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Subject:Re: Recruiters WAS: Did I overreact? From:<vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Tue, 30 May 2006 15:15:43 -0500 (CDT)
Recruiters are, for the most part, car salesmen without the cars. Some can be downright unscrupulous.
All recruiters have the same agenda: get the biggest salary cap from the client compnay, and hire contracts for the lowest rate. The remainder goes in their pockets.
In regards to being peeved, I completely understand. When I was negotiating for a tech writing position with a major auto manufacturer, the pay rate was also $24 per hour. And the job duties were labor-intensive. I just couldn't figure out how a mult-billion dollar company would offer so little to someone who was going to produce a vehicle manual.
My biggest peeve is when recruiters sell me cheap - or at least try to sell me cheap. The conversation typicaly begins something like this:
"Well, the pay range for this position is $40-$50, but I think if we submit you at $35 per hour, you'd have a better chance of getting in."
Subject: Recruiters WAS: Did I overreact?
Ironically I was just supposed to have a second interview for a
contract-to-perm position through a recruiter. The client company has
fired every tech. writer they've had in the past, so I asked the
recruiter if I could speak with the gentleman that was fired and came
through this same recruitment firm. He told me that the man had been
"lazy," was fired "after two weeks," and "let his ego get in the way."
Talk about red flags. Whoa. A friend of ours was over Sunday night for
dinner and I told him some of this. He suggested I speak with the fired
tech. writer. So, he was here yesterday fixing our Audi with the husband
and I told him these comments. He replied, "I hope you told the
recruiter to sod off."
I did, but in a way that totally blamed me. I explained that I wouldn't
be able to work 40 hours a week onsite. It is a contract after all,
there should be some flexibility. The recruiter told me he cancelled the
interview because of the not being able to work 40 hours a week onsite.
Ironically, in the first interview they told me I could VPN in and it
wouldn't be a problem.
I just don't *get* recruiters.
Proceed with caution with recruiters. Learn to market on your own!
Michele
tom -dot- green -at- iwon -dot- com wrote:
>You reacted the same as I have in the past. If it hurts their feelings...so what? Sometimes the larger companies are bad about undercutting pay scales.
>They can get away with it because some people (for several reasonas)accept that rate.
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