From: bmcllree@ad-server.Naitc.Com (Bob McLlree)
Subject: Re: How to answer these contract head hunters
Organization: AC Nielsen Co., Bannockburn IL
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 92 20:01:13 GMT

In article <1992Oct6.163910.11087@netcom.com> sbale@netcom.com (Swamy S. Bale) writes:
>
>I recieve a call from a contract agency person. He introduces himself and
>tell me why he called. Later he tells that he has a contract position
>available and would I be interested in? What can I say, but yes(off course,
>that the kind of job I am looking for). Then immediately he asks me 
>how much money I am interested in. I say some range and also tell him that
>I can negotiate with that. 

He's qualifying you for the job requirement he's trying to fill. He's also
asking you if you want your resume to be submitted for this position.

> He reads my resume and asks what Motif stands for
>, what SNMP stands for, what is Unix stands for and so on (which tells me 
>that he is a high school drop out). 

He's not a high scholl dropout, but he doesn't have to be technically adept,
either. Read on.

>Then he tell me that he will send the 
>resume to the employer and will call back after as soon as he hear something.

He's going to submit your resume to his client. If there is interest, you'll
hear back from him. If there isn't, you won't.

>My questions are:
>
>1. How they get access to my resume( I never heard of them before).

Lots of full-time headhunters also do contract placement or are allied with
those that do. If you've sent your resume out to recruitment agencies,
there is a possibility that a contract house alsdo has it. Otherwise,
think very carefully about who yopu have released your resume to. Also,
if you have posted your resume to the net - lots of contract firms have
access.

>2. Is this legal for one firm(to whom I have sent my resume) to pass
>   my resume to other?

Probably. It's also legal for them to submit it to firms without your
consent, but it's unethical and slimy.

>3. Are these contract people are a bunch of scam artists?

Some are, most aren't. The ones that are scammers, like any other scammers,
don't last long. There *are* reputable contract firms out there. From
your posting, it doesn't appear that this guy was scamming you.

>4. Does it really helpful to send resume to a contract agency? (I never
>   got any call second time from them?)

Yes. If you want *contract* work. Or possible contract-to-hire. If you
want full-time permanent, tell them that. I've had plenty of work through
brokers. If you want contracts without using brokers, you have to market
yourself, which is yet another issue.
 
>5. Are these contract agency people technically qualified?

No. And for the most part, they *don't have to be*. Sure, it would be nice
(for us) if they were technically literate, but you must realize that these are
*salespeople and recruiters*. They do buzzword matching and let the
client company do the technical interviewing and appraisal. Their job is
to find candidates, not engage in technical discourse.

>6. Actualy what are they trying to do by calling me, even though they don't
>   have any contracts in hand?

How do you know that from the phone conversation? You don't. What probably
happened is that the client passed on your credentials. As I said
earlier, if there was interest, they'd be phoning you right back. This
happens all the time - many submittals, a few interviews, possibly a 
contract. Don't let this deter you if you want contracts, and don't let it
persuade you that all brokers are slimy. That, like it or not, is the way
the business works.

Bob McIlree
Discalimer: All views presented herein are mine alone.


Newsgroups: misc.jobs.misc,misc.jobs.offered