Poll - What do You Find More Annoying? (Random Job Reachout or Misplaced Applicant)

Afternoon/Evening Fellow RBC'ers:

As I worked through applicants for a few positions two of my favorites popped up, as they do with every open job I ever have...

  • Randy the Random Job Reach-out Guy
    • Your inbox is flooded with a few hundred emails...on a slow day. Randy wants to know what jobs you have for him - but by the email clearly has no idea what I do, what jobs I may have open (search the company website...) etc. He just figured he would send a quick email to see if his "insert intoxicating buzz word packed career descriptor" would fit anything you have open.
  • Mary the Misplaced Applicant
    • What's that? You have an entry-level account management job? Perfect! I'm a senior level creative director who would love to work for a company in this industry and would love to talk to you about opportunities. I think this person read as much about you/the company as Randy.

(dumb names for what I consider dumb behaviors...no offense to any Randy's or Mary's out there).

I'm curious which you find more annoying? It's a total toss-up for me but I always greatly enjoy the gems of insight and stories that the RBC community has to offer up!

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Oh Kyle... that's a tough one. :)  I guess if I'm forced to choose I would say Mary is a bigger pain in the tush - purely because Randy is potentially easier to ignore (he didn't actually apply to a position, thereby requiring a response).

I always love Doug the Doubler. He sends a resume for an industrial engineering spot. in the next two minutes he send another resume for a customer service coordinator. The problem. He is in sales. What to do?

Email

Doug, which of the two positions you applied do you prefer?

"which one pays the most?"

The industrial engineer is in a higher salary range.

"that's the one I want."

Sorry, you don't have an engineering degree or have ever worked as an engineer.

"ok, then I want the Customer Service job".

Sorry can't consider you for that one.

"why not."

We never submit a candidate on a job that is not his first choice. That would be setting you up for failure. I don't want you to fail and I'm sure you don't want to fail ,do you?

"no"

Great we agree. Keep watching our listings, maybe we can hit one that will be your first choice that you have the education and experience to fit.

"thanks, I really appreciate you advising me about how not to fail".

No problem.

"I bet your clients really appreciate you screening people so nobody gets in a job where they will fail."

Something like that, that,s what recruiters do. Give my regards to Darwin.

"who"

Never mind I must be confused, I thought he was one of your references.

@Amy - very true, the behavior still just confuses the daylights out of me.

Ha; love it!

Sandra McCartt said:

Something like that, that,s what recruiters do. Give my regards to Darwin.

"who"

Never mind I must be confused, I thought he was one of your references.

They are BOTH equally bothersome. I also can't stand "Rudy I don't understand what a Recruiter does" - the applicant that emails or calls and asks "Can you get me a job? That's what you do right?". 

Well said - don't you just love being the personal 'job search engine'?

Darryl Dioso said:

They are BOTH equally bothersome. I also can't stand "Rudy I don't understand what a Recruiter does" - the applicant that emails or calls and asks "Can you get me a job? That's what you do right?". 

Hold on just one minute here.  Why in the world would any of us mind ANY resume coming to us?  Are we all so busy we are now offended by anyone that doesn't know how terribly busy we are?  So busy in fact that we can not even review their potential?

Imagine for a moment that we ran a toy store. Toys are for kids, right?  But kids don't usually have much (any?) money - so how well would we do with that?  Kids come in, look around, leave.  All day.  Every day.

But guess where they go when they do have money?  Yep - they come right back to our store.


So what is so wrong with a candidate thinking of us when they're ready for a new position?  I'd much rather that EVERYONE thought of me than NO ONE.  Perhaps they don't have the "money" to buy a spot on our desk.  That's OK.  I'm not put off.  I hope they check with me EVERY TIME they are considering a change.  Chances are they will also think of me when their FRIEND is looking for work.  Or their son.  Or neighbor.....


So get over yourself people!

Jerry - I get what you're saying and do agree but only to a point. I'm not saying I tell these people to bugger off and lose my contact info but think of the flip side.

I know there are plenty of blogs and discussions posted across RBC with all of us reprimanding and wagging fingers at recruiters who just fire off resumes or job descriptions to clients & candidates without learning about said party beforehand, their needs, or what have you. 

Going back to Sandra's post - most 'career advice' tells candidates on the job search to think about what they actually want to and can do career-wise and apply to applicable jobs within reach. I honestly, wouldn't want to or ever would send off a 'candidate' for a position that didn't match or just send someone saying "Do you have a job for them".

I might keep that person in my back pocket if he or she actually has relevant skills for the industry I work within and if it was a well crafted introduction. I have plenty of "I do this, this and that (none of which apply) and would like to work for a company in this industry. Do you have any opportunities available". When nothing in the note suggests they are actually interested in my/our help and not just anyone's help that opens the email - it annoys the daylights out of me.
To me, those are as good as the Nigerian Prince emails offering me millions in unclaimed riches by sending a $3000 check their way. 

This is an UN-moderated discussion so I (honestly) welcome with open arms all opinions, posts, etc. That's why I'm here - to share my opinion and learn from all of yours. In the end my opinion means as much as each of yours does so let's keep the convo going.

Thank you though Jerry for adding the other side of the discussion to consider; I admit I didn't give it a fair go in my original post.

Jerry - you have a point, HOWEVER - that same candidate that we can't use right now (or likely ever... if they're not in our niche or whatnot) is going to be the one that bitches to all his friends and family that the jerkface recruiter over at ABC Company never has any jobs for them. Most likely we're just another email on the list of 100 companies they're blasting their resume out to. It's a nice idea, but I think it's the exception, not the rule.

I used to have a guy "eddie Alvaro"  I must've pissed him off somehow by not getting back to him.  He is a truck driver.

He would respond once a week to all of my postings.  It made me laugh and once in a while I'd respond and say "Gee

Eddie, we're close to closing this one- better luck next time!"

He stopped sending and I missed him so I called him.  He got a job!  As a truck driver!

I agree with Jerry- we all make too big a deal out of "nuisance" respondents.  Just realize that they feel they are being

productive  and move along.

I don't know Bill... I rather like being able to come to RBC and complain about what ails me, then move along. I think that's all Kyle intended with his impromptu poll. This business wouldn't be nearly as much fun if it wasn't for the people, right? :)

Well, by all means, Amy.  keep doin what you're doin.  I have seen recruiters waste time getting into arguments with "nuisance" candidates merely for their own ego or time wasting techniques.  that's what I was talking about.  I'm not here to take your fun away.

Amy Ala said:

I don't know Bill... I rather like being able to come to RBC and complain about what ails me, then move along. I think that's all Kyle intended with his impromptu poll. This business wouldn't be nearly as much fun if it wasn't for the people, right? :)

Thanks Bill... it's the most fun I have, hanging with you and the other RBC regulars. I'm serious! :) You're absolutely right though some recruiters (none of us, of course) get all worked up about it and spend precious hours bitching when they should be placing people.

 

I still enjoy these sort of discussions though, nice to know I'm not alone. :)

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