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Games Recruiters Play

Read this article on one of the jobs boards… 

It’s nice to see that I’m not alone. Now the question is; What do we do to solve this problem.

Games Recruiters Play – (Written by John Herrit, Posted on Jobcase) https://www.jobcase.com/conversations/33af68d3-7558-572a-805c-6faa5c592980

There are many games that IT Recruiters play. Here is are examples of just a few:

(A) The ‘bait and switch’

I receive many requirements in my email. One common game that IT Recruiters play is what I call ‘bait and switch.’ This game consists of me responding to a specific requirement. A recruiter calls me and says ‘I think you’d be a great fit for this position (calling it Position A) but I think you’d be even a better fit for this other requirement we have for Position B. Usually, Position B and Position A are completely unrelated. Sometimes Position A and Position B are different places or with different customers.

(B) The ‘Fake’ Job

This game is particularly frustrating for any job seeker. It’s when I respond to a requirement expecting that the customer needs someone right away. When the recruiter contacts me, I ask them what is the time table for their customer to fill this position. It’s when I don’t get a straight answer it’s then I realize that the recruiter’s company is working on a PROPOSAL for a contract. The hurtful thing about this game is you may NEVER hear from the recruiter, in reference, to this requirement again or if you do it’ll be sometime down the road (perhaps months)

(C) The Generic Job Description

I find this game to be very annoying because I respond to a particular requirement and I ask the Recruiter for a copy of the job description. I receive a job description that is so vague that it could apply to almost any job.

(D) The Multiple Submissions ‘Trap’

One of the cardinal rules for both Recruiters and Job Seekers is avoiding multiple submissions (e.g., having your resume being submitted to the same position multiple times). The paradox is that I’ll receive a copy of the same requirement for the same job from different Recruiters (often from the same Company). I get contacted by a Recruiter for this particular position and I point out to the them that I’ve received multiple emails regarding the same position. Some will try to tell me that their not the same but as I read the email that they’re describing the same position, at the same customer, often are worded almost identically. I like to point out to the Recruiter that their undermining their own efforts to fill the position. I sudden hear crickets chirping on the other end of the phone.

(E) When was the Last Time You Used this Skill?

This part of the pitfall of just about every job seeker. It’s called the ‘Resume Gap’ where you’re required everything you’ve done for the past zillion years. It turns out that there are time gaps when you’re unemployed or perhaps sick or you’re doing something else with your life. My experience is that Recruiters will zoom in on those ‘gaps’ in my resume. In my case, I was homeless from February 2004 – August 2004 and from February 2005 to August 2005. I would rather not talk about it since it was an incredibly painful time in my life. One of the favorite questions that a Recruiter will ask is ‘When was the last time you used ? ‘ If you don’t answer ‘last week’ then you’re pretty well hosed when it comes to a particular requirement.

(F) You Can Call It Stigma, Discrimination, or Whatever You Wish. It’s Still Means You’re Not Hired!

I’ve been bullied, put down, threatened and been blamed for just about everything under the sun in the workplace. I’ve dealt with stigma or age discrimination or harassment in the workplace. I’ve suffer from major depression and an anxiety disorder (I want to respond with ‘I’m not suffering from mental illness. I enjoy every minute of it!’). I was on a contract at the Coast Guard and I admitted that I suffered from a mental illness. All of a sudden, people thought I would go off on them at any moment. Then there’s the matter of my age (I’ll be 60 next month (06/28)), Experts say that older job seekers should edit out dates out of our resumes. Doing this raises a lot of questions from Recruiters or prospective Employers. Looking for a job seems like an eternal ‘Catch – 22.’

(G) Credit Checks and Security Clearances

I don’t know too many people who haven’t had credit problems or other financial problems in our lives. Yet some employers insist on doing credit checks on a candidate. My response is ‘I’m NOT applying for a car loan or a mortgage so why do you want to look into my credit history!’ We need a job to make money so we can PAY our bills so lets get abolish the financial background check as a prerequisite for employment. Having a security clearance is, for many positions, is essential to get a job in the Federal Government or as a Contractor with the Federal Government. I DID possess an Active Top Secret but don’t have it any more due to no fault of my own. Yet I’ve never had an opportunity to give my side of the story as to what happened.

