My Standard Email Reply To Recruiters - Feel Free To Copy

[ilconsiglliere]

When I get emails from recruiters (unless its for perm) this is the email they get immediately. I wrote this up after I saw someone else's version on the web. Reason being they are always soliciting you but never tell you the info you need to decide whether you want to deal with them or not.

So here it is, feel free to copy.

=======================

Please supply the following information via email. If the information is not provided, there will no further contact nor will a resume be provided.

1. Rate of pay.

2. Name of client company.

3. Location.

4. Term of contract.

5. Are you a primary vendor with the client.

Recruiters with less than eight years experience in the recruiting / IT industry will not be considered for the opportunity of representing me.

Recruiters that are not direct with the client will immediately be disqualified from any consideration.

References and other personal information such as a Social Security Number will not be offered without a formal, concrete job offer that specifically requires a background check.

A meet and greet session will not be possible with any recruiting agency without my first obtaining a formal interview directly with the client company.

[TRexx]

Nice letter but do you really think they will read it, understand it and follow it?

[choppedwood]

It amused me to see rate of pay as number 1 because it's surely the first thing that they ask us.

[The Gorn]

No recruiter will consider this acceptable. You ask for too much control as far as they're concerned.

They would rather not deal with you than consider breaking any of these policies.

But it would be pretty funny to hear what they say.

[ITLifer]

Why should they respond to that email if they have other canditates? Chances are they will write you off as high maintenance canditate. Finding a job is a game - frustrating at times - but you have to play your best to win.

Writing that email in that tone just reduces your chances of getting that next gig IMO - more damage than good.

[DG9]

In essence, you just told them to f*ck off. 

[The Gorn]

In essence, you just told them to fo f*ck off. 

Yes.

ilconsigliere, I completely am with you. But the borking industry is hardwired to only accept compliant candidates.

It's become temping, just like at the low end of the labor pool. Those people are treated like serfs, like garbage.

Same thing now as far as what IT borks do to their candidates.

Writing that email in that tone just reduces your chances of getting that next gig IMO - more damage than good.

I agree with that, but ilconsigliere has stated that finding a decent gig in his region, due to effective invasion by an alien work force at all levels, is pretty much impossible. What does he have to lose?

I think a much better investment of time would be to shift your search. F*ck recruiters. Start cold calling, networking with anyone who may work in any appropriate business area, and researching smaller companies that are willing to work with an indie.

[ilconsiglliere]

You guys are not going to believe it but most of them comply with it.  I was kind of shocked at first but I keep sending it out and they keep replying with the information.

I should have clarified on this - I send this to the typical email that says:

Provide rate, citizenship, location, etc... without telling me one thing about the job other than its a job.

Most of these want your resume without telling you anything about the job. They are harvesting resumes and I suspect selling them to each other. The reason I say this is that my resume is completely anonymous out on the boards so the only way to contact me is on the job boards yet these people have my email and phone number. And I know who I have given my resume too because I keep a list in a spreadsheet.

I have been doing as the Gorn suggested, cold calling and networking. I find that its much easier to get traction in small companies as opposed to these Fortune 500 companies. I am now being solicited by small companies who want me to interview for perm. I always say yes to them and am never rude to them.

[The Gorn]

You guys are not going to believe it but most of them comply with it.  I was kind of shocked at first but I keep sending it out and they keep replying with the information.

REALLY! Kudos, then. Hats off.

I have been doing as the Gorn suggested, cold calling and networking. I find that its much easier to get traction in small companies as opposed to these Fortune 500 companies. I am now being solicited by small companies who want me to interview for perm. I always say yes to them and am never rude to them.

Yes, good approach. I have never been rude to a direct hiring party - eg, an actual client.

Just to gatekeepers-for-fee who aren't internal.

[ilconsiglliere]

You guys are not going to believe it but most of them comply with it.  I was kind of shocked at first but I keep sending it out and they keep replying with the information.

REALLY! Kudos, then. Hats off.

I have been doing as the Gorn suggested, cold calling and networking. I find that its much easier to get traction in small companies as opposed to these Fortune 500 companies. I am now being solicited by small companies who want me to interview for perm. I always say yes to them and am never rude to them.

Yes, good approach. I have never been rude to a direct hiring party - eg, an actual client.

Just to gatekeepers-for-fee who aren't internal.

Yep, its true. This is my weeding out mechanism for bork vermin. If they dont want to provide any of the information I know they are hustlers looking to get over. There is nothing racist nor offensive in my email and if you got nothing to hide than it shouldnt be a problem being honest with me. If you refuse to provide any of that information I know you are a scumbag.

I am finding that small companies are nowhere near as insane as the fortune 500 companies. The absurd skill requirements are a lot less, no HR nonsense, no 8 interviews. Also they seem to value jacks of all trades (like me) as opposed to these big companies that want me to be very narrow focused.

The only problem is finding them. I got 2 on the hook right now - one is a mobile solution company in NYC and the other is a GPS company.

[The Gorn]

Yep, its true. This is my weeding out mechanism for bork vermin. If they dont want to provide any of the information I know they are hustlers looking to get over. There is nothing racist nor offensive in my email and if you got nothing to hide than it shouldnt be a problem being honest with me. If you refuse to provide any of that information I know you are a scumbag.

My experience is substantially different.

I've dealt with most of the recruiting agencies that operate in my region at one time or another. Most of them - even supposedly "legitimate" ones that are the toast of the town that are well established - are extremely inflexible about deviating from their process.

IE, they're really selling a process: we don't let the candidate talk to you until we certify that he/she looks and talks and acts according to your specifications. Among other things.

And I've been scammed into signing a non compete (once) by a REALLY large player in the IT recruiting industry - a "Force" to (not) be reckoned with.

[ilconsiglliere]

Here in NJ there are like 5M of these companies now. They are all scraping and competing against each other. They will do anything to make a buck. So process is the first thing that goes out the window. If they think they can make money on you, they will do anything.

A lot of them are blatant liars and psychopaths. They will do and say anything. About the only thing I am running up against is if the client says you must have 10 years of iPhone iOS experience, if you dont have it they wont submit you. Most will insist on you doctoring up your resume to match.

Yep, its true. This is my weeding out mechanism for bork vermin. If they dont want to provide any of the information I know they are hustlers looking to get over. There is nothing racist nor offensive in my email and if you got nothing to hide than it shouldnt be a problem being honest with me. If you refuse to provide any of that information I know you are a scumbag.

My experience is substantially different.

I've dealt with most of the recruiting agencies that operate in my region at one time or another. Most of them - even supposedly "legitimate" ones that are the toast of the town that are well established - are extremely inflexible about deviating from their process.

IE, they're really selling a process: we don't let the candidate talk to you until we certify that he/she looks and talks and acts according to your specifications. Among other things.

And I've been scammed into signing a non compete (once) by a REALLY large player in the IT recruiting industry - a "Force" to (not) be reckoned with.

[Origisaurus]

"Weeding out" is another way of saying "qualifying".

Mature businessmen and women do this every day.  Asking in the nicest way possible, "Is there any way we can do profitable business?"

And by default, if someone has a problem with providing that information, they are disqualified.  And have a nice day!   

The tire-kickers, resume-harvesters, and other time-wasters are not your problem.  Unless you let them do so.

Even as a "candidate" you are in business to make money, and if you don't see that happening with a particular company or person, you are under no obligation to play games with them.  Their games will not put bread on your table.