[thelist] Re: Head Hunters, Staffing Agencies and Job Hunting Tips

[Techwatcher]

>    1. (Hassan Schroeder)
> From: Hassan Schroeder <hassan at webtuitive.com>
> To: thelist at lists.evolt.org
> Subject: Re: [thelist] Head Hunters, Staffing Agencis and Job Hunting
Tips
> Reply-To: thelist at lists.evolt.org
>
> Sean wrote:
>
> > If you have a company in mind, approach that company directly.
>
> > 5) What method have a high success rate?  Get out of the door and
down on
> > the street!  Seriously, comb yer hair, clip on the tie, and boogie
on down.
> > Unsolicited resumes go to the circular file.  A flesh and blood
person at
> > least gets a chance to make a first impression.
>
> Sorry, I can't imagine this working, anywhere.
>
> You just don't walk into companies without the name of a person
> *and* an appointment. You'll see, at best, a security guard or
> receptionist who assuredly doesn't care how good a developer you
> are, and likely doesn't know who *would* care.

Some years back when I needed another job (or something) in Manhattan,
I reasoned thusly:
I want to work for a creative company, and a smaller company (okay,
that didn't happen, but that was my reasoning). Therefore, I will walk
down Fifth Avenue, walk into every midtown building on both sides,
check the directory for IT staffing companies, and walk into each one
and say "Hello, I'm an unemployed genius looking for work in your
field. I do have experience; here's my re'sume'." (I also told
myself "Those who don't want to see me, I wouldn't want to work with
anyway.")

Well, it worked at about my second building, third stop. I found a
great agency, handed over my resume, they knew what would suit me, and
the president placed me about six times over the next decade or two.
Moral of the story: Go ahead and do those in-person walk-ins.

The second job at which I was placed, I was working for a man who did
something similar to get his *FIRST* IT job; he ended up managing the
Systems & Programming department of that (major brokerage) firm.
(Actually, he said "Try me for a month at no salary," which wasn't even
legal, but "showed willing" as we British say.)

> Tracking down contacts at those companies is worthwhile; I wouldn't
> waste a single minute going there in person.

If you have a contact, however, tenuous, of course that's better. But
go in anyway. Just know, going in, that YOU'RE not interested in
working for the sort of place where this strategy has no chance of
success -- they're too inflexible anyway! That way, rejection doesn't
cause dejection. (-8

Cheers --
Carol
techwatcher at accesswriters.com