Employers often attempt asymmetrical adversarial tactics against interviewees, like using AI to interview but trying to reject candidates using AI. Or insisting on a salary history before making an offer, but declining to publish the pay history or even just bands for the position. Or... Or...

My position has always been that if they treat me like a peon when hiring, what will they be like when I depend upon them for a pay cheque?

And no, that didn't and doesn't change during hard times.