Recruiter-Rater

This isn't the worst that has happened to anyone when it comes to recruitment, but hopefully some lessons will be learned here.

Ken Kirkwood of Automation Career Consultants is a technical recruiter in the Maryland area. He claims he is an 'ethical' recruiter. He is no different from the rest of them. I had several interviews, and most of the interviews had nothing to do with the type of work I told him I wanted to do. Let's just say I ended up with a job that I didn't like, I didn't do the kind of work that I wanted, and I didn't like the company at all.

Everytime I came up with an interview that he had nothing to do with, Ken had something negative to say about it. What it boils down to is he was probably trying to get me to not go after other opportunities because he wouldn't make money off of me if I had taken the job.

One company wanted their potential employees to fill out information for Choicepoint, which is a data warehousing (whorehousing) organization that is used for background checks. There was controversy surrounding this company because personal information was apparently stolen by some criminals but the truth of the matter was Choicepoint sold them the information. I objected to filling out this information (it's an 'ethical' choice, you know) yet Ken kept insisting that I fill it out. I didn't even decide whether I wanted the job or not, yet he kept pushing me to fill it out. He claims he's an ethical recruiter but he doesn't respect your ethics.

I ended up going with an awful company that claimed I would be doing something of interest to me. I told them that I wanted to leave the company I was currently working with because they didn't give me the type of work I wanted, and I mostly ended up doing something I didn't want. Well, it turns out that I take the job at the new company, and I end up doing the work that I left the previous company over! They lied to me.

After a few months, I later contacted Ken and told him I didn't like the company at all. I had a lot of complaints about them, and I wasn't doing the work that I was told I would do. Every complaint I had he would make up excuses for them. He told me to stick with the company for a few more weeks because some more work would be coming in due to the fiscal year. I asked a manager about this, and he stated Ken's comments was a bunch of baloney. I spoke to another employee, and he stated the recruiter probably said this so he could get the rest of his money. Apparently, the company pays the recruiter in installments, while the candidate/employee continues to stay at the company. Anyhow, if I clearly don't like an organization, why in God's name would someone insist that I stay there?

I do have to take some responsibility myself because I dropped my guard. There was better opportunities out there, and when you get desperate, wanting to get away from your current job so badly, you may end up using bad judgement. Yes, I should have dumped him early on. On the other hand, Ken Kirkwood failed to do his job, like most recruiters. It is because they don't care. Understand this!

Lessons learned:
1. If the recruiter starts to piss you off, drop them! Don't let desperation get in the way of good judgement.

2. Stand by what you desire in a job. Be careful with compromises. For example, if you don't want a job requiring a security clearance, or that makes you travel way more than you want, so no to such opportunities, period. Don't give the recruiter an opening, because just when you think you left the door ajar, they will shove it open, and it will be only for their benefit.

3. Do not take a job based on one project (this applies in the MD/DC/VA area because a lot of jobs are contract jobs requiring a clearance). If the project falls through and the company doesn't have anything else you want, you are screwed! If the recruiter insists, drop the jerk. It's obvious they only want to make a buck and they don't care about your career. Select a recruiter that matches you with a company, not just a particular project.

4. Don't fall for any lies like 'I'm an ethical recruiter'. That's an oxymoron. There aren't any ethical recruiters.

Bookmark/Search this post with:
| | | | | | | | | |