Comments on: Your recruiter

By: Rich DeMatteo

Rich DeMatteo — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:46:23 +0000

Hey Elisa – Thanks for telling me your reasons for being “fair and kind, but tough”. Coming out with a placement is a great feeling.

And on thank you notes – I’m kind of torn. A hand written note will never hurt, but if a candidate doesn’t send one at all, then I’m OK with it if they are the best candidate. I’ll still hire someone if they don’t send me any form of a thank you.

The company research is a must. You sound like a great candidate and one that impresses any company you interview for!

By: Elisa

Elisa — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:26:35 +0000

When I am in my recruiting/hiring duties, I am uber competitive. If you get past me on the screen and phone interview, you’ve been through the ringer. Candidates have told me many a time I’m fair and kind, but tough. So by the time they make it to the interview table with other candidates you best believe I’m pulling for them. Partly because I want them on board with us. Partly the pride of finding a great candidate. But mostly cause I like to win.

When I was job seeking, I definitely did the handwritten thank you note. I know not everyone recommends this or even believes in it, but I am a firm believer in it. To minimize my stress, I looked internally to figure out where my stress was coming from. It was that I was applying in a field I had little experience but wanted to be in, I was young, and I didn’t know everything (which is an issue for me…I’m a very analytical person.) So I researched the company’s website for about 3 hours, printed out some pertinent/interesting pages, brought recommendation letters with me for everyone and pretended like I had any idea what was going on. Good news…they bought it and were so impressed that I researche their company I had a call at the end of the day offering me the job.

By: Rich DeMatteo

Rich DeMatteo — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:19:36 +0000

Hey Srini – I agree and disagree. It is good to know their background, but don’t be creepy about it. Recruiters (agency and corporate) don’t want to have a long call with you. While they like what you can offer, they aren’t trying to be your buddy. While they are pulling for you, you shouldn’t be talking about sports or anything off the topic of the job. Besides, if you bring up anything not related to the job, there can be risk of bringing up certain discriminatory areas like family, religion, age…etc

By: Srinivas Rao

Srinivas Rao — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:58:07 +0000

Really smart ideas as always Rich. Like I told you yesterday I think you could do an entire series on conversations with recruiters. While I think it’s weird to send your recruiter messages on Facebook and things like that, I do make a point to go and learn a bit about my recruiter. I’ll usually Google them, look for them on Linkedin and more. I’ll sometimes bring up something related to their background in initial conversations because I think that if it comes from a place of genuine curiosity, people actually like that. That’s my two cents

By: Rich DeMatteo

Rich DeMatteo — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:33:20 +0000

Hey Scott – thanks for adding in your thoughts. It is certainly tough to see the other person interviewing you as your buddy, and well, sometimes they aren’t. Your recruiter, the corporate recruiter who found you wants you to succeed. When you are meeting the Hiring Manager, it may be a different scenario. They will obviously be closely scrutinizing every word to make sure you are a fit before green lighting you through.

I also despise interviews in which a square table is used and people sit on opposite sides. I’m much more in favor of a circular table and sitting next to the candidate. Makes them feel much more welcomed.

In regards to being unprofessional or too friendly – I think there is definitely a line. Thank them for contacting you, thank them their time, but never call them “buddy” or “Pal”. Stick to their first names.

One time I had a candidate send me pictures of his newborn baby and his wife at the hospital. This was a candidate that I met once, and was preparing to send over to my client. Even though it freaked me out, I still sent him over because he was a good fit for the job. I made sure to tell him to NOT send that to my client manager. If I had been a corporate recruiter at that time and hiring for my own company, I would have pulled the plug. Don’t make your recruiter your best friend, let it be professional. Share a few jokes, feel free to show personality and charm, but don’t go face book stalking and playing farmville with the recruiter.

By: Rich DeMatteo

Rich DeMatteo — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:20:41 +0000

Hey Jason – Buzz words can confuse me, or maybe I don’t understand their hype – so I stay away.

I always loved crossing off a job on the white-board. Knowing something is “done” is a great feeling, and mentally crossing it out was always nice too.

By: Scott Hale

Scott Hale — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:23:22 +0000

People usually have a really difficult time viewing situations from any standpoint other than their own – and as you have hit on in this post, their are differences in the thought-patterns of employers and potential employees.

While being interviewed, it’s damn near impossible to think the person on the other side of the desk is in your corner. So, thank you for posting this.

To your other point about being friendly with recruiters – use some common sense. While I’m not a recruiter, I don’t mind maintaining a friendly (yet professional) relationship with a recruiter. Some lines shouldn’t be crossed, but some personality should shine through. I’d be interested to see some more of your thoughts on the line between professional with personality vs. too friendly.

Thanks,

- Scott

By: Jason Davis

Jason Davis — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:11:34 +0000

Rich – as usual, COTJ delivers a witty, fresh perspective with great advice and no fluff. I’d like to point out that there is not ONE buzzword in this post. Well done. I also totally agree – it’s one of the attractive things about being in recruiting – you get to get people great jobs, and you get to get your company great people. You better believe recruiters are pulling for rockstar candidates, they need to close those open reqs!

By: Rich DeMatteo

Rich DeMatteo — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:45:28 +0000

There is the attitude I want – “they are pretty lucky to have me” – awesome, Royce! I always respect and like when candidates ask prepared, well thought out questions.

I don’t watch Oprah, so I can’t comment on that! )

By: Rich DeMatteo

Rich DeMatteo — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:19:52 +0000

Glad you brought up Recruiter Pay. When it is an agency recruiter, they do make some big bucks when they place candidates. The corporate recruiters may get a bonus for meeting placement goals, but usually are just paid a salary like everyone else.

oh and I will drop <3 at any chance I get! Thanks for the comments!