(H) H 1-B Visas

H 1-B Visa program is designed to bring in high tech workers mainly from China and India. When talking about this problem, I don’t wish to sound like a racist or prejudiced. (My parents taught me to accept people as they are!) I’ve been on contracts where I’ve been the token ‘white boy.’ I get very annoyed when I hear about Companies who say they HAVE to fill positions using H 1-B visa workers because they’re aren’t any qualified Americans. I believe that there are hundreds of thousands of Americans who are more qualified to fill those positions but these Corporations don’t wish to pay them. I found H 1-B visa workers to be very good, don’t get me wrong, but they work for a lot less than a American.

(I) Calling and Not Leaving a Message

For me this is the ultimate faux pas! This is the most aggravating thing in the world. I have other things to do in my life so I can’t be waiting for the phone to ring. A corollary to this that most firms use 1-800 numbers to conceal their identity so I can’t tell if it’s a recruiter or a bill collector. It’s horribly rude and disrespectful!

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Read an interesting article

The article is here

There were a number of interesting things Mr. Green points out about not only the gay culture but also about the greater culture.

Chief among these points seems to be the thought that men, specifically the time honored connections among men are being savaged by a society that seeks to devalue anything that is distinctly male.

I’m not sure how much of Mr. Green’s article is a reflection of his personal experience due to his choice of friends, versus the larger community. Within the gay community there are layers and subcultures, each person gravitates toward the place that is most familiar.

I found however, that some of his points resonated with me. 

I was intrigued that the linked article above, was removed from The Huffington Post. What in this article justifies that?

There’s the question…

The irony that a Gay writer was published on a manosphere website is not lost on me.

Make of it what you will, this piece was something that crossed my horizon and for a moment was bright and shiny enough to capture my attention.

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Some kind of major update on my Windows VM

I know that Windows is a complicated large OS but, Wow! its slow as hell when it comes to updates. The updates are necessary, I just wish that they didn’t have to be so massive every other time I decide to use Windows.

OK I’m impatient. I get that. 

I’m reminded of why I went to Mac in the first place. I think I started with Apple around the time of OS7 and I made the switch because of Windows preventing me from simply writing a letter. Here’s the funny thing, I drove to LA, bought my first Mac, set it up, and had written the letter and mailed it, before Windows said it was ready for me to actually start working.

After that time, I never looked back I was a Mac person. I keep a Windows system around mostly to keep work and home separate. Work stuff I do on the Windows system, personal stuff I do on the Mac. Both systems run on my old reliable MacBook Air so at least I’m not having to cart around or worry about two computers. Since most businesses insist on using Windows it just works out that keeping Windows available is convenient.

Yes, I know that I can use Microsoft’s Office 365 to create compatible files and move them easily across systems and frankly I do. But having a Windows desktop on my screen tends to keep me focused on “Work” if I’m doing something for work.

This morning though, I just wanted to quickly check in and see if there was anything needing my attention. That was an hour ago and Windows is still updating.

I’ll let it cook for a while longer then if It’s still not ready I’ll take the risky option of 3 finger restarting Windows and hope that the entire VM isn’t trashed.

Sigh…

I wonder if I should just move it all over to a Work User on the Mac and then at least I’ll have something that always freakin works. 

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Well that was easy

The cable bill has been creeping up and it finally reached the annoyance level that caused me to pick up the phone.

I‘ve been meaning to take care of issues pertaining to my life for weeks, I come home from work with the intention to deal with shit every day, and honestly after dealing with everyone else‘s shit I haven‘t had the energy to deal with my own.

The lease renewal, the cable bill, groceries, you know, all the little bits of bullshit that run n the background of our lives.

Anyway, Wednesday, I was tired as hell. I‘m not talking tired from work, I‘m talking so exhausted that I came home, laid down and went immediately to sleep. Thursday morning, I was still dog tired and decided (with prodding from my body) that I just wasn‘t up for driving 2 hours up to the mountain, spending the night, and driving 2.5 to 3 hours back down to San Diego. So I stayed in San Diego and honestly spent all of Thursday napping.

This morning I woke up feeling almost normal. I‘m rested, and pretty relaxed. Thus far, I‘ve handled laundry, the lease renewal (I‘d toyed with the idea of moving to a better place), and just got off the phone with the cable folks.

Saved myself 40.00 a month, and got more for my trouble. I was going to pull the cable box entirely and switch to an antenna, but this is a 2 year deal and it includes HBO go. That alone is worth the price since the Apple TV knows what HBO go is and I can have movies on demand on the big screen.

I like having the ability to check local news etc, even if I don‘t use it all the time. Network TV is pretty much useless to me since my schedule is weird and most of the time the news just pisses me off. God knows, I generally don‘t need any help being pissed off.

