How to deal with Recruiters

I know I'm in the minority here, but I love getting contacted by recruiters.

If they've looked at my CV/Profile it's validation that my skillet is in demand, and that's always moderately good to know.

If I'm looking, or even considering looking, then it's awesome - I've got a lead into a job before it's advertised.

If I'm not actively looking (or considering looking) then I get some information about the market that may well be useful for when I -am- looking.

If I'm not actively looking, I tell recruiters what sort of position would turn my head. Now, my current role is pretty damned awesome, but if they can offer something better, then I want to hear about it.

It may well be different in other parts of the world (I'm in Australia, and most of my experience has been here or in New Zealand), but I generally find that recruiters offer a service that (as a candidate) I value.

Ironically, as the person doing the hiring, I've generally found them to be a waste of time and effort.

It makes me sick to my stomach to read the tactics of those in my industry and it is a real shame to see an industry which should be there to help, in fact becoming a hindrance.

I wish all the terrible recruiters could just be weeded out and removed...

Since this is nigh on impossible I agree with the article's point about keeping a record. Some of us are passionate about what we do, some of us love startups, or tech, or people, or all of it and will give you a service worthy of a fee.

I do not work withing the UK industry, as I became disheartened by the hate (if you need help in Germany however...), but I can highly recommend companies like The Up group - to whom I have no affiliation - as I understand their service is brilliant.

Those that are less worthy of praise are pretty obvious - just search out Milo Yiannopoulos' Kernel mag articles....

I've got on the mailing list of a London recruiter who have been spamming me for over two years. They run under at least two company names, and haven't stopped e-mailing me though they've told me they would do so twice.

They have a REC (UK trade body for recruiters) logo on their website but when I complained to REC, I was told they weren't a member, so there was nothing they can do (other than ask them to take the logo down).

I've taken to replying "Hello [name]" to each message but I only got one reply before that stopped getting results.

Still nothing I can do. What do you do when you are on the mailing list of a cowboy?

Most hiring managers delegate dealing with recruiters cold calls to their personal assistants. Anyone who's not in the preferred supplier list does not get through.

A very good article, and that's coming from a recruiter!