The Anti Pimp

What value do you provide or are you someone that has their proverbial hand out waiting on someone to provide value to you.   Are you constatly thinking…”hmm…how is this person trying to fk me over?…” or figure out everyone’s angle.  If you spend most your time during a meeting or phone call being a cynic, I’ll label you as a horrible listener.   I only say these things b/c I catch myself doing it at times and it’s a abominable characteristic.

Change your game.  Provide value first. If you can’t find any, ask.  Ask how you can help.  “Is there anything I can do for you right now?” is a very powerful question.  Ask the question…at home, at work.  When they respond, DO IT.   Email me your responses that you get.  I’d love to read them.

Someone told me a while back that the industry turnover for headhunters was 70% in the first year.  No wonder why people that have never worked with OR have had a bad experience with their first recruiter think that the entire industry are complete assholes.  I’d think the same thing.

Think about that for a second.  7 out of 10 recruiters will QUIT w/in the first year of employment!  How do you find a decent one when all of them are quitting?   Two very simple questions you can ask them when they call you.

1. How long have you been a recruiter?
2. How long have you been with your current company?

Simple questions.  If you are a noob to the dealing with recruiters and prefer someone that knows their way around AND has your best interest in mind, find someone who’s been in the business for a while.  The slimy underbelly of what we do lures people in on the false promises of fat bonuses based on how many “heads” they find and hire.  I did it…I know first hand.  My first year, I could give a shit about you…I wanted to get paid.  What changed was that I figured out what I do is based on long term relationships and trust…not about shoving square pegs in round holes.  Those that do that are typically the douche bags that won’t take your call b/c you’ve quit the horrible job they placed you with in the first place.

Regarding “how long with current company” – sure..you can find a “seasoned” recruiter but if they’ve been with more than 3-4 companies, I’d pass.  They are at their “job”, not their profession…thus…they’ll find you a “job” and could give a shit about your “profession”.   Plus, they probably couldn’t cut it at the last 48 recruiting companies they worked for.

If you are in a job search, good luck and let me know if I can ever help.  I know…it sucks but it’s a short term problem.  If you’ve got questions, let me know by emailing me at Scott AT theantipimp DOT com.

Are you a headhunter and care to differ with me?   I’m game.  Same email address or I’ll find you at the next user group I go to.  I’ll look for the dude/chick in the tie and really nice suit and a stack of business cards stacked a mile high.

In one of my early morning, one eye open stupors, shuffling around the house I grabbed my iPhone and settled in a quiet place and checked my tweets from last night.   The first one I saw was from Brett Petersel – East Coast Events Coordinator for Mashable – that read, “so far, I have not fullfilled my promise to blog on a daily basis.  I’ll write for others, but my personal blog is getting lonley.”

So like a complete dumbass, I replied with “ditto”, never thinking I’d get a response.  Dumbass was wrong – Brett replied with a suggestion that we make a pact and hold each other accountable.  So, here I am.   There are no deadlines, no major prizes awarded or any “you have to run through the park naked while riding a broom challenges.  Although, I could see a few offers surfacing should this progress further.

It’s me vs. him.  What’s your vote?  Any suggested challenges?

I’m a huge Seth Godin fan.  Yanked directly from his site…this is a very good read for the entrance into 2010.

The victim

UPDATE:  I’ve gotten several questions and wanted to post one of the most recent reply I gave.  Thanks everyone and keep’em coming.  I’m glad to help!

—–Original Message—–

From: Michael

Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 10:39 AM

To: Scott Gordon

Subject: Hey Bud

Hey Scott;

Was just watching your video on Contract work…. I’m in the mountains so it was a little choppy as internet up here is crappy. The topic itself has me asking a few questions I thought I would share with you.

1. What is the difference between considering a pure contract job and a contract to hire? If they want to hire you at the end of the contract and you decide to move on to another contract gig does it speak negatively of you?

2. Im graduating in June of this year with a degree in CS (skills in Java, C#, VB and ASP.net). Would I be best serve taking a contract in that position for experience prior to graduation?

After my negative experiences in the permanent hire job market since I’ve left ***, I’m considering becoming a contractor. I just don’t know if that is the right move. I think it helps that I have a really wide skill set (LAMP and .NET) but still I’m not real sure.

——————————————————-

1. Difference in pure contract and CTH is that with the “to hire” means the client wants to hire you at the end of the contract vs. a pure contract for a determined amount of time.  Typically depends on the budget of the client.  Also, with the CTH, the client expects you to stay.  If you bolt at the end, it leaves a bad taste in their mouths…b/c they may have spend extra time, training, $$, etc.  Make sense?

2.  YES….any real life experience you can grab always helps..especially with a new skill set.

Moving around is more acceptable in this market.  It’s not as taboo as it once was…the recession affected everyone.

Good to hear from you and let me know if you’ve got any further questions!

A letter from one of my previous candidates and now clients who’d been visited by a tech sales person this afternoon.   It’s a down economy and there are still people doing this type of business.

If you’re going to badger me to come by the office so you can “drop off a business card and discuss your needs”, you should at least be prepared before you waste my time.

1. Know the address of where you’re going. (He had been here once already 3 weeks earlier, but couldn’t remember the address or how to get here.)

2. Don’t be late. (Calling the operator and asking how to find the building
2 minutes AFTER you were scheduled to be here is not a good start)

3. Know my f**king name. (OK, you’ve already met me once and you have my card. Telling the operator you’re here to see “Dan Reese or something” is not helping your cause)

4. Do *some* research into the company before you walk in the door.

(Keep in mind he’s already been here once before)

Bob: “So what is it your company does?”
Dan: “We develop software for the xxxx industry to document patient care”
Bob: “Ah. So is that your only source of revenue?”
Dan: “No. We also have a meth lab and about 20 hookers on staff. Shouldn’t you already know what we do seeing as how we paid your company for 8 developers on a 3 month contract?”
Bob: “I wasn’t here for that. Did you know we have a new business model where you have an onsite lead, and the rest of the dev team is offshore?”
Dan: “New? What’s new about that? That was the model you were working under at the end of 2008 when you developed our web app. How is it different now than a year ago?”
Bob: “We do it better now.”
Dan: “So, back in 2008 you apparently didn’t do it well, which means I probably overpaid for your services?”
Bob: “Well, no, I’m just saying we do it better now.”
Dan: “OK, thanks for stopping by, and thanks for the candy.”

As promised.  I spent a Saturday afternoon with WineLibraryTV.com phenom Gary Vaynerchuk and Eric Luse, winemaker and owner of Eric Ross Winery in Sonoma County, California.  Lunch in the vineyard,  about 1000 photos taken by the incredible Craig Lee and mad knowledge dropped by Gary.

The video is rough – shot from my iPhone – but the content is priceless.  With photos being snapped in the distance and Gary and Eric chatting it up about great vino….man..what a day.

I’ve also got the skinny on how to get both of those wines (and a few others) at a stupid price.  Yank my chain here and I’ll give you the deets.