In a love/hate relationship
In a really really love/hate relationship with recruiters… but as far as I know most developers are.
I’ve met some really really cool people when going to a job interview. My favourites being Vlad Ionescu-Darzeu and Oana Udrea. Really good communication, at one point I forgot to get a call in with them, and they gently reminded me of the situation. At the other side of HR we have…
HR people that don’t have a JD (job description)
Got an e-mail that someone was interested in me the other day. Nothing in the e-mail to get me thinking if it’s for an android position, a web developer or a modelling interview, just a generic e-mail. Asked them for a JD, they said they don’t have one cause they are looking for talented people (2nd e-mail and I still didn’t get an answer on what kind of position they have open).
Had to ask what position they’re willing to fill in developer level they need. Got a reply that they are interested in a Junior developer. DUDES? Really? I’d have waisted around 2 hours of my life to come there and find out you are looking for a fking junior? No thx… pass…
HR people that insist on a face to face meeting for…
Getting to know each other better! And let’s say that’s ok, I don’t mind waisting 2 hours of my life (transportation + meeting) if you are prepared to meet me. But after I arrive there, you ask me to send you a portfolio and then meet up again? No, thx. It’s not that i’m picky, but a bad management of a HR process shows a bad management overall and I don’t want to get involved.
HR people that say weird stuff
The message was like: “Adrian, we saw your profile. We are interested in your android skills and the girls in the company really want you to teach them some dance moves after hours.” (fun fact about my background: I’m also a dance teacher).
I was flattered by the proposal, would have loved to come to meet you, but my GF didn’t allow me. Nah, really, was impressed with the message, but I didn’t really take it serious 🙁
HR people that are acting noobish
Entered the room, she points me to A chair to have a seat. I take the seat at that chair, she starts apologizing that she didn’t mean that seat, she meant a general seat and that I have to choose one because it’s a personality test.
I blinked helplessly into the abis…
HR people that don’t call
or call late… very late… like fking 3 months later (asked around, this is their process). Not only that I found a job, but I even forgot that I visited you…
It’s better to say things like: we don’t have a certain time-frame because we’re mid-recruitment bla bla, but we will call you in the next weeks fi we have a positive answer.
HR that talk… and talk… and talk…
So I had this other HR person, a girl that was mind blowingly boring and would talk and talk and talk and we were at the 12th floor and I was admiring the view for 30 minutes until she stopped talking and asked me if I have any questions.
After the 30 minutes of company presentation and my initial lookup of the company, of course I had no question… so she decided to tell me more about irrelevant stuff regarding the company… no… please no… stop… let’s talk about relevant stuff… like the position you have open, your portfolio or anything that might be REAL interest to me, but please don’t talk about the year you were founded, got series B funds and in what year you changed your 2nd CEO… please don’t 🙁
HR people that are robots
My GF reminded me of someone and I got the same thing happen to me. Talked with someone that I think was a robot because of the tone and the way she ‘said’ stuff. The vodafone robot is more fun to talk with!
But anyway, the fun part usually comes when I ask something (and I always do). They get lost! It’s not in the script! Panic attack!
They are usually simple questions, nothing tech related. Questions like: “what other benefits do you have?”, “how flexible are you with the work program?” or “what is your allocated budgets for the working station?” (had someone compiling on a i3 PC)
By: Adrian Coman
