Insight article

Why Developers Hate Recruiters

Here is a phenomenon. As a part of our routine recruiters at our office would reach out to someone we found on a job board to discuss a job opening. Based of the sheer fact that their resume is posted, we expect them to be excited to hear from us, instead we get a sigh of disappointment, as soon as they realize they are talking to a third party recruiter. I have been wondering why that is and asking my friends developers why don’t they like dealing with us.

Why you hate us

Surely there are some dirty players that push too hard, embellish the opportunities and withhold critical info that give us a bad reputation. So should developers make it a rule to avoid dealing with recruiters? Sadly most developers feel like there is no need for spending your precious time (away from video games or programing) with someone who clearly doesn’t get what you do, picks apart your resume with ridiculous questions, and acts like your new BFF.

Here is the other side of the coin. Isn’t it silly to deny yourself all the available opportunities without assessing them first? Cutting us out of your lives may be an easy choice, but it results in cheating yourself out of options.

Seduce us

Most developers are an intelligent bunch and therefore recruiters would be hard pressed to fool one who is paying attention. How do you protect your interest, in other words? It’s easier then you think. If recruiter is interested in your skills-set, you have the upper hand in the relationship, so take the lead. Your leverage is YOU. Make them want you by taking the time to answer their questions clearly with real-life examples and buzz-words to seduce them. As soon as you are submitted to their client, it is not only dollars that recruiter has riding on you, is their reputation! They depend on you to promptly set-up next steps, answer the phone for your phone screens and show up for your interviews.

Use your power!

Now you are in full control, here is a list of all the unbeatable benefits of using a recruiter:

  1. You can ask your recruiter to find out all the information that can influence your desire to pursue the position such as, salary range, 401k matching, PTO, required travel/on-call, bonus criteria and history. They can find out why this position is available, what is the career path and salary ceiling as well as where is fits on the org chart. Asking these questions too early may turn off the employer, but learning the answers may help you avoid wasting your time.
  2. Your recruiter can follow-up aggressively if you request feedback, allowing you to manage the rest of your search more effectively. If you play your cards right, they will push your potential employer to expedite the interview process making them aware of alternative options you may have. This could put the potential offer on the table in time for an educated decision on your end, without making you look like a jerk.
  3. Negotiating your own salary can be stressful and leave bitter taste in the mouth of your future boss. Being represented by a third party gives you the ultimate advantage – a trained negotiator who is motivated to get you maximum base, since their finder’s fee is a percentage of this amount. They have a relationship with your perspective employer and will know all the right buttons to push and in most cases just how far to push them. All that is needed from you is to set a clear goal in front of your recruiter and be available for updates.

Hopefully this will change the way you see us! Please share your experience (good or bad) with a recruiter, feel free to be brutal – we want to improve!

 

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