Mr. Writer and the Clueless Recruiter

[Writer]

Yesterday a recruiter called Mr. Writer concerning a contracting position. If you're in a technical field, and have ever dealt with a recruiter for the technical field, you can appreciate just how unbelievably vexing talking to one of these people can be. Here is the conversation Mr. Writer had with this particular recruiter, as he described it to me.

Should I also add that she spoke with a heavy, nearly indiscernible accent?

Mr. Writer: Mr. Writer's office.

Recruiter: Hello, I am calling to see if you would be interested in interviewing for a contractor position.

Mr. Writer: Okay. Where is it located?

Recruiter: Colorado. Are you willing to relocate to Colorado?

Mr. Writer: Actually, I already live in Colorado. Where in Colorado is this position?

Recruiter: You have experience with C++?

Mr. Writer: Uhhh. Yes. About ten years' worth. Where in Colorado is this job?

Recruiter: What are your salary requirements?

Mr. Writer: I'm looking for <his current salary>. But where in Colorado is this?

Recruiter: I can only offer you <2/3 what Mr. Writer asked.>

Mr. Writer: Well, that simply won't work for me, but I would like to know where this is.

Recruiter: It's in Colorado.

Mr. Writer: I understand that. But Colorado is a rather large state. Is this job in Boulder? In Denver?

Recruiter: It's in Colorado Springs.

Mr. Writer: Okay, well that won't work, because that's too far away from where I live.

Recruiter: So you aren't willing to relocate to Colorado?

Mr. Writer: You don't understand - I ALREADY LIVE IN COLORADO! But Colorado Springs is too far away for me.

Recruiter: Okay. There are other positions that might become available. Give me your resume so I can contact you again.

Mr. Writer: That's okay, thanks.


:banghead:

[MrCoffee]

1. If you'd just relocate to Colorado, see, everything would be fine.

why is that so complicated?



:rofl:

[Writer]

2. Yes - Colorado, the state the size of a thimble...

with a single mountain in it. :rofl:

[Radio_Lady]

12. The funniest thing? That recruiter was probably in INDIA!

What the hell does he know about locations in Colorado?

[Writer]

14. He recognized the area code as being from the Dallas area...

and that the accent was Southeast Asian of some type. Chinese, perhaps. It sounds like the person works for some type of recruitment farm paid by a company to set up interviews for open positions. Not a helpful operation, in my opinion.

[Radio_Lady]

15. He was doing something called "Staying With The Script..."

which is what amateurs do when they're reading a script.

What they don't tell you -- in telephone intereactive interviewing -- is that you have to REACT to what the RESPONDENT is saying...

Alway gives me a muffled laugh or two when someone does this.

Look at it this way... some poor immigrant is trying to make a living. Sad but true...

[Writer]

17. Yeah. One can't have hard feelings toward a person like that...

however, it would be nice if the person listened a bit more. Or if another recruiter could call with a job he could really consider.

[grace0418]

16. Well, maybe they don't have passports.

That could complicate things. ;)

[Writer]

18. Yeah, actually that has caused a problem.

Because our Larimer County passport expired a year ago, and at this point we have no CHANCE of traveling to Boulder county until June. :P

[billyskank]

3. Whatever. Just move to Colorado.

[Writer]

4. Aren't you in the tech industry, too?

Have you ever dealt with something like this?

[billyskank]

5. What, morans?

I work for them! :D

[Writer]

7. Are you IT? Software development?

[Phillycat]

8. He lives in Colorado.

:rofl:

[Writer]

10. Yes! Colorado.

Apparently, all roads lead there, even those across the Atlantic. :rofl:

[billyskank]

9. I'm a code grinder

They tell me to write something, and I write it.

Then they tell me that what they told me before was a load of crap, and that I should do something different. I do it different.

This goes on ad infinitum, and every month I get paid.

It's one kind of life. :D

[mikeytherat]

11. LOL! That is the life of Mrs. Rat (a fellow code grinder) to a T

Let me guess - the requirements and/or business model have changed since your last meeting? Or that "absolutely-gotta-have-feature" you spent all weekend coding? We don't need it anymore!

mikey_the_rat

[billyskank]

13. This week the users say this

Next week the users will say that. It is the way of things. I do not question. :D

[RetroLounge]

20. My favorite is coding what they ask for

instead of what they "meant" to ask for...

:rofl:

and every month I get paid...

:D

RL

[Phillycat]

6. LOL!

I'm sorry, but that cracked me up. :D

[Writer]

19. It's like "Who's On First?"

:P