VENT: I HATE headhunters

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

As many of you know (from my annoying posts), DH is out of work. And has been for nearly 2 LONG years.

In the beginning he got lots of calls from headhunters, recruiters, whatever you want to call them. Lots of promises. No follow up.

Last October he went to see one (who had gotten a job for a former co-worker of my father) who was the top man in his company. This guy was employee of the month, every month. He got my DH an interview around Christmastime. Everything looked really good. Nothing ever happened. DH kept following up, but we never got anything back from this headhunter.

Today, he gets a call from this same headhunter (5 months later) about another potential position. He is told up front that the hours would be weird, but DH has no problem with that. He is told that the job is in Newark, NJ. WHich is great. DH can hop a bus and get there with no problem.

DH & I are both really excited. Even if this doesn't pan out, it looks like things are getting better. DH tells me the name of the company and I say, "They're not in Newark." No, they are in a town that is over an hour away and is not commutable by public transport nor is it anywhere near where I work. DH has to call headhunter back and tell him that this job is not where he said it was and that he'll have to pass.

I am just upset because once again we've gotten our hopes up. And this headhunter SHOULD have known where the job was (and then DH could have told him right away that it was not something he could do). But instead we both got pumped up, only to be let down again.

Just makes me mad.


Thanks for listening.

 

[lil mermaid]

Isn't it possible that maybe this company has another location? It may be a satellite office or something. DH should probably confirm the location before telling the headhunter to forget it.

Anyway, I hope he finds something soon!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Lil mermaid, good thought. But it's not the case. Headhunter had the wrong information (don't know where he got it from). There is only one office and it is nowhere near where he said it was.

 

[Cindy B]

Sometimes companies do move or have a smaller satellite office that is truly unknown to the public... I have seen that happen as well.

 

[adamak]

I hate headhunters too, at least those whom I dealt with before.

I was send to interviews that are totally NOT what I do (I was so ashamed when I have to repeatedly say " no, I don't know how to do this..."). I was given information that were wrong (e.g. dept info, job title / salary...etc). And yes, they once told me the job is in NYC, but it's actually in northern NJ.

I can only research so much, and I do depend on the HH to get me job info. They always lie. All they want is for you to go out there, interview, and take it, so they can get the comission.

I once refused a job because I do not think it fits my experience and expectation. I was harrassed by the HH!! She was SO rude when I told her I don't want the job. She said ' who do you think you are, and you will never work in this town again'.

With that attitude I bet you SHE is not working in this town now.

 

[Popsicle]

This is not about headhunters, but about the people who work in "Human Resources." Had a friend who was interviewing at THE major telecommunications company. She had a bachelor's degree in psychology and some graduate courses as well.

"Annie" should not really have been looking for employment as she had psychological issues which required medication, so much so her doctor recommended she not try to work. (She was on disability.) She was a proud person with a very good mind.

She was a very sweet person. Would give anyone the shirt off her back if asked for it. The seasons affected... severe depression. No matter what the medications, winter months were very hard for her.

She was with the HR person who apparently was very nasty throughout the process. At some point the interviewer told her she had a "nothing" degree. Annie asked her what her degree was in to which the interviewer replied, "I don't need a degree. I have a job." Annie lost it. A fighting match ensued. Annie was arrested.

When I heard the story I gave a silent cheer. People looking for work, especially when you've been out of work for long time, are vulnerable and not feeling good about themselves. (I've been there.) One thing you don't need is someone in "Human Resources" demeaning you any further. Why they use their positions to try to make others miserable, I'll never know. If I'd known at the time of the incident, I and I'm sure anyone who's had to suffer with insufferable interviewers would have contributed to her bail fund.

Back to Annie. Apparently the interviewer had been having problems "communicating" with potential employees so her office was being taped. It was determined that HER behaviour was so egregious that SHE was fired. She didn't have a degree OR A JOB.

Annie got a settlement from the company she hadn't even pursued. (Keep referring to her the past tense because she passed on a couple of years later.)