Thus far this morning, I‘ve done laundry, cleaned, taken the trash out, cleaned some more, and am still relaxed and happy.

I think it‘s time for a shower and then I‘ll wander over to the barbershop for a haircut.

It‘s amazing what a little rest and a lot of sleep does for me.

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Sometimes trying to help is more dangerous than leaving well enough alone…

MaxresdefaultDriving to work this morning there’s this car on the freeway driving with only their parking lights on.

Ok yeah, it’s dangerous but I’m sure that the person driving had no idea. Their instrument cluster was probably lit and they were driving a new car. I’m sure they were still getting used to the car.

Hell I’ve done the same thing in my car after it’s been serviced. The dealership always turns the automatic headlights off while they have my car. It’s the first thing I check when I pick it up after they’re done.

Anyhoo, so I’m cruising at 80 and I see the dark car coming up in the lane to my left behind him, there’s another car flashing his lights.

The flashing light car was very insistent about trying to tell the dark car that their lights were off.

They were on the dark car’s bumper, then the dark car is passed me immediately changing lanes in front of me. The flashing guy sits right next to me adjusting their speed to continue flashing their high beams at the dark car.

The dark car accelerates obviously trying to get away from flashing guy. Flashing guy stays right on the dark guys bumper. Dark guy slows down. I have to brake. The two of them continue this dance at 75 to 80 miles an hour for the next 4 miles.

Eventually I decide that this is all too dangerous at 4:45 in the morning and accelerate past them both, continuing to open distance between them and me.

They continue their dance in my rearview mirror for the next 5 miles.

And it’s getting more and more dangerous. The Dark car obviously doesn’t have a clue but they’re equally obviously getting erratic in their driving and just trying to get away. They blow blow by me at 90 on a curving freeway transition. Flashing guy is just not giving up.

They round the bend and I see the reflected red light of taillights on the concrete barrier. I’m not far enough along in the curve to actually see them.I take my foot off the gas and coast as I round the curve. Yep! there’s smoke and that distinct smell that tires make when someone has slammed on the brakes.

No accident, but it’s pretty obvious what happened. They rounded the bend and saw a line of 18 wheelers transitioning from the other freeway and both had to brake hard. Neither of them learned anything because they’re both racing along in the fast lane continuing their dance.

I make the transition to the other freeway and continue on.

I couldn’t help but think again, that San Diego has some of the shittiest drivers in California.

These are people who will play pace car and actively prevent other people including emergency vehicles from passing. These are people who commonly blow through stop lights and stop signs. These are people who will sail out into traffic from parking lots and never even make an attempt to stop at the parking lot exit. These are people who will pull into a parking lot with a string of traffic behind them then stop trying to decide if they should go right or left, leaving that string of traffic blocking an intersection until they figure out what they’re doing.

5It’s like driving in Eastern Kentucky in the 1970s when people didn’t have to worry about getting hit, because there were so few people in the area. In San Diego it’s that times a thousand, except that there are a million cars on the road at any time and the odds of getting hit or hitting someone a pretty much 100%.

I thank my drivers ed teacher from a Kentucky High School every day for teaching us the value of defensive driving.

I respect that the one driver was trying to tell the other that their lights weren’t on, but give them -1000 points for not realizing that they weren’t going to get their message across and not having enough sense to break off and go on about their business.

Sadly, that seems to be the way of things these days. Folks just won’t leave shit alone, and instead of focusing on the bigger issues they want to focus on the little details.

In the overall picture of the freeway, there are streetlights that make it very easy to see the road. In the rain or fog, those same streetlights are actually a problem because they decrease visibility. But even without headlights, the car running dark wasn’t a particular danger. I could see the car and even what color it was. Yeah it wasn’t as obvious as it would have been if it was properly lit up but it wasn’t a particular hazard.

The real danger was “Mr Flashy” because he or she was escalating a minor danger into a major one.

At some point you need to know when to give it up.

If you were really concerned about safety, you could call it in to 911. Tell them a gray Lexus sedan was running on the 56 freeway heading west transitioning to the 5 south with no lights on and wasn’t always using their turn indicators.

CHP would have sent an available unit and I guarantee the Lexus would have stopped when the Red & Blue lights pulled up behind them.  Or not… and then there would have been another problem.

I guess it just brought home to me, it’s way better and safer to attend to my own shit. I’ve got enough to deal with, without looking for more.