Shhh -- Recruiter on the Line

Villella said his recruiters know things have changed as office space has become more open. The short answer for the recruited: Talk to them, but make it on your terms as much as possible. Villella said his recruiters are used to working around someone else's schedule. Some of his employees come to work early to catch people on their commutes to work, while others stay late so they can call workers in the early evening, once they are home.

Most recruiters understand how the office has changed, and will be willing to play 20 Questions (Is the job bigger than a breadbox?) or will completely understand an employee who asks to call the recruiter back at a more convenient time.

"Indicating that it is not a good time to talk is not only appropriate, but it is often expected," said Kathy Albarado, founder of HR Concepts LLC, a human resources consulting firm in Herndon. "Ask the recruiter for a number and ask if you can call back at a later time. They will expect to make themselves available to you after standard working hours."

But also, cell phone use at work makes it possible to listen to that tantalizing job offer.

Just as so many workers now have a separate e-mail account from the work account so they can send personal e-mails, many have cell phones so they can make personal calls, including those to and from recruiters.

"Sometimes they just talk on the cell phone" while they wander hallways, Villella said. As for headhunters, the life is all about networking, so this is the important aspect of their day.

So take it from the experts. Most people who receive a call from a recruiter can put off the recruiter without, well, putting off the recruiter.

Have a work issue that might make a good Life at Work column? You can e-mail Amy Joyce atlifeatwork@washpost.com.