<h4>Do You Know Who You're Reaching Out To?</h4>
<img src="images/boredbrains/forblogs/resume.jpg" align="right">
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As with anyone who has their resume posted online, I get the constant stream of possible opportunities from various agencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is just a fact of making your information available.&nbsp;&nbsp;I don't have a problem with this communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;As long as it is relevant.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is nothing worse than looking at an unsolicited opportunity that is no where near your skills and experience.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is especially annoying to a recruiter such as myself.&nbsp;&nbsp;I do deep research before getting on the phone with an individual.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many times, even before sending an email.&nbsp;&nbsp;So seeing that I came up in a highly generic search by another recruiter to which they applied no review, is frustrating to say the least.&nbsp;&nbsp;Agencies that employ these methods feel they are saving their valuable time.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think they are focusing on saving time in the wrong processes.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Recruiting is a social and relevancy based art.&nbsp;&nbsp;Your value to your clients, managers and candidates is based on the relevancy and accuracy of your results.&nbsp;&nbsp;Where is this applied in the afore mentioned practice?&nbsp;&nbsp;If anything you have just alienated yourself and your company from potential contact from high end candidates.&nbsp;&nbsp;You may have sent your SPAM to a hiring manager at a potential client, reducing the possibility of signing them.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I think many of these recruiters would be amazed what actually fostering a relationship on the candidate side of things as well as the client side can bring.&nbsp;&nbsp;Though Human Resources many equate down to numbers on a page, the Human piece still prefers to be treated as an individual person.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I could list out the various companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sight the roles they sent to me and what the possible simple searching they did that turned me up in the results.&nbsp;&nbsp;Those things are not my concern, as I usually just send them an email with my resume, asking them to tell me what makes me a possible fit for the role.&nbsp;&nbsp;Oddly, no one responds to the email.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not even to just say they are sorry for bothering me.&nbsp;&nbsp;I give it a week, then I mark them as SPAM.&nbsp;&nbsp;Perhaps sometime you should all try the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;When these methods of hack recruiting stop yielding any results, they will stop being used.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Probably the most concerning thing to me in all this is the listing of industry certifications.&nbsp;&nbsp;To think that a standards body would approve such practice, especially in the HR industry is appalling.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Perhaps there should be an industry certification stating you know how to read and research before taking action.&nbsp;&nbsp;"RTFM" applies to more than manuals.&nbsp;&nbsp;To recruiters it should be "RTF-Resume".<br />
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John Reagan<br />
jreagan@boredbrains.net<br />
www.boredbrains.net<br />