I'm in 100% agreement and generally dislike information asymmetry jobs, but it doesn't mean they can't help your prospects when you are talking with them. Your

I'm in 100% agreement and generally dislike information asymmetry jobs, but it doesn't mean they can't help your prospects when you are talking with them. Your judgement of a recruiter as a person isn't generally relevant to job seeking, but it doesn't work like that the other direction. If you're looking for a job and talking to recruiters it's foolish to then treat them coldly, if you hate it so much find other means, I've had plenty of success with personal network referrals and cold applying also. It's like working with a realtor but then trying to avoid telling them why you moved or what type of house you're looking for and only giving them your budget. It makes no sense to me.