You're an engineer. You can create millions of dollars of worth for a company.
Do yourself a favor; learn to market yourself. Learn to create opportunities for yourself.
Want to work at a YC company? Write them directly.
Want to actually make money today, instead of hoping for some grand exit five years down the line? Demonstrate your value (in money), show that you can code, pitch your services to prospective companies and charge a premium.
Please stop joining recruiting companies where you're shoved down a "pipeline" or somewhere where you're considered a "resource" or some outfit that has the name "staffing" in their company name.
Well first, that's an extremely elitist point of view. Your argument seems to be 'If you're not a rock-em sock-em networking people-person, you don't deserve a job'.
Secondly, this is about helping YC companies hire. Doing the hard, complex work of filtering out for quality candidates, rather than spending weeks of your time interviewing instead of actually improving their product.
Thirdly, not all engineers are battle-hardened 10x SV rockstar ninjas. Some people have programming experience but haven't gotten into the SV echo chamber yet, some people are new to the industry, some people are from other countries, etc. Sure, you ideally want to build yourself up and make a name for yourself, contribute to projects, create some value, but when you're starting out that's basically a load of bullshit as far as useful advice goes, unless you're suggesting people just don't take a job until they've spent a few years self-promoting.
>'If you're not a rock-em sock-em networking people-person, you don't deserve a job'
Writing a direct email to a YC Founder vs relying on someone else is far from a "rock-em sock-em neworking people-person". That's basic self-advocacy.
This company takes 25% of your first years salary. Regardless of whether the engineer or the company pays for it, it's less money on the table for you.
YC Combinator companies are well known. If you want to work for one, write them directly. Ask for what you want. Advocate for yourself.
You've probably worked very hard to get where you're at, whether it's your schooling or a long, hard fought career. Don't let someone else represent your accomplishments or your compensation needs.
Staffing agencies have unlocked high-paying jobs for which I have the technical skills, but where I lack the "people talents" and connections to even get my foot in the door.
Similarly, I am not an excellent chef. I can feed myself, but when I am entertaining others we eat out.
This isn't about being lazy; this is about an inability or very poor ability to do something, and outsourcing that ability to another human. If you don't want to be at the party, that's fine, but don't rain on our party night.
Also, if companies are hiring based on your ability to market yourself, rather than code, then you end up with a team optimized towards making themselves look good, and not necessarily to accomplish.
As an employer, it would be great if candidates always knew about all the opportunities and companies out there. Employers would love it if recruiting firms were no longer necessary. However, it's not feasible to expect every potential hire to research every potential option, and recruiting companies drastically reduce the effort and time needed to find a good fit.
I understand all the criticisms, but it seems pretty clear to me why recruiting firms continue to stick around and add real value, despite charging a frustratingly high premium.
You're an engineer. You can create millions of dollars of worth for a company.
Do yourself a favor; learn to market yourself. Learn to create opportunities for yourself.
Want to work at a YC company? Write them directly.
Want to actually make money today, instead of hoping for some grand exit five years down the line? Demonstrate your value (in money), show that you can code, pitch your services to prospective companies and charge a premium.
Please stop joining recruiting companies where you're shoved down a "pipeline" or somewhere where you're considered a "resource" or some outfit that has the name "staffing" in their company name.
You're better than that.