Re: headhunter.net and other job boards

["Staples, Lorrie" <Lorrie -dot- Staples -at- NEXTEL -dot- COM>]

In response to all the Recruiter stories I have a couple thoughts from
experience to share . . .

Remember to look at this from the recruiter's point of view.  This is the
90's "dog eat dog" world we live in & recruiters are sales people, so must
depend on commissions as their livelihood.  They are going to do the things
that make the money & make it NOW!!  Calling everyone back that submits a
resume would take up a lot of (in their eyes) valuable time that they could
be spending placing some person in a position and earning a much-needed
commission.  Remember, too, that the people that employ them, are of the
same opinion!  People only do what they're incented to do.

I wouldn't take it too personally if you don't get a response back,
especially from the Internet job boards.  Although I love the Internet job
boards, because I can search for positions in other areas of the country
without having to find someone who sells newspapers for that area, it has
made recruiting become quite "impersonal" and "cut & dried".

I personally have been searching the Internet to relocate to another part of
the country for family reasons, and I've gotten very used to not hearing
from recruiters unless they have something.  Just because you submit your
resume and don't hear anything does not mean it was thrown out.  Your resume
most likely was added to an electronic database and when one or more of your
keywords comes up in a match to a job opening they receive, you'll hear from
them.  (Remember our discussion on resume submitting formats & cover letters
a couple of weeks ago?)

I know this from experience.  A recruiter that listed a "killer" job (no,
not literally) that I submitted my resume for, wouldn't call me back even
though I left several messages, and wouldn't you know it, a month & a half
later he calls me.  They aren't going to bother to call you back to let you
know that the position for which you submitted your resume was already
filled.  That won't make them any money - - so, from their point of view,
why waste the time.  It's sad that recruiting has become such a "buy & sell"
impersonal industry, but, then, this is the 90's!

I'd concentrate more on your keywords in your resume, than waiting for an
answer back.  Cheer up!  It's one more phone call that you don't have to
respond to!

Have a great day!!  (even you, Andrew! <grin>)

Lorrie :)


From: Michele Marques


When I was looking for a job, I found that no matter the source of the job
ad
(job board, newspaper ad), I often did not hear anything back; I only got a
response if someone was calling to set up an interview or get more
information
from me. If you are applying to job board ads, check the date on the ad to
make sure you are applying to a recent posting; if it is old, it could be
that the
company is well into the search and has not got around to taking down the ad
(or wants to get in resumes until they manage to fill the position).

On a positive note, I got my current position (where I am very happy) by
responding to a job board ad. I used the form on the web. I think part of my
luck
was that I saw the ad a day or two after it was posted, and I think my
company
had not yet put in a newspaper ad. Don't give up hope!

I also had a funny situation in my long job search.... for almost a year I
had my
resume posted at a few web boards and heard nothing; then within a few
weeks, I got many responses (I was getting a response every couple of days).


----------------------------------------------
Michele Marques
Technical Writer, CMS Manufacturing
mmarques -at- cms400 -dot- com
905-477-4499 x280


 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=