Ask a simple question - get some MAJOR complicated answers! Rusing, uhhhh, "discussion" breaking out here over on the Yahoo Sourcers Unleashed group. Answers listed below original post on site so be sure to scroll down and also be sure to add your own opine!

Hi! Is there a website that lists "recruiter's ruse" tips and tricks that I can use to dial into a company to trick the front desk into letting me speak to "the development lead"? Thanks! ~Stuart

"I have listened to the "to ruse or not to ruse" argument several times and always find it interesting. Whether you like it or not, Researchers/Sourcers ruse. If you are using the telephone for research, you are rusing. Unless you are calling into the "gatekeeper" saying, Hi, my name is John Smith (no relation to Paul of course). I'm a Researcher/Sourcer working for one of your main competitors and I'm trying to get the name of your top sales people or top engineers (or whatever position you are trying to fill) you are rusing! You are not being 100% truthful. What would happen if you stated the REAL reason you were calling? The "Gatekeeper" would hang up on you. Just because you are NOT making up a story, doesn't mean you are not rusing. By eliminating information from the Gatekeeper you are creating a ruse. The definition of the word ruse is: an action or plan which is intended to deceive someone. By calling into a company for the purpose of finding employee names and titles and NOT revealing this fact when you first call into the Gatekeeper is an attempt to deceive. To deceive is to ruse. So, unless you are telling every Gatekeeper or person on the other end of the phone that you are a Researcher or Sourcer and are looking for the names of their employees for the recruiting team or for their competitors, you are rusing." ~ Barb

Huh? I can see it's time to bring THIS thorny issue (rusing) to the Discussion Table once again! It will be the subject of discussion on Tuesday's MagicMethod Phone Sourcing Classroom Chat here at noon (EST). Bring your armor - you're going to need it!

By the way, this isn't the first time a firestorm over rusing has broken out - look here and here and here and here!