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Dan Wilson
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Recruiters: How To Get Ignored
Posted By : Dan Wilson
July 3, 2012 10:24 AM
I don't envy Technical Recruiters. They have tough job trying to place people in roles the recruiter himself doesn't understand. I don't blame them. The ever shifting sands of technology can be confusing. What other field completely changes landscapes every 3-5 years? Who can possibly keep up with just the new Javascript frameworks that came out this year, much less 30 years of technological nuances.
However, most programmers will share stories of a recruiter email going like this:
Recruiter: Hi Fred, I came across your resume and I see you would be a perfect fit for a great developer role in Java with an awesome company.
Fred: I don't even have Java on my resume and I know nothing about it!!!!!
As to why we get these emails, I can explain by simply translating:
Recruiter: Hi Fred,I came across your resumeYou came up for some reason in our Applicant Tracking System and Isee you would be a perfect fithope you would send me your resume so I can get my $10 bonus, or even go on an interview for this so I get a $50 bonus for agreat developer role in Java with an awesome companyHey, I really need a commission this month. The economy sucks and my kid needs braces.
Most often, I'll help recruiters where I can, because at the end of the day, they are helping someone get a new job. Most people take new jobs because they either don't have one, or they want greener pastures. So either way, it is a win/win. However, today I got an email on LinkedIn by an especially useless recruiter looking for help. Here's the email, minus personal information:
Date: 7/03/2012 Subject: Fun with developing!
Hi, I hope you don't mind me reaching out to you, but I was hoping you could point me in the right direction...
I'm working with a bunch of awesome, dynamic companies in the area (Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro and beyond!) that are looking for developers and programmers in all kinds of technologies (Php, Java, .net, mobile, and Project Managers just to name a few).
I was wondering if you or someone you know might be interested in some new opportunities.
My contact info is below, feel free to forward my information! Thanks for your time, hope to hear from you soon!
Blahblahblah Someco.com
Let's try to translate this one, shall we?
Date: 7/03/2012 Subject: Fun with developing!
Hi,
I hope you don't mind me reaching out to you, but Iwas hoping you could point me in the right directionI have no idea how to do my job. I was selling used cars and it didn't work out...
I'm working with a bunch of awesome, dynamic companies in the area (Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro and beyond!)I have no current clients, but I see there are lots of ads on Monster and Careerbuilder. I'm going to pitch candidates at anything that moves just to see if I can get my foot in the doorthat are looking for developers and programmers in all kinds of technologies (Php, Java, .net, mobile, and Project Managers just to name a few)I don't have any specific job orders to recruit for, so any warm bodies will help. Ya can't sell a product, if there is no product to sell, am I right? I'm willing to do anything. Does your cousin know how to spell 'Computer', send him to me so I can put a resume in the system and get a bonus.
Iwas wondering if you or someone you know might be interested in some new opportunitiesLook, we are having a fire sale on job candidates this week. Either I get some new candidates, or I get fired. I really don't want to go back to the used car lot.
My contact info is below,feel free to forward my information!and even though I just sent you an unsolicited email, I want you to personally vouch for me, and spend your time forwarding my contact information to anyone with a pulse, because as we know, there is a severe shortage of technical recruiters out there. Thanks for your time,hope to hear from you soondon't forget, my kid needs braces so hurry up, willya?!
Blahblahblah Someco.com
What can we learn from this?
If you ask for help, please ask for specific help. Remember, the other party is going to weigh the benefits of helping you and if it isn't clear how you want to be helped, it isn't clear why you SHOULD be helped.
I'm not going to reply back to the recruiter, because I'm not really sure how to help them.
What sort of recruiter stories do you have?
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My experience with Larry Okeson <Larry@softwaresearch.com> was positive.
He found a job for a friend of mine.
I once heard a recruiter refer to himself as a talent agent (just like a professional sports talent agent).
I could write a book on my experiences with recruiters. I think you are being too nice, as I take a more pessimistic view. One of my majors is HR, so I now a little bit on what goes on in their world. If it was simply about finding a job for someone, I would support them more... unfortunately, they are willing to place anyone in any job so they can get their commission. Who cares about a person's long term career goals, if the company is shady, and the numerous conflicts of interest that exist? There is a big difference between these spam emails and a proper placement firm.
I have a fun one...
I got a call at work by a man names Bill. Bill said, "Hi Blaise, I'm Bill Soandso. I don't want to use up too much of your work time, but I saw your profile on LinkedIn and I wanted to discuss with you an opportunity to work on some really exciting projects for one of our clients. If possible, I would like to schedule an appointment at the place of your choosing to discuss this great opportunity!"
I politely hung up on Bill and promptly updated my LinkedIn profile to warn recruiters not to call me at work.
The best part of this whole story is that Bill had to look up the phone number to my company as it is not listed in my LinkedIn profile. He then got a hold of customer service who redirected him to me...what a classy guy Bill was.
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It's a numbers game. Send out a couple hundred emails, get a handful of responses, rush any interested candidates through a quick meet and greet, then purvey them to the client as vetted "talent". At a premium, of course.