1 June 2015

Bogan's Rant - With Michael McShane - June 2015

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE OPTIONS!

When I open the beer fridge, it always takes a while to make the choice - a scratch of the head, adjust the crotch and begin the process of elimination. Discount the light beer that tight a*se mate brought over, but drank your heavies - remove all of the "B's" (EB, VB, MB) and you should be in a position to make a choice! It's good to have options!

In an attempt to gauge the market, we recently sent a Survey out and didn't I cop some incredibly colourful abuse! The title, "What do you think of Recruitment Agencies" was a rhetorical question - we wanted the survey to be filled out, not a reply email with your innermost feral thoughts! But thanks!

The Bogan loves a debate, but when you're arguing with idiots……. you know the saying!

Do I deserve the abuse - unlikely. Is it my fault you can't secure a role - no! Who is to blame for the mining downturn? You'd think it was me from many of the responses. The reality - we have over 25,000 professionals on our database and while we would love to help many of you, we all know that isn't feasible - nor do we profess to be able to.

It is also exceptionally difficult, well impossible, to keep in regular contact with this amount of people on a personal basis - although I do love an AM coffee or PM frothie! More options! A lot of that contact revolves around the types of roles we recruit for - "supply v demand".

Many of you are also right about recruiters not giving you the time of day, but are all over you like a fat kid on a smartie when they have a role! Classic "supply V demand". Let's put that in perspective. We only have so many hours in a day/week, and in general only have enough time to contact the candidates relevant to the vacancies we have open - simple as that. Dissect this statement as you wish!

Hence why we created the newsletter to go out every 6 weeks - a passive way to keep in contact - a "2 way street" - you don't hear from me, then call me/ping me an email. You do have that as an option!

Good idea, hey!? No problem. I like to help!

Many recruiters are not from the industry and don't really understand how small & incestuous it is - they often advertise false roles, simply to fill a monthly Seek expenditure commitment - it also helps bolster their database. All things we flatly refuse to do! We could - but choose not to!

We also don't profess to work with all clients as we can't - clients have options too! I know - amazing concept! Many candidates lose sight of the fact that we are here to facilitate a process for that client. The majority of the time it is the client that is declining the resume, not us - we are given strict screening criteria and if we send any resumes that do not fulfil that criteria, it is rejected and we are accused of not delivering what was asked.

Damned if we do, damned if we don't! 

What we are seeing a lot of lately and helps us understand why the recruitment industry (in general) is disrespected and not trusted by the candidate world is who ends up securing the job with the client! For example, a client will engage us to assist with a vacancy. They give us the usual bullet points of strict criteria - i.e do not send any candidates that don't tick every box of this criteria, not matter how you think they might be good for it. Only send "A grade" candidates for the role. Then we all see an update on LinkedIn saying:

"Congratulate Billy Muppet on his new role at XYZ Mining"!!

We throw our hands up in the air and launch into a Tourette tirade as we all know they are a "C Grade" clown who does not remotely tick every box! It is frustrating to see for us all - flies against the face of most client mission statements and core values - it's a funny world as actions always prove why words mean nothing! But again, this is the client making this choice - not the recruiter.  Options!

What really puts the pigment in my paint is that it seems in the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only as a final resort when the alternative options of deception, manipulation, lies, self-preservation and bribery have all been exhausted.

It's pretty simple. Don't make demands. Don't tell anyone how it should be. Assess your options, and it's up to you to select or throw 'em away. It's good to have options!

Bogan's Pet Hate: Apart from the wombats who bring light beer to your house and drink your heavies? Obliviousness - in general!