Another kindred soul HeadHunter

With some ideas so spot on I thought I'd just copy and re-post.
Wonderful article Richard - you just read my mind.

http://www.recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blogs/jobseeker-tips-when-working

Why Won't That Silicon Valley HeadHunter Talk to Me?

Maybe it's because you are not in the niche or specialty that this particular recruiter works in. Many times, headhunters are quite specialized - they only work a specific niche within semiconductors, for instance, and only recruit design engineers with master's degrees in electrical engineering for that work. Further detailing the specifications they're looking for, the recruiter may only be interested in people with experience in a specific product type, like systems on a chip. If you don't meet every one of these specifications, you are not in their target space.

And they won't call you back, or even respond to your email. Which is bad manners, but understandable... The better headhunter will give you feedback, tell you what you're missing that is on their specification. And in a perfect world, suggest what other experience that you need and how/where to get it.

Why Won't that Silicon Valley HeadHunter Talk to ME?

Sometimes we're actually on vacation, or busy on another project... Sometimes it is just about task interference. You remember that? What happens when you have competing priorities, that you really can't prioritize? You remember those days - everything has a deadline, and it's today.

Be mindful of the fact that the recruiter can be in overwhelm. And the fact that s/he has 150 resumes in the queue to review makes her/him pretty cranky. And that pushy phone call that you made really is annoying. A better way to handle it is a well-written and respectful email - recognize that we have multiple jobs we're trying to fill, and that they may not have read your credentials yet. Especially in sales and marketing roles, I'm always looking for great follow up skills.

Why Won't that Silicon Valley Head Hunter Talk to Me? Part Three

There is a measure of civility missing from many of our interactions today - this is just one small example. However it is a big example if you are the candidate seeking feedback and human contact. The biggest reason I need to call you back is self-interest - I will need you some day, if not today. I will be in a position some time where I want you to call me back.

An article in the Jobs section of May 31, 2009's New York Times echoes this theme - "Be Nice to Job Seekers. (They're Shoppers, Too)". Jon Picoult also reminds job seekers to remember to respect candidates when they are in the hiring manager chair.

So keep this in mind wherever you are in the hiring demand chain - your candidates also buy your products. Show them some respect for this reason alone, if not to demonstrate your own humanity.

Why won't that Head Hunter talk to me?

Why can't I get that Silicon Valley HeadHunter to talk to me?

I would be super-rich if I had a dime for every time someone asked me that. The answer is not a short one - there are really lots of reasons for this phenomenon. The short answer is "Bad Manners" on the part of the recruiter, whether they are inside a company or part of their own firm.

Time was (back in the Dark Ages) that every company would acknowledge every resume or application received. Those days are gone - mostly because no one has a receptionist left to type out that little cards (or even send a quick form email).

There are really lots of reasons - some of which you as a candidate can overcome, and others you are just stuck with, given the law of large numbers and the way recruiting works.

I'll give much more detail on this subject in further posts.