What Will It Take To Get You Into This Job TODAY?
So, let me ask you this:
A Recruiter calls you (during these tough economic times) and asks you if you would "be open to discuss an opportunity if it were clearly superior to what [you're] doing now".
Would you say yes or no? My guess is that most people would say yes. I know I would.
The next thing out of my mouth would probably be, "what's the job?" Closely followed by "what's the salary range?" I have four cats to feed. I don't mess around.
Let's say the Recruiter's answer is, "Could you please give me a quick overview of your background, and I’ll then give you a quick overview of the job? If it seems mutually interesting we can schedule some time to talk in-depth."
HOLD UP, YO. Last time I checked, you called me.
So, let's say I ignore that bit of subterfuge and go onto "what's the salary range?"
He answers, “Before I tell you that, I’d like you to think about the best jobs you’ve ever held, those that gave you the most personal satisfaction. Were the reasons they were the best due to the amount of money you were making or due to the work you were doing?....Now, if the job I’m representing offered you a chance to maximize your personal satisfaction plus offered a competitive compensation, wouldn’t it make sense to at least discuss it for 5-10 minutes?”
For real? Did you find my number in the phone book? Is this the Air Force again? I told you guys when I was 18 that I wasn't interested and it still stands.
Wait, is this Crank Yankers? Am I actually talking to a celebrity?
No, friends. You're talking to a Recruiter that follows the advice of Lou Adler's latest article on ere.net.
Be sure not to skip the comments section, where Lou informs Ask A Manager's Alison Green that
- The recruiter is *suddenly* well known.
- The candidate is *suddenly* only one that would be interested in an executive position.
- "Top performers" would listen to this spiel (so, is he insinuating that AAM is not a top performer? BAH!)
- "Bad" recruiters come across crass when they use these tactics, but "good" ones come across as professional.
Cross posted at BlogHer
12 comments:
The advice given by Mr. Adler is way, way off base. I've been doing a great deal of recruiting lately as well as being contact by recruiters and the first thing that I say to a candidate or want to hear is about the opportunity itself.
If it is an opportunity that interests the candidate with whom I am speaking or in my own situation, something that interests me, then the right thing to do is go over job history. Not the other way around. Being cagey about a position is the quickest way to a hang up.
Big thumbs down Mr. Adler.
When they start ignoring my questions and asking their own, I start thinking it's a machine, and hang up. I can't see this as coming across as "professional", no matter what Lou says (when he's trying to sell/defend his own technique).
I don't make a habit of telling a perfect stranger much about me. In fact, in this age of personal information hijacking, I won't.
This sounds too much like a sales pitch (that would cost me $) and less like a mutually beneficial conversation.
I ALWAYS talk to 'true' recruiters - once I get to know them and get THEIR number to research their company and call them back. I am not looking for a new position and LOVE my job. But I have a lot of friends and colleagues who are looking and I love to connect people. From cold calls, I have made a couple of good recruiter friends who call me when they need to get the word out on a job.
Networking is fun. That kind of call would leave a bad taste in my mouth.
This kind of call would make me want to hang up immediately and take a shower to remove that dirty feeling. Eek. ("I have for cats to feed - HA! Have I mentioned lately how much I dig you, Wenchie?)
Lori - No doubt! Sure, I could make a few hundred thou doing all kinds of things...but do I WANT to do them all? Probably not. And no game some recruiter plays is going to change my mind.
Dustin - The "defense part" took the cake for me. I couldn't believe what I was reading.
Maven - Good point about keeping your personal details to yourself.
'netta - You dig me like a shovel, yo! :)
As a recruiter, I try to treat all my contacts as I want to be treated. I don't want someone being overly "salesy" and vague when it comes to talking about switching jobs !
I would definitely just hang up after making a snarky comment that they deserved.
Anon - Thanks for your comment! I have to admit, I might sound exasperated in my response to such a recruiter, but I probably wouldn't purposely make a snarky comment to him/her. After all, you never know if they are just about to turn over a new leaf! :)
True. And to be honest, I probably wouldn't either. I just felt so exasperated for you at the situation -- it annoyed me :)
Anon - Thanks for having my back, yo!
I AM a recruiter... and I'd hang up on me if I talked to myself that way.
Or something like that...
Anyway, when I call people I'm totally upfront about everything, including the salary. If they want it, they want it, and if they don't, well then that's fine, too. If you have to "convince" someone to take a job that isn't paying what they want, they're not going to stay with you very long and they're sure as heck not going to be loyal to your organization.
Just be honest, yo. It's still the best policy.
Heather: Tru dat!
Sorry - couldn't resist!
Jenn, thanks for taking this one on. I had the same response as you but didn't have time to comment. I can't imagine someone making me explain my qualifications for a job I didn't even want to hear about. I have no problem going on about how great I am but give me a break!
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