They discussed her salary, her title and a Monday start. Then the messages just stopped.

A job seeker cleared a tough interview at a recruitment agency she had once worked for, then talked through salary, designation and even a possible Monday joining date, with one final conversation left to go. When she followed up, her message was marked read and never answered. While she waited on the silence, she let another good opportunity lapse. "Worst experience ever," she wrote of being led to the edge of a yes and then met with nothing.