> In many cases, recruiter agencies have primitive computer systems. If you
> sent them your resume as a Word 97 attachment, then...
>
> 1) they have no idea how to open an attachment.
> 2) they are using a primitive program that couldn't deal with attachments
> 3) they are using WordPerfect 4.x for Windows and couldn't read Word files
> 4) they are using WordPerfect 3.x for DOS (yes, right this minute, people
> STILL use DOS.)
> 5) they are using Word 5.0, but haven't upgraded to Word 97
> 6) they are using Macs and can't read Windows docs
> 7) they are using unix and can't read anything at all
> 8) they are too busy to bother with silly people who send attachments.
I would say that more and more are able to view a web page, though many
are still using things like Netscape 2.
> Here's the best method (approved by the top recruiters): Send your resume in
> plain ASCII in the body of the email. The email usually goes to a resume
> database (for example, [EMAIL PROTECTED]) and it's added to the
> database. If you sent it as an attachment, no luck. Along with the resume in
> the main body, you MAY also choose to add the resume in Word as an
> attachment, for those few recruiters who want that.
Yes. Though some still complain that when they scan the printout into
their database system... (Scan printout??? Yes!!!)
> is great, but well... the reality is that recruiters and human resources
> (HR) will filter nearly all resumes. As for me, if the recruiter doesn't
> have email at all, I won't deal with them. Of some 200 recruiting agencies
> in Silicon Valley, at least 10-15 don't have email.
I think there are probably twice as many, and more than five percent
don't have e-mail.
> It's a cute idea to put your resume on a web page and then just send them
> the URL. But... in many cases, they're at machines without web access. They
> only have email, but no web. I did this for a while, but realized that many
> recruiters couldn't deal with URLs.
They have someone else handle that and print it out for them.
Sooo... I often get the comment that my resume is not clear, only to find
out the idiot printed the home page and did not look at the resume,
summary sheets, etc.
> Much of the "Requires ten years of expert knowledge in C++, Java, Perl,
> PhotoShop, etc." is just hot air. Anyone who is an expert at Java
> programming is getting $150-250/hr and has all they work they can handle.
> The companies are just hoping that a total idiot will apply.
Huh??? How come I don't get numbers like that? Most of the agents say,
well $60 - $60 and maybe let me work up to $70. (I've been programming
since 1969, and webbing since 1995.) I've never heard numbers like that!
Not since a few years ago when HTML coders were getting $120 per hour.
This took a percipitious decline as folks realized what HTML really was
only glorified word processing codes. Maybe they are rebounding now that
they see the tech pubs folks can't handle the different approach needed???
> It's job city here in Silicon Valley. There's a huge demand for web people.
> Don't go to NYC; it's low-level graphics design jobs. The same for SF;
Hmmm? But then, I am more of a software developer...
> Don't go around here in person for jobs. Managers generally hire only
> through recruiters. People are too busy to talk to someone at the door.
More and more corporations have a policy to put a person through an
agency. However, you can still get a manager to take you on, then put you
through an agency. I have found that all too often, when you go from the
manager to an agency with your lead, they swap someone else in instead of
you, and don't even give you a commission. Have the manager tell the
agency you are the person he wants, and that you have effectively started,
but that policy requires you go through them. Once you have "started", it
is too late for them to swap someone else cheaper in.
Not in many cases, you can go in as an independent consultant for the
smaller companies.
> >I would have to make a minimum of 50K ; would that be possible?
>
> Well, I guess you could demand that they pay you $50K, but generally,
> they'll try to pay you much more. But if you insist, they'll go down to meet
> your salary requirement. They'll also often stock, but take a firm stand and
> refuse it. When they offer benefits, just sulk. When they wave the keys to a
> BMW Z3 at you, get violent!
Laughing!!! No one has offered me a BMW yet... but then again, I
prefer an older station wagon as it is not likely to get stolen.
> The best job strategy: register at... www.dice.com , www.headhunter.net ,
> and www.vjf.com . These are the job databases that Silicon Valley recruiters
Make sure they do not submit without your approval. The biggest scam
is when some schmuck of an agency shotguns your resume to a bunch of
places, causing any submissions by serious agencies to become "double
submissions", which are discarded.
This is also why you should never post your resume in the clear where
search engines can index it. Post a short sketch that is inadequate to
get a job, and a contact number, or e-mail. Then put your real resume in
a subdirectory that is protected by a robots.txt file.
And if any agency tells you that you have an interview without your
having approved the submission, tell them that since you never authorized
it, you won't go, and that if they ever send you resume anywhere else, you
will sue them! Remind them that RSVP Services lost a two and a half
million dollar suit regarding unauthorized submissions!
Rule 1: Duplicate Submissions Get your resume thrown out! DO NOT,
under any circumstances, allow blanket submissions! "If I can't trust you
with my resume, how can I trust you with my paycheck?"
Rule 2: If they want an exclusive. WALK AWAY!
Rule 3: If they want any kind of reimbursement if the contract ends
early or you can't do it, or of the client does not pay on time -- RUN
AWAY QUICKLY!!!
Rule 4: If they say they will pay you when they get paid -- WALK AWAY!
And when you get the time sheets, examine them before you leave for
your assignment. If the idiots let the manager you work for keep the top
of the time sheet, and you are to mail the bottom cart to the agency...
the alleged agency does not have a clue as to what they are doing! You
might as well say "Yes, but I just got a better offer from my Aunt
Matilda." I dealt with one of these bozo's... They were (correctly) named
after a bunch of ships that sank. Never Again!!!
There are some Real Weasels out there, and the feeding frenzy just
encourages them! It is always better to walk away from potential trouble
than to try to disentangle yourself later, as that take more time and
aggravation than it is worth, and a LOT of lost income when you could be
working somewhere else.
A lot more on that is at
http://www.mall-net.com/webcons/
http://www.mall-net.com/webcons/subcon.html
http://www.mall-net.com/webcons/coldcall.html
and a few other files linked there.
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