Some while back, I reluctantly agreed to reopen my LinkedIn account. I did so because I was persuaded – correctly as it turned out – that this would be helpful in my search for work. At least two of my current clients came to me via this medium – or more accurately, my connections used it to alert me to the opportunities and made contact. So, yeah, it’s served a purpose.
That said, I am also frequently contacted by recruiters looking to fill posts. As I understand it, they look upon the majority of LinkedIn users as a passive pool; people who might not be actively seeking a new job, but are possibly open to the right opportunity. I can see their point. However, when they contact me they are disappointed. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, I operate in a niche market. One of them commented upon that very point when I told him that I wasn’t interested in the job he was trying to fill. Did I know anyone else who might fit the bill? He pleaded – because he was struggling to find a suitable candidate. I wasn’t surprised as there ain’t many of us. Unfortunately, a niche market often means that there are very few people operating in it and in this case, the majority of us are contractors and happy to remain so, which is why recruiters are having such a difficult time filling those vacancies. Employers decide that a job needs doing and seek to hire someone rather than contract it out, which if it is not their core business would make pragmatic and economic sense, but, no, they engage a recruiter to try and fill the post. Part of me wonders why they bother – after all, there must be easier work to be filling.
The other thing they try to do is link to as many of us who will have it as this gives them access to an even bigger passive pool in which to trawl their bait. I’ve had a few recently who have claimed to have done business with me. No, they haven’t. Sure one of them called me very briefly about an opportunity that I knew all about because it was my leaving it vacant that was responsible for her trying to fill it in the first place. I don’t consider a phone call of less than a minute “doing business” even if she does. So, no, I’m not going to accept the invitation. I’ve never understood the LION concept as simply collecting people serves no useful function. I’ll link to people I know and have really done business with, as these connections are mutually beneficial – and that is usually how we get work in my line of business. Which is why recruiters are struggling to gain a foothold
The most recent approach wanted me to take interest in a permanent post that involved relocation. Given that I neither want to relocate and it is impracticable anyway and I no longer want to work full time in an employed role, this was a non-starter, too. It would also help if folk actually read my profile and or CV. After all, it is clear from this that I am not a signalling engineer for example, so won’t be interested in such roles, but I still field such enquiries from time to time.
I’m sure that for the mainstream stuff, that passive pool is a useful resource, but for the niche market, I suspect it’s all a bit of a wild goose chase for them. And asking to link when we don’t know each other isn’t going to work because I’m not interested in collecting a list of names. I much prefer a small list that is relevant.
Still, I guess it makes for the occasional interesting phone call – providing I’m not driving, of course…
Except for agents that I’ve worked with before, I always ask recruiters what’s in it for me. After all, if I point them at someone who I know is looking around, I’m doing a large part of their job, for which I know they’re being paid thousands of pounds. They aren’t even willing to say that they’ll send me a bottle of champagne, despite the fact that that ain’t even 1% of their fee.
I think the whole model is going to fall apart soon. You’re already seeing companies directly advertising on certain sites (like StackOverflow) that charge $350 for a month’s ad.
What’s in it for me? Nada. So I don’t do their job for them. And I’m not going to expand their passive pool either.
As a regular reader of Longrider and er……a recruiter let me try and answer some of the points here. Let me deal with Tim’s points first.
If a friend or a colleague was possibly going to be made redundant or was looking, would you not pass on their name anyway as a favour to that person? BTW if you did recommend someone I place I am happy to offer something meaningful such as a weekend away for two or an iPad.
I am not looking for you to cry into your beer for me but after 5 years there is a 90%+ drop out rate for recruiters, it is a really tough and competitive job.
Linkedin IMO is where you go last. First you post an ad, then go to a job site, search your database and if that fails LinkedIn. Recruitment really is 95% perspiration and 5% inspiration, and more about hard work and application. Saying that LinkedIn does work. You just cut and paste your introduction into what appears all relevant potential applicants and get a positive reply in about 10%-20% of InMails. Most you get a courteous reply, many just ignore you. Obviously not looking.
When I am interviewing I am not going to lead the horse to the water, I want an applicant who is enthusiastic about my client and position. Luke warm even is often a waste of a lot of people’s time.
Clients are very welcome to advertise direct. No doubt that will have an inbox brimming with visa-less Indians, 16 year GCSE students and retired firemen looking to retrain. I know of one company who did this and got 362 replies and 362 CVs went straight in the bin.
If you can get a job without an agent, especially in niche markets agents are less needed, good luck! I have access to 100,000 plus skilled people, 25 years experience, a keen eye and a 95% hit rate on CVs (apologies for the lack of modesty), most of my clients appreciate that I am offering a service which they will gladly pay for.
I can’t say that this surprises me. When I used agencies for temping assignments back in the eighties and nineties, I noticed this.
Given that I am in a niche market, I am contacted by agencies that specialise in rail. However, while this is probably fine for the likes of engineers, I work in training, assessment and quality assurance. It’s pretty specialised and I know personally a significant number of the people in it, it is such a small body of people. Consequently, we find work by word of mouth. Indeed, all of my work is found this way. Recruiters are on a hiding to nothing trying to fill such jobs, which is why I was musing on their efforts.
I always reply, but I am not looking and advise accordingly. To not reply would be discourteous. I don’t link though as I stick to the LinkedIn principle of only linking to people I do know.
This is an interesting one. Last September I was approached for a job that would have been a shoe-in for me. In short, a training manager type role. I wasn’t interested and said so. He persisted and persuaded me to attend an interview. As it got closer, I pulled out. The company then tried to get me to take on a part time role and eventually I went to see them. I think they eventually got the message that I just wasn’t that enthusiastic. Sure, I would have loved to have done some training provision with them, but just wasn’t interested in taking on any management role. The job was never filled. As I understand it, they are outsourcing all of their training and assessment needs, which I thought was a sensible decision. One of the companies they outsource to is one of my clients, so I’m doing some of that work anyway…