Comment by Charles Van Heerden on August 25, 2009 at 2:13am

Julia, very true. Equally worse is the disrespect to their candidates, who may be blissfully unaware of being sold to the highest bidder. Indiscriminate lists are only helpful to separate the bad.

Comment by Paige Remington on August 25, 2009 at 11:36am

Fantastic! I don't understand the approach and LOVE your analogy to the construction worker. Maybe it worked ONCE for someone, somewhere, but really - doesn't it just take a lot of time to get one response? I think it would be time better spent developing relationships with a smaller set of people.

By the way - love the crap tag :)

Comment by Julia Stone on August 26, 2009 at 11:53am

Mike, I read your check yes or no & agreed with it too. Maybe you got me moving toward writing about it. I have been threatening to do so for a while now, so thanks for the catalyst.

Comment by Mat von Kroeker on August 26, 2009 at 1:28pm

Julia--- Although I agree in principle with your point of view with respect to "spam" and what can be considered spam-- I have to disagree about what "spam" is effective. I've used multiple email software very effectively-- usually with multiple positions where many candidates are needed. (usually lower level IT positions). An out-of-work candidate is ELATED to see my email-- where the person already in a position is ANNOYED BEYOND COMPREHENSION??? It depends on which side of the fence you're on.

Comment by Julia Stone on August 27, 2009 at 11:35am

Thank you Mat, for providing a different point of view.

I believe you and I are talking about different things though.

While I do get annoyed with form letters form recruiters you make a good point. My issue with those is that the lists of candidates that are sent the job descriptions are often not screened. This can result in emailing people (like me) who recruit for the positions ending up in the list too.

Metaphorically speaking, If your net is too big, you end up catching dolphins in with your tuna and salmon. Don't be a dolphin killer, please!

I would suggest that you consider an OPT-IN messaging system. I will admit that I find your type of system to be mildly annoying, but I would also assume it works for you or you wouldn't keep doing it.

I am referring to companies sending around lists of candidates or consultants available to work. Farming around from one 50 candidates at a time, who they are convinced are the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Once in a while they will even put the candidates in your profiles, even on recruitingblogs.com, although they work hard to avoid that type of problem.

I do thank you for coming forward to defend your point of view. It is not an easy battle to take up, and you do make some good points.

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