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Kevin Kohut
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An Open Letter to IT Headhunters |
| Kevin looks back at his headhunter experience. |
| by Kevin Kohut |
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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!
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Kevin Kohut has been involved with information technology in some form or another for over 18 years, and has a strong business management background as well. As a computer consultant Kevin has helped both small businesses and large corporations realize the benefits of applying technology to their business needs.
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More articles by Kevin Kohut:
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There are 51  user Comments for “An Open Letter to IT Headhunters”
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Page 2 of 6
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| 8/7/01: Rob says: |
yes, it is the way you tell it. when you see what some compagnies are looking for its frustrating. they keep asking for system engineers with c++ , etc etc, it is getting ridiculous. a friend of mine told me that one way of working is that they place adverts asking for people with a lot of knowledge on different platforms with sofferent software just to fill there dbases. what they do is comparing these dbases to filter out the possible subjects. more people in one dbase and more job opennings in the other gets you a higher succes rate and more money. the other thought of mine is that the compagnys are just shopping and looking what they can get for there money. |
| 8/8/01: Tony says: |
I can identify with this. This however is not confined to the IT world. It is merely a symptom of the problems associated with working through employment agencies. With IT training there must be a huge opportunity in this area but it would be tough to establish ones self. I will never use a headhunter again. NEVER. I have had enough. |
| 8/8/01: Anonymous says: |
I used a headhunter when I first moved to Atlanta. They promised a high paying placement. I traveled between states to do interveiws. They told me of all the placements that they make. I moved and after a few weeks of going on interveiws for jobs that had nothing to do with my interest, I finally started asking poited questions.For the first time I saw the true colors come out. One told me that they get hundreds of resumes a day. To make me understand, he took me to alittle room in the back that was filled with fax machines. Resumes were just dropping to the floor. Then he explained to me that I could not possibly expect them to know about me personally. They are good salesman. Flesh peddlers as was brought out. I would sit for hours being # 31 or 52 in line just toobe asked questions about programming or air trafic control. Would I be willing to move to texas for 13 hr. Everyday a new message. Then I was told that I was black listed because another company had my resume. They didnt realize that they too were dealing with smaller companies who just wanted a resume database. Needless to say They did not get me a job. I took a grunt job for a major company and networked my way up to an admin and then manager. I will never use a headhunter. It is fruitless. One of my engineers left the company on the promis of a high hourly salary and freedom to wear shorts. He got the 50 hr but only 20 hrs a week. He now wants to leave. Keep looking and when you get the power to influence management, use it wisely and do not forget what you are feeling now. |
| 8/9/01: Brian says: |
I work in HR as a Recruiter for a Cisco Partner in Maryland, and I understand everyone's frustration. I talk to candidates all the time that have been mistreated by headhunters. My focus if I were looking for a technical position, is to search for positions on the Internet and reply only directly to those firms, not to any agencies!! Also, if you really want to post your resume, do it confidentally and use a yahoo/hotmail email account; that way you won't get into a headhunter's database. You can find a good position without going through a headhunter, and the positions are out there. Good luck everyone!!! |
| 8/10/01: Snidely says: |
I am an EE and have just been laid off for the 4th time. Over the years I have dealt with quite a few headhunters, and even landed a job through one once. Anyone doing busuness with these people had best know that they work in an essentially unregulated business, and as such, practically anything goes! In fact, I have never heard of any professional association for headhunters. These people are salesmen. Even though they claim "..I'm working for you...", make no mistake that they are working only for themselves. It is a whorish business. A square peg in a round hole is no problem. Just MAKE THE SALE! Since they rank right up there with telemarketers, in my book, I see no harm in having a bit of fun with the more obnoxious ones. One of them really took the cake at a job fair I attended some years ago. As I walked (uninterested) past his table he greeted me with "Sir! Would you consider relocating for a temporary job?" I stopped,looked at him and replied "Would YOU do that??" After a long, disappointing run of searching a headhunter called me insisting that he could find me the job I'd love, great pay, blah, blah... and telling me to snail-mail my resume I replied that with the success I'd had with guys like him, I'd rather save the cost of the stamp, since I was out of work... Then there are the ones who tell you "We can find you the ideal job, high pay, great locations..." These are fun to handle. Just say "All headhunters say that." Then they respond "Maybe so, but we are not like the rest. We will work with you until you find a position. We have an excellent track record, etc., etc..." Then say "They all say that, too." Since most of you know their spiel well by now, this game can run indefinitely until they give up in frustration. Anyway, good luck, and have fun! |
| 8/10/01: Snidely says: |
P.S to last post - - If you really want to get depressed, look up how much these people earn in a year!!!! |
| 8/10/01: Been There says: |
Remember that the headhunter exists only by the grace of the company that you used to work for. Choose wisely. |
| 8/12/01: Roger says: |
OMG it is sooo true, here in Australia anyways. Spot on dude they are the scum, at least a used car salesman knows how to drive a car :P |
| 8/16/01: Kelly says: |
Same in Australia. Send your resume to a headhunter which we call the "The Big Black Hole" and you will hear from them once in six months, if you are lucky. The difference here, it does not matter if the market is slow or booming, |
| 8/16/01: Bill says: |
I agree with basically everthing that has been posted. I have been in software for over 30 years because I really like it. To me its more like playing a logic game than doing a 'job'. One of the aspects that I believe used to exist (before headhunters) was a 'peoplenet' that everyone had with any previous fellow employee that they knew (and had respect for). This was the source for new jobs and in my experience it even did a side step around the HR departments. If you interviewed with a technical person at the new company and they decided that you were a good match for their needs then you were in and HR just got to do some formal paperwork. The unknowldegeable intermediary was held out of the process. Everyone is right in that most of these headhunters don't have the time of day but they can keep a person's career in the ditch by their ignorance. It seems to me that part of the great increase in IT jobs must be all the headhunters that consider themselves qualified to evaluate the credentials of a person who is in a line of work that they themselves can't understand. My experience with headhunters who have helped me find contracts (friends have also helped me find contracts) is to treat them the same way you feel you are being treated. They don't hold a grip on your future only you do. They can be used to leverage the opportunity that you need to get to the next step in your career. But don't ever forget, you are in the driver's seat. It is only a con on their part to create any other impression. |
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