Microsoft's JobsBlog

Hmmm, it's new years eve and I'd like to order whatever cocktail Gretchen is drinking ; ). Then I'll send her manager a note letting him know how much I like working with her!

You know I love you (and Zoe too)!

Happy New Year ladies (and to everyone else as well)!

BTW...I *try* to be nice to everyone (recruiters or otherwise), so I think I'm covered. ;)

-Matt

Matt - I try too. But it doesn't always work out. Thanks for the fish-slap Gretchen! *LOL* (if you don't know what that is, watch the movie '50 First Dates' with Adam Sandler)

Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year Ladies. Keep up the good work. I am learning a lot. You all are great sales people for yourselves and Microsoft.

Any chance of having a "Not Treating Job-hunters Like Soemthing You Found Stuck To The Sole Of Your Shoe" month?
Just wondering (and no, I don't mean to imply that you do that).

Thanks, everyone!

Kevin - Actually, I think that's as FABULOUS idea! I will support that movement 100%. Shall we shoot for Feb 2005? :)

Kevin - *LOL* Careful what you say there big fella! Gretchen might fish-slap ya!

To add to Gretchen's ideas above...

IF YOU ARE A HIRING MANAGER...
Realize that you really only hire on four crticial axis: Intellect, Potential, Skill, Thinking. When I interview, I have a mental scale that continually evaluates a canidate. On the left side of the scale is potential. On the right side is achievement. EVERY candidate falls someplace within that range. Give every candidate an equal shot to prove their potential. After all, there are many "Senior Engineers" by title alone. But there are hundreds more overlooked who are actually better canidates.

Realize the most talented can also be the most tolerated. Never underestimate the importance of a teachable, coachable candidate versus a talented prima dona. The former

Last, focus on the absolute core requirements of the position. People with a rock solid understanding of the core fundamentals of the software engineering industry often turn out to be valuable assests to your team.

IF YOU ARE A RECRUITER'S PROSPECT...
Be polite, but control the ground rules. The recruiter works for the company its contracted to. You work for yourself (i.e. "YOU, INC."). Represent yourself as one. Tom Peters has a lot of good thoughts on defining yourself using the "YOU, INC." concept. Read his book. It's excellent.

In 2005, determine that most recruiters generaly lack technical training. Educate the ones willing to learn and grow but punish the others. Leverage the free-market economics of the American Economy to your advantage. If you are in another country, leverage your economic influence as well. The point here, is that there are literally thousands of recruiting companies in almost every conceivable market niche of the industrialized world. Recognize that you do have a "Techies Bill of Rights" that protect your interests first. What do I do? Well, I negotiate with a recruiter like I negotiate with a used car dealer - Firm, Fair but with absolute resolution that my interests WILL BE served. I had a bad run of luck at the end of 2004. I am anticipating 2005 to be better. I will not, however, offer my business to those agencies menioned in my last post. The word is MY oyster. :-)

IF YOU EVER WORKED WITH A REALLY GOOD RECRUITER...
Send me their name! *lol* I have been looking for work for a while. I am very particular about my style of team leadership being correct. It works. It is effective. It is efficient. And at the end of the project, most folks enjoy my company. I am always open top suggestions on how to improve, but my experience has provided me quantitative evidence into human nature - something that cannot be measured by a test or exam. E-mail me if you have any design work, (Windows or Web related). briankorz@hotmail.com.

If you have ever worked with a really good recruter - thank them! I regularly keep in contact with a recruiter I met in Dallas, Texas even though I have no intentions of living there again. She has become a valuable asset for free advice, resume help, etc. Had I NOT BEEN kind during our initial meeting, she would not be offering the help she is now. Gretchen is right when she says treat them with respect and treat them nice. :-)

IF YOU ARE A RECRUITER...
Contact me. I need some contract work. I am willing to setup a S/C Corp to do 1099 corp-to-corp or W-2. See my e-mail above for details.

Also, please be mindful that I can most likely deduce your profit margin from my spreadsheet I developed over the years. *lol* I have been told it's pretty accurate! *lol* Seriously though, contact me if you want but no head games. I know what I am doing in the contracting world.

If you are a recruiter, and you are making the effort to learn about what I DO before you give me your sales pitch, thank you. Thank you for understanding the key point to recruiting - building relationships.

IF YOU ARE AN ANGRY BLOGGER...
Call me. *lol* I have been in your shoes. But I can tell you where to go to vent your opinions on that matter. *nod to Gretchen*

IF YOU HAVE A POOR EXPERIENCE WITH A RECRUITER...
I agree with Gretchen. Make your experiences known. I have personally given feedbakc about a recruiting experience that resulted in the termination of the recruiter. I would like to tell you that I felt bad - but I did not! *LOL* Why? Simply because recruiting is like any other occupation. You start out as inexperienced, but the longer you recruit you are exected by your candidates (and your company) to become a better recruiter. You are to hone your skills or sharpen up your resume! :-) Oh yeah - when you make the criticism, mention VERY SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS AND ACTIONS that resulted in your dissatisfaction.

That's about it. How am I doing with "Be Nice to a Recruiter Month" so far Moon Gals? *lol*

Brian - so far, so good. :)

Gretchen - awww shucks *pastes a gold star on his nice recruiter board* LOL

Brian - If you continue to Hyjack my employees blog with long posts, I will make them shut it down ;-)

Regards,

Rob McIntosh

p.s - There are 57 different secrect handshakes..more if you work for Bill G. :-)

Rob - Are you a recriter Rob? If so, I gues I will have to forgo the public floggings until next month...*lol*