7/31/2001 -- Well, everyone's still talking about the downturn in IT: It seems no matter what publication I look at, there's at least one article about IT job cuts, lower salaries for certified professionals, or the increasingly higher qualifications being sought by companies that are hiring. Yet, based on the number of unsolicited e-mails I get from headhunters, the IT recruiting industry must still be booming!

In the Los Angeles area alone there are literally hundreds of recruiting firms (just do a metropolitan search on Dice.com -- you'll see what I mean), all claiming to find you that ideal IT position. Being the seasoned IT professional that I am, and also a recent dot-com casualty, I thought I'd let these headhunters work their magic with my résumé.

I found several IT positions that looked like a good fit for my experience and skill set, and contacted the recruiting firms that were handling them. I sent a nice cover e-mail, along with my résumé in the obligatory Word format. If the headhunter had a registration Web site, I filled that out as well. (I should note at this point that this was not just an exercise to provide column fodder -- after my layoff from the dot com, I was truly looking for a new position.)

As a result of my six-week odyssey into the world of IT recruiting, I've written the following letter to any headhunter who is inclined to listen:

Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs. Headhunter,

I know that the IT industry is in a big mess right now. And I know that there are hordes of IT professionals seeking positions, making you a very busy person these days. As one of those professionals I'd like to offer a few suggestions:

• Bone up on your IT knowledge. One of your ads is asking for at least eight years of experience with Windows 2000. Windows NT hasn't even been around that long! Other ads spew forth myriad acronyms -- no one can possibly know all those technologies (or at least know them well). I know, I know, you're just echoing what your client has asked for. Well, you should know enough about the realities of IT to address these issues with your client, rather than just parroting their job description.
  
  
• Communicate! Respond to my e-mail. I know I'm not your only candidate, but it only takes a couple of seconds to hit the reply button and type a sentence or two. When I leave a voicemail message, return my call, either to tell me that you're moving forward or that I'm not fit for the position.
  
  
• Listen to me. I told you I didn't want to commute more than 30 minutes one way. So why are you asking me about positions that are an hour or more drive time? I also told you that I'm not a C++ programmer, yet you send me job descriptions for C++ gurus. I did go out of my way to mention that I have an extensive project management background, yet you act surprised when I ask you about a project management position.
  
  
• Tell the truth. Why do you think we IT professionals rank you guys right down there with used car salesmen and personal injury lawyers? (No offense to either of these fine professions!) Because getting the straight truth out of you is an exercise in futility. I wasted precious time going on interviews for positions that paid far less than you represented; you told me my résumé had been forwarded to a hiring manager when it hadn't; you assured me that I was one of a select few candidates you were sending to a client, when in fact you had already gone through a stack of applicants.

Thank you for hearing me out. Oh, there is one more thing: Can you please tell your clients not to place position requisitions with you unless they are serious about filling them? I know this one's not your fault, but it sure is irksome to go through several interviews, only to find out that the position isn't funded and won't be filled.

Sincerely,

Kevin Kohut

Still Looking?
I never got a job offer after all my searching. But that turned out to be a good thing in my case -- it gave me the extra push I needed to finally get my own business idea moving forward. Of course, as my company develops I'll be needing to hire a variety of IT professionals. Maybe I'll enlist the assistance of a couple of headhunters. Or maybe not!

What's your experience with IT headhunters been like? Post your comments below!