Are You Just Another Resume?

I typically keep my resume online at all times on the major job search engines and update it annually to keep recruiters I’ve worked with in the past abreast of what is happening with my career.

The drawback is, after I update my resume, I am inundated with email from recruiters and job placement companies that want to place me in a new position. If you’ve ever posted your resume to an online job search engines, I’m sure you’re familiar with this scenario.

Unfortunately, many recruiters have no clue what they are doing, let alone what I do for a living. The worst culprits are the temporary-job-placement companies, such as those with “exciting” details about a third-shift assembly or forklift driver position. Don’t get me wrong, recruiters help individuals looking for that type of work, but I’m not one of them—and I seriously doubt anyone reading this column is either.

Then there are the job-placement emails that state, “We’ve been waiting for someone with your exact qualifications to be a part of this opportunity.” Turns out they want to sell you a franchise or have you sell life insurance.

Another thing that ticks me off to no end is repeated calls from a company in Schaumburg, Ill.—at least that’s what the phone prefix indicates. I happened to answer one of the company’s phone calls. The guy rattles off some details about a position and wants to send an email with some questions to reply to. These include inquiries about whether I am a U.S. citizen and my work experience, as well as my Social Security number and birth date.

I punched the phone number into a web search and, low and behold, complaints appeared. What a scam! Provide your Social Security number—even just the last four digits—and birth date and your identity can be compromised. I received more calls from the company, which I wouldn’t answer. I called and asked to be removed me from its list, but found it impossible to speak with a live person—the automated system just kept returning to the canned message.

The recruiters who are truly trying to place individuals and help better their careers should help the industry shut down this company and similar ones (although I am not exactly sure how that would be accomplished).

My apologies to members of the recruiting industry who do a good job for their clients. I know such recruiters exist, because I’ve had great working relationships with a number of them. But now I’m leery of getting contacted by any recruiter.

Too many are scammers or simply don’t care if someone finds a position. They go by the numbers. If one out of a hundred connects, that generates money. The Internet has made it too easy for recruiters to find prospective clients.

If you’re thinking about using the services of a recruiter, ask yourself these questions:

• Does he know the industry and what the position entails?
• Does he know what your skills are and what they qualify you to do?
• Does he keep you informed about available positions and follow up with you and his client-companies?
• Does he understand what your goals are?
• Does he offer positions that you are actually qualified for, and not positions you really don’t have a shot at?

“Yes” answers to all the questions mean the recruiter under consideration is probably a good one.

About the author: Michael Deren is a contributing editor for CTE​. He can be reached at mderen1@wi.rr.com.