve become a skeptic. I think you have to be to survive in this society where so much weight is based upon the external…the superficial.

You gotta look good on Instagram. That’s what it’s all about. Break out those filters and show the world the real you.

Consider this rant a public service, guys as I don’t want you to experience the same effrontery that I have.

Those of us of a certain age must band together and kick the bullshit to the curb. Because, when you’re confronted with a job application that requires you to share the year you graduated high school, it’s game over.

We must present a united front and make it clear, that nobody fucks with Boomers!

As for the twit that ghosted me, I called her out, by name, on LinkedIn and I urge you to do the same if you find yourselves in a similar situation.

As of this writing, I’ve received lots of views and one comment from a Medium buddy.

Par for the course. And I’m betting that the number of recruiters who “reach out” to me in the future, will be zero.

Guess it’s time for “next steps.”

Sherry McGuinn is a slightly-twisted, longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. Her work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and numerous other publications. Sherry’s soon-to-be-ex-manager is currently NOT pitching her newest screenplay, a drama with dark, comedic overtones and inspired by a true story.

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