Meh. I mean, if it helps you to be kind, sure, think of all the ways the person could help or hinder you. The problem comes when the person can do neither, and

Meh. I mean, if it helps you to be kind, sure, think of all the ways the person could help or hinder you. The problem comes when the person can do neither, and you know it and they know it. What then? Looking back, if I had been shitty to every single recruiter, my career would not be materially very different. Slightly different perhaps, but arc essentially the same. My full-time jobs came from direct contact. Freelance through agencies. That one time I co-founded, no recruiter was involved at any point. I suggest be kind and polite because you can, as an expression of strength and power. Even if you're a stone-cold sociopath or imagine yourself to be, do it because being shitty is easy and being genuinely kind is a challenge.