On: Don’t Feed the Beast – The Great Tech Recruiter Infestation

[bitwize]

phone rings

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Cloud Strife?"

(pausing a moment to consider whether even to continue) "...Yeah."

"Hey, Cloud, how's your afternoon going? My name is Michael Gravitz and I'm a recruiter for Warmbody Technical Services. I came across your résumé on Dice, and I noticed you have a lot of Buster Sword experience. We've got a great opportunity for a Bodyguard role with an established, profitable company in the electric power industry that I think you'd be a great fit for--"

"It's Shinra, isn't it."

"Bingo! It is Shinra! Out of curiosity, how did you know--"

"Not interested."

"Oh. Okay. Well, do you know anyone who's looking and might be interested in this role?"

"No."

"Oh! Well! I'm so glad to hear that all your friends have jobs, Cloud! You have a great day!"

"Bye."

click

[avereveard → bitwize]

> "Oh. Okay. Well, do you know anyone who's looking and might be interested in this role?"

this is the part I actually hate most. I'm not gonna do the recruiter job, especially not for free.

they have to get over themselves and stop thinking they are giving out 'opportunities' like they are modern messiah

[mcv → avereveard]

If I've got a friend I know is actively looking for work, and I think the recruiter is not a total shithead, then I will sometimes mention that friend.

Of course the friends looking for work tend to be either just starting out, or have been at the same company for so long that they forgot how job hunting works. Anyone else gets something good pretty soon.

As it happens, I know a beginning (but smart) PHP/javascript developer with a bit of C# experience in Amsterdam. Likes CSS.

[bitwize → avereveard]

What's worse is how snotty some of them get when you tell them no.

[mgkimsal → bitwize]

Guess I've been lucky. I can't recall anyone ever being snotty or rude with me when I say 'no'. I usually just ask them to email me details. Usually they don't, but sometimes they do.

[bitwize → mgkimsal]

I've had recruiters cop a very passive-aggressive tone when I told them I didn't know anyone interested in their position. It was weird.

[cookiecaper → bitwize]

>Oh! Well! I'm so glad to hear that all your friends have jobs, Cloud!

The funny part being that often it is the case that all of the tech worker's tech friends do already have jobs.

[bitwize → cookiecaper]

Yes, but that doesn't stop the recruiter from waxing passive-aggressive when you tell them that.

It'd be hilaribad if it weren't so irksome.