A Django site.
April 16, 2008

Jesse Stay
obfuscated, Uncle_Jesse
Stay N' Alive » OSS
» Recruiters, Here’s How to Approach Me!

I get e-mails very regularly from recruiters asking for either a referral or for me to work for their client. Most, if not all, come to me in the form of a generic e-mail, very little personalization, and obviously no care for me as a developer. Here’s one I received today, and my response - it’s my hope that recruiters, which since they generally don’t Google us developers beforehand so probably aren’t reading this, will take this advice to heart. They will have much more success by doing so! (BTW, I’m very confused by this - first they say there’s an unemployment low, then they say timeliness is critical because employers grab candidates quickly. If you’re a developer, believe the first one - getting a job should be easy, and the power is in your hands.):

Good Afternoon All,

I’m writing to touch base with each of you, regarding your present employment situation. The unemployment low has continued in Utah and has created a tremendous need for talented IT Professionals across the state of Utah.

We current have open opportunities for .Net and Java developers, in addition to Technical Project Manager and Business Analysts. If you are presently looking or know anyone that might be, please contact me directly.

In this market timeliness has become critical, some employers are hiring very quickly to grab the best candidates available. If you have thought at all of looking, don’t delay, get in touch with me today.

All the best,

And my response:

First of all, I’m an individual, not an “all”. Secondly, I strongly suggest Googling the names of those you contact, get to know them, and approach them only if first, they fit the description, and second, you can personalize with them a little. I talk to developers on a daily basis, and they hate recruiters because of this. You will get much better response by doing so.

Without Googling me beforehand, I will respond with the above every time - please do your research before contacting me!

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January 4, 2008

Phil Windley
pjw
Phil Windley's Technometria
» Working With Millenials

Robert Merrill, one of the regulars at the CTO Breakfast has a great post on working with Millenials, keying off yesterday's firing of Tiffany Fallon instead of Omarosa on Celebrity Apprentice. Good stuff! That's one of the things I like about the apprentice--you can learn real lessons watching it---something I can't say for American Idol.

Tags: jobs workforce

December 6, 2007

=Utah Open Source=
Utah Open Source
The Utah Open Source Foundation
» Home Runs in IT at the OSTC

Today, the Home Runs in IT Conference is taking place. Its an all day event so come on down.

Right now is the Utah Technology Council Breakfast where they are discussing what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

One thing I heard from Will West of Control 4 was that “its just a job” which surprised me. I’ve never thought about it this way, usually I anticipate starting an organization such as the Utah Open Source Foundation would be more than a job.

Another was to make sure not to get to in a hurry to “Shoot of an email!”. I’ve experienced this feeling before too and tend to write an email in a fit of passion and excitement only to erase it in the end.

Come on down, its going to be a blast! Registration is free with the discount code “hrinitutos”. See you all there

Cheers,

Clint Savage