[lebowen]

Another frustrating tactic they have started to use is bait positions with attractive "specifications". They use these to draw you into communicating with them and start offering subpar positions than those initially mentioned in the first communication. The classic bait and switch.

I'm fed up getting messages on LinkedIn along the lines of:

Hi LeBowen You are exactly what TheWorldsBestCompany are looking for, is it OK for us to have a phone call to discuss?

Of course when you try to obtain any information about the position, you're met with vague details about it, but they have this other position you might be interested in.

[jcadam]

I get these all the time and I simply don't respond to them anymore.

The initial email needs to hook me somehow, and show that you've at least put some amount of effort into personalizing your pitch to me, specifically (you know, show that you've actually read my profile and explain why'd I'd be a great fit for your client).

[gaius]

Oh yeah, plenty of advertised functional programming positions are really run-of-the-mill Java positions, but recruiters have found that noone answers true ads, so its a total bait-and-switch, “do this Java for a few years and they might one day think about Clojure...” spoiler: they won’t