 

[Mish19]

Ahh, my favorite pet peeve! I once went to a head hunter that told me I will never get a job if I don't cut my hair, get new shoes and better clothes. I was dressed more than acceptable, had on a nice suit and shoes. Anyway, I was beyond upset when I got out of the office. I had another interview at another agency and had second thoughts about going since my confidence was so deflated. I called the agency to cancel and the guy I had the appointment with asked me if I was ok. I mentioned the previous interviewer, and he told me to come in anyway. I got there and he told me I looked just fine!
I've been to many employment agencies (going to one tomorrow)
and I've come across real jerks and great people. There are some that just dont remember when they were out of a job and just think of you as a dollar sign.
I love going to these places for 5 minutes, 1 hour if you take their tests just to get a pat on the head and their business card and are told to call them if you dont hear from them. I've learned that if they have a job for you they will hunt you down early in the morning, but if they don't they are mysteriously in with a client.
This is not all headhunters but this is my experience with the bad ones.
But I just keep plugging away because in the midst of bad agencies there's usually one recruiter who will be your job angel.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring me to one of the good ones.

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, I 've been told about my theater schooling... I've been told that I'm not a serious person. I've gotten words about it. I then realize that if they are going to be like that, I don't bother with the job.


As for NYC/ N. Jersey, that is pretty common actually. So many jobs in Southern NJ are considered Philadelphia area jobs, but they are in a different state. That really doens't bother me, you just need to truly KNOW the area.. (I mean not every town) but realize that Woodbury/ Mt. Ephraim is in NJ.. not in Philly proper. Same thing with Malvern, thats in Western Philly suburbs a hour away from S. Jersey!


It also depends on the type of headhunters as well. There are two kinds I would say.. the agency type that handles secretarial/clerical/office management... and the more professional kinds, some specify in the IT field, and some are in the corporate world, like for executives or a very specific specialty.. (ie manufacturing, telephony, etc.)


The "clerical" ones find jobs on very little information given to them by the companies that hire them. I've been sent on job interviews where I have done some but not all the skills. It's basically a guessing game with the headhunters to send prospective employees.


On the IT side, my DH helps with this. Sometimes his companies hires contractors to help with the workload. He know to ask for specific skills.. like 1-3 years help desk, no programming needed, job experience necessary... and familiar with programs/platforms. If he wasn't specific enough to the headhunters, he would be getting anyone who knows computers...

 

[JasonLyons]

I was watching Gilligans Island last night, and they had some head hunters on there, man them guys are scary

 

[dianeschlicht]

My DD has had a similar problem. She has been job hunting for over a year, and MUST have it within public transportation since she does NOT drive. They set up interviews for her, and they are no where NEAR public transit. It is so discouraging!

 

[dbond]

We're right there with you, my DH is looking for work. He hasn't been out of work for 2 years, yet, but the recruiters and headhunters do tend to make things out to be much more wonderful than they are. But then, they are trying to make a buck too. My DH just takes the approach that you have to take a look at every possibility that comes along, because you never know who you might meet that could lead you to what you're really looking for. He's out almost every day meeting with people for lunch, going to networking group meetings, having interviews for jobs that he would never want. He thinks of it as all part of the process of getting the word out that he's available and the right job will come if enough people know who he is. Good luck to you, and keep your spirits up!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Thanks all. DH and I have done every little bit of networking we can think of (and them some).

I was just really mad at this headhunter (and Jason in the "real" world the headhunters are alot scarier than on Gilligan's Island. At least there the professor will protect you! ). He is supposed to be at the top of his profession (ha!), but he doesn't even know where this job is (and there are NO satellite offices. It's like someone saying I have a job for you at at place called Epcot. It's in Miami.). I realize he is trying to get his job done too, BUT if he wants to match people, he has to get his info right!

Will just keep plugging along and praying (and trying not to get too depressed. The news channels have all been playing up how bad the employment situation is. Makes you want to crawl into a hole and die).

