Why Won't that Silicon Valley Head Hunter Talk to me - part four

Head Hunters do make incorrect assumptions sometimes - can you believe it? Sometimes we are flat out wrong! We make assumptions that because you've held a bigger job in a bigger organization, you wouldn't really be interested in our smaller, lesser paying job. Especially if you have been in a Fortune 500 company like HP that the start up we're recruiting for can't afford you or you would turn your nose up at the lower profile newcomer in the space.

Sometimes these assumptions on the Head Hunter's part are correct:
* There are issues of "fit" in the transition from larger company to small
* There are issues of rewards, both monetary and other in this transition
* There are issues of influence
* There are issues of support - in most small organizations, you are it

As recruiters, we do need to question our own assumptions. And then ask intelligent questions of our candidates to ensure that we are not presuming some things that are not true. I am often surprised and amazed at the thoughtful answers I get from candidates when I ask. Often candidates have some truly great reasons for wanting to be in smaller companies, and for making transitions that may not look right to us. Often these are the things that make for truly inspired placements.

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 Silicon Valley Head Hunter Talk To Me? Part Two

It's not really about you at all - it's about the positions that they have job orders for. Think of the recruiter's job orders as a shopping list. If you want steak for dinner and your spouse picks up chicken at the store, neither of you is going to be happy. That's the situation that the Head Hunter is always in. People who come in over the transom as volunteers to be considered are often not what the client wants.

What can you do about this as a candidate? First, read the posted descriptions and requirements VERY CAREFULLY - ensure that you really do:
1. Want the job
2. Actually meet all of the qualifications, or at least 80% of the major ones and some of the
preferred qualifications
3. Have a crisp explanation of why you want the job
4. Are in the right geography - if it says "no relocations" - believe it
5. Meet the other requirements, whether salary, certification or other factors

Don't waste the Head Hunters time - if they tell you that you're not a fit for this position, believe them. They know where they are in the process as well as specifically what the client wants that may not have been spelled out in the requirements. This is true whether you're 50+ or not - there are often additional qualifiers that help a recruiter winnow the pool down. For example, when you're a salesperson selling in a retail environment, your experience in working through distributors may be critical for a particular position and not at all important for others.

Much more on these subjects in the next post.

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.

This is my introductory blog. Check here regularly for topics of interest in HR, Recruiting in the Internet Age, Business in the Web 2.0 world, and other topics that strike my fancy. You'll hear from me on issues that hit my radar and some that haven't hit yours that should.

Core versus Non-Core Business

I wrote on an organizational blog last week (www.womeninconsulting.org) about deciding whether a segment of business really fits in your core competency. GM went through this analysis recently and decided that the 62 year old Pontiac nameplate had to go. Tough decision...
But we all need to do similar analyses in light of the world recession. What may have been working well no longer is based on many factors outside of ourselves. A healthy dose of re-invention is a good thing if you've done your homework and understand to whom you are selling. This is true for consultants, small businesses, and candidates for employment.