I disagree. I don't see this as an attitude issue. I see it as an issue of an expectation of professional and respectful treatment. That is something that these small shops are not exactly full of. Yes, they do have a lot of low time ("eager") applicants and yes, I'm sure they get a lot of calls. So what? What does that mean in terms of dealing with people? All I saw from these places is a certain "Napoleonic complex". These were offices that were one step up from trailers but their treatment of people, walking in with their hat in their hand, was nothing short of trailer. Sorry, that was my experience and I wasn't the only one, I assure you.

Let's take this case here. They feel that he's good enough to have a phone interview with the CP but not good enough to learn his name? I mean... are you serious? What other industry does this? In what other industry, even in a buyers market, do you see this attitude?

So how would the phone interview go if the CP didn't give out his name? "OK, just call me Gus".

Perhaps the problem is that too many people "check it in at the door" and encourage this kind of treatment.

My $0.02