 

[Mary Anne]

I once went to a head hunter that told me I will never get a job if I don't cut my hair, get new shoes and better clothes.

I once had a head hunter tell me, if I didn't go to the interview with a $300 leather brief case there would be no way I'd even be considered for the position. Hellooo..... and with no job and children to feed how the heck did she even think I could afford a $300 pocketbook. Jerk!

I could write a book on headhunters and their head in the behind ideas.

 

[adamak]

Are you serious? $300 brief case? I would just stand up and leave. It's a waste of your time.

One more thing I hate. I'm in tech field, so I dealt with techie headhunters. Most of them have no knowledge of what I actually do. And they almost always 'translate' my experience wrong to the employer. An absolute frustration.

 

[Mary Anne]

adamac, I am 100% serious. Needless to say, I told them thanks but no thanks, I did not think I would be a good fit with that type of comapny.

Best thing about it all, I work in HR. The major problem with the head hunters out there is the fact that 90% of them have never worked in this type of economy before. 3 to 4 years ago they could send any person in with two legs and a head and they'd be hired. Now that they have to work to make the placement and they are clueless.

If anyone had told me three years ago after working 25 years for one company that I'd be out of work and just doing temp work I'd never have believed them.

 

[adamak]

PD for the economy.

 

[Mish19]

Well I went to this agency and I really hoped for a different outcome. They were pleasant and understanding but they said the same thing. Companies aren't looking to hire people who have a lot of temp background. Well duh! How do I get OUT of temping if these companies won't give a "temp" a chance?!
LOL, then they asked me if I wanted to register with their temp department. What I want to know is why did they ask me to come in AFTER seeing my resume? They knew of my experience.
Ok, I'll calm down now

 

[mtemm]

I used to work as a recruiter doing permanant and temp. placement.

In a nutshell Mish, they asked you to come in because they want you to temp for them. There is always a shortage of good temps...the good ones always seem to end up getting hired! At least for our firm. Doesn't matter what you want to do, most times they will look to place you where you've been...you've already proven yourself. Didn't matter that somebody just finished their degree and wanted to get a job in marketing, if they did any admin work in college, we gave them a typing test and tried to get them going in that area. It was an easy sell to clients.

I will say there are some benefits to temping...you can't get better networking than actually being in the company. My more ambitious temps got to know everyone, always checked the job boards where they were working, and let anyone who would listen know that they were looking for permanent work. Many jobs out there never get posted or get ads placed for them. Its often being in the right place at the right time. Especially if the peson is a hard worker, goes above and beyond...usually gets noticed. The only downside that I've rarely seen is if the client doesn't want to pay a fee for the temp if they hire them permanently. Doesn't usually happen...most companies are used to paying fees to recruiters w/o blinking an eye.

Headhunters/recruiters can be very useful. My dh just got a great job thru one this past summer. Of course, we were also willing to move to a new state for it.

Not all headhunters are bad. A lot of times the job orders they get are wrong...there is miscommunication somewhere. Sometimes HR at the client company changes their minds on what they need. And sometimes its just not a good fit....recruiters are like shoes, some feel more comfortable to deal with than others.

I wish your DH the best of luck! I'm sure you are so stressed about this.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

mtemm, I'm sure there are some great recruiters out there as well as wonderful people in HR, unfortunately all I've ever dealt with is the bad. (after all MaryAnne sounds pretty nice and she said she's in HR, so I've got some hope for the profession now! ).

Let's just hope this economy gets better soon. Tomorrow marks the end of Year 2.

 

[Mary Anne]

Thanks; I am a nice person, which is why I am an unemployed HR professional. I refuse to be as underhanded and rude that the majority of those out there today.

I attribute their attitude to the fact that they are not only not properly taught in the work place but they come from homes that had no values and proper up bringing on how to treat other people with courtesy. For those in the NYC area two major companies have announced 4,000 new jobs to be added in Manhattan. Best news I’ve heard in a long time. Hope they actually do it.