I'm back, friends!

After the longest blogging hiatus (read: lazy) in the history of the WORLD, I've decided to rejoin my favourite recruiting forum and start spitting chips at the industry that I decided to build my career in. 

Silly girl.

I feel like I've been in the twilight zone the past few weeks. Nay, months. Calgary is quite the anomaly when it comes to unemployment in Canada. For starters, we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in IT and professional services in Canada, and one of the busiest economies. It appears that as a result, it has been my experience that some job seekers have gotten a little cocky. 

Some examples:

The last time I had a candidate 'no show' to an interview was back when I was a call center recruiter, about 8 years ago. That was common practice in that industry. June 2012, and I had two no shows in less than a week. These were not entry level students who just couldn't be bothered showing up. One was a senior project manager, and another was a professional sounding network administrator. Neither of them bothered to call. 

I've had senior level consultants turn up 30 minutes late to interviews that they approached me for. I've had consultants that we want to hire go MIA and unresponsive to all sorts of communication, despite a week ago been begging me for updates on jobs. I even had a grad, fresh out of school accept a job, sign on the dotted line, and a day later withdraw their offer because 'the hours didn't suit' (despite being asked bluntly and consistently for a week if the hours would work, to which the response was 'yes')

Now I don't to get all "Jerry Albright" on you, but this is bothering me. I've been in this game long enough to know when people need to pull their heads in. So,here is a little wishlist of advice for job seekers across the board, and not just in places where booming economies breed arrogance.

Your honesty and integrity are all that matters in this game. I don't care how good you are at your job. If your actions compromise your integrity, and if you prove to be dishonest, you are not someone worthy of hiring. 

Also, grads. You are not going to get a million dollars and a company Benz in your package. Be reasonable and know that your competition are people with real world commercial experience, as well as those degrees that you just earned. You are not the first person to ever get a degree, so don't think for a second that it gives you the power to ask for parking privileges, a company gas card, and the salary of a 5+ year experienced technical consultant for an entry level service desk job. Be reasonable. Be competitive. Be HUMBLE. 

All job seekers - recruiters can be magicians, psychotherapists, wranglers, chameleons, and also help you find your next job. But we are not mind readers. If you want to be the president of France, but tell me you want to be a janitor, I'm likely going to get you a janitor role. 

I've missed you, RBC.