Three West

Job Recruiters, Headhunters, or whatever you want to call them have just gotten out of hand. So much so, I thought I should say something about it. Once upon a time, recruiters knew their stuff. In the late 90′s getting a job through a staffing agency was easy and precise. As a matter of fact, most of my career work was through placements by employment agencies. Back then, most IT work (especially entry level) was handled by staffing agencies. Companies were not hiring IT workers directly if they could help it.

However, I would say for the past 8-9 years now, the abilities of job recruiters have plummeted to a point where I don’t even want to hear from one of them. They are nearly on the same level as a bill collector now. *Smile* It’s sad really. It used to be a respectable job. The first thing I noticed was they began contacting me with jobs they knew I wasn’t qualified for and then proceed to ask me if I knew anyone who might be interested. This used to be an harmless question when called about a job you were qualified for but simply didn’t want or were no longer available to work but now it appears to just be a “doggy paddle” tactic from unqualified recruiters who contact you about a job that’s not even in the same state you are in (especially if it’s noted that you aren’t willing to relocate) for a job you aren’t even qualified for. My answer is always “Why should I do your job for you for free when I’m looking for work?”. Whatever.

The biggest issue is individuals with no technical background are being hired as recruiters for technical jobs. This has been tragic for the IT industry. Think about it. How well do you think you would do with a recruiter with no technical knowledge trying to match you with a technical position they don’t understand the requirements for?

Let me put it another way. How well do you think you would do if you had a computer programmer as an airline pilot, having only ridden in a plane? No training, no flight school, nothing. The only experience they’ve had is having taken a couple of trips in a plane. That’s what it is when individuals with no IT experience are hired to find jobs for computer professionals. The only experience they have is using their work computers to send you job listings you don’t qualify for. *Smile*

How does this all play out? Check out the latest email I received for a job I don’t qualify for. Aside from the usual, “do you know anyone who would be interested”, there was a new and far more horrifying gem amongst the ridiculous list of requirements, only Superman could meet:

“Additionally, please let me know exactly how your credentials and resume speak directly to the job requirement”

What??? So… now, not only were they asking me to give them candidates for the job, now they are asking me to do the very core of their job! If a recruiter is unable to read through my resume (mind you, I abandoned the “lazy man’s” resume for a more professional and comprehensive Curriculum Vitae years ago) and determine how my experience fits the job they are sourcing for, they are unable to do the job they were hired to do. Period.

This is equivalent to me going to work where I create batch jobs in Control-M and asking a developer to create a batch job to test his VB code.

I just had to speak on that for a minute. If you are a recruiter and you are good at your job, that’s wonderful. However, there are too many that aren’t. I’d like to see everyone with the ability to provide for themselves but some effort needs to be made as well. If you aren’t a technical person and you get hired as a technical recruiter, it is your personal responsibility upon accepting a job you know you aren’t truly qualified for to bring yourself up to speed. Google your ass off on anything you aren’t familiar with and stop asking job seekers to do your job!