What a wonderful thing you have done! It makes a great story. Thanks for sharing it and thanks for the encouragement.

Ford Harding

I get emails once in a while from people who found their next jobs posted on the group. The point I am trying to make is, network as much as possible and let others know about your situation. If you are looking for a job or if you know of a job opportunity, send it to your contacts and request them to pass along. I agree with Ford that especially in these times is when we need to support each other in whatever capacity possible.

BTW, Great blog Ford! I totally enjoy reading your posts.

Good luck,
-Venkat

Yes, it is important to distinguish between contingency fee recruiters, who only get paid if the candidate they submit gets hired, and retained fee recruiters who charge a percent of the expected first year’s compensation of the position whether or not the client hires anyone they present.

The latter tend to do searches for higher level positions. They are generally reluctant to spend time with job seekers, unless it is someone influential, because doing so uses up a lot of time they don’t get paid for.

Contingency fee recruiters are more open to meetings with job seekers, because they can get another resume out of it to pass to the client–but if the client hires the person, the recruiter will claim a fee. Some clients will decline to look at candidates coming from this source, because they don’t want to pay a fee.

The job seeker needs to know which kind of recruiter she is talking with. You will want to, too, in order to advise the job-seeker, and because your decisions about whether to refer the job-seeker and how to do it should be influenced by the needs and interests of the recruiter as much as by those of the job-seeker. For networking to work, the meeting has to have value for both parties.

The exception is when someone owes you a big chit, and agrees to the interview with the job seeker largely as a favor to you. Don’t burn those chits lightly!

Thanks for the comment.

Ford Harding

I hope this note finds you well. I enjoyed your blog this morning. I too am finding many new friends reaching out as they discover themselves “in transitions.” It is satisfying to help but enlightening when they land somewhere and don’t return calls. I don’t like being selective about who to help, even if type and intensity of assistance differs from person to person. We all should “pay forward” the help each of us has received in the past. Yet one can get a bit cynical.

All of us who have helped others find a job can identify with this comment.  This reader is a fine person and will help the next person who comes along.  He is not a cynic by nature, but we can all understand his frustration.  You can’t go all out for all people all of the time, even if you want to.  And  some of the help you provide will go unappreciated.  When this happens, I remind myself that if helping someone and getting no thanks in return is the worst thing that happens today, it’s a pretty good day.  That’s my cynicism countering thought.

Ford Harding

What have others found?

I don’t know if John is in the design professions, but if not this will certainly be helpful to someone. Thanks.

Ford Harding

GREAT post! You might consider turning this one into an article.

For #1 below there are several jobs open currently posted in the Design and Construction Network (a LinkedIn group http://www.linkedin.com/groupInvitation?gid=926787). Just thought it might be a helpful link to pass along. It is a tough market.

Have a great morning!

Tim

Knowing nothing about your personal circumstance, it’s hard to know what to say. You know how fast you will be running through your asset base. While toughing it out is there something you can do to bring in some cash that you would like to do and may not be able to do later? To enhance your qualifications? I don’t know your field. There are a few jobs to be had in most fields.

Gook luck,

Ford Harding

Any thoughts?