I hate saying, “I told you so,” especially when it’s so damned expensive being right. I got a call last week from a recruiting firm … one that for the past ten years is always “working on something hot” for me, but in reality gets me only about one or two interviews a year, usually with the same company … for the same job … which I get turned down for because of the same reason year after year: I don’t have any experience with the kinds of projects they want me to work on.
This year, it’s the same company, same job, but a new recruiter. Right from the start, I explain to her that I would really like a job with this company; they pay well, and they’re a solid firm, but the position they keep sending me in for is a bad fit.
Recruiter: No, no, this is a new group within the company. It’s a completely different position. I don’t think they’re so hung up on that.
Me: Okay, but can we make sure first? I’ve been down this road with you guys before. Every year, they say they really like me, but I just don’t have the experience with their types of projects, and they end up going with one of the other candidates.
Recruiter: Okay, I’ll verify. Could you come in for a face-to-face meeting so I can review the details of this position with you?
Me: I can, but I understand that I come into your office for face-to-face meetings all the time. I’m paid on an hourly contract. It becomes very expensive for me to continually take off two hours here and there for something that can be done over the phone. You can ask [Recruiter 1] or [Recruiter 2]. I have a face, I don’t stink, I dress well, I make eye contact, and I interview well. Can we review the details over the phone?
(Apparently not.) The next day, I take off two hours of work for a face-to-face meeting with the recruiter, where she basically reads me my resume, and I try not to appear half as pissed off as I am, because I think maybe that’s the test.
Recruiter: Okay, I’d like to get you in front of the client.
Me: You’re sure they’re interested, knowing that I don’t have the kind of experience with the types of projects they have and have been turned down for this job before?
Recruiter: Oh, I definitely wouldn’t bring that up in the interview. Instead, I would focus on the types of experience you do have.
Me: Yes, but the experience I have isn’t relevant — or at least hasn’t been the last two times I interviewed for this exact same job. Are we sure they are okay with me not having worked on these types of projects before?
Recruiter: Absolutely, it’s not a problem. This is an entirely different manager. They’re going to be more interested in your personality and how you’ll adapt to the culture than in your specific skill sets. So, when is a good time for you to go in?
Me: Well, I’m paid hourly, so I lose money when I have to take off like this. Can we do it first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon so we can minimize the amount of time I’m away from work?
Recruiter: Sure, no problem, I’ve got you down for 3:00-3:30 tomorrow.
Me: Ummmm, that’s not going to work. I’d have to leave the office at 2:00, and by the time I got parking and travel squared away, I wouldn’t get back to the office until about 4:30.
Recruiter: Well, unfortunately, that’s the only time they have. (Apparently, she was just kidding with the whole, “When is good for you part.”)
So, I take the entire afternoon off, at my own expense, drive all the way down for an interview, and of course, it’s the same damn interviewer for the third time (sorry, they keep wasting our time, Glenda) and the first thing out of her mouth is, “I don’t see a lot of experience with the types of projects we do here…”
Needless to say, I spent the next 59 minutes figuring out how I might identify this recruiter’s car in her parking lot. Today, I got the consolation email from the recruiter saying, surprisingly, they didn’t go with any of her candidates, so they must be looking for something very specific, and it’s not my fault, I probably did just fine.
Total cost of being right from the beginning, but accidentally trusting a recruiter and momentarily doubting myself? A little over $200. This is how sock puppets become serial killers. It is likely you will see me on the news in the next few weeks.
