I think that we should have some pity and compassion for recruiters. It is a tough job. They get job requests from clients who do not really know what they want (except cheap) and then have to sort through a lot of inflated resumes to find the ideal candidate. You know: 25 years old PhD with 15 years experience willing to work for minimum wage, must be capable of structural, electrical mechanical and geotechnical design.
My only experience with recruiters that got past the first phone call involved a firm who wanted someone to manage a major construction project on their behalf. They offered the opportunity to stay behind after the construction was finished and be the plant engineer. The client was astonished when I pointed out that the skills, abilities and mindset for these two positions was directly opposite and someone who was good and happy at one would not good and happy at the other. I would consider a position as a plant engineer as punishment not an opportunity and would expect that the plant operations types out there would rather be thrown into a vat of boiling oil than into a construction project. (At least the oil is quicker). We cannot all want the same thing out of life, that’s what makes life interesting and keeps the competition for my job to a reasonable level.
As a consultant who manages projects I bring to the project not only my own skills but also an office trailer full of computers and technical equipment plus insurance and other benefits. The client wanted this thrown in for free since I would not be using it anyway. (I normally include this stuff in an all inclusive fee structure.) He also wanted me to work as a salaried employee at about 1/3 my usual rate with no compensation for overtime or the two hour a day commute from my home to the project site.
The recruiter did not over sell the job; he was actually quite a decent type of guy. He had been trying to tell the client the same things that I was saying and has several of us CM types tell the client in hopes of convincing him that this was not the way to go.
I have heard through the grapevine that, clients being clients, he got a junior plant operation type, put him in charge of a multi million expansion and is now wondering why he does not have an plant operating and has a few lawsuits from contractors to fight.
Recruiters do serve some good in the hiring process. They can protect the company from a flood of unwanted résumé’s. I had a job opening (entry level technician) that I advertised through some of the usual channels. I was still receiving résumé’s six months after the position was filled. Sometimes the company does not want to be identified. They may be planning or bidding on some work that they do not want to publicly acknowledges or advertise. They may be planning on moving their operation and do not want to upset their current workforce until they know if they are moving.
Good recruiters can also protect you the employee. Say you work for someone who would take a dim view of your looking elsewhere. A mailbox type of ad may be your current employer. A good recruiter will screen you out of employers you do not wish to receive your resume.
Still in 25 years on the job, I have only once got beyond the first phone call with a recruiter or the big job sites. (Not that I have applied for much through the job sites since they are usually looking for different skills than I offer.)
I do agree that networking is your best way to get jobs. I have been on my own for several years and have never gotten any significant work from cold calls. All work has come from people I have known prior to the job.
Manage and nurture your network contacts. I try to call everyone on my contact list at least twice a year. It makes for only a call or two a day if you spread out the calls. If you find out someone’s birthday put it in your planner and call them. Call them near Christmas and wish them the best for the holidays. I don’t bother with the company cards as its too impersonal, a phone call is better. E-mail them a joke (one that you know that they will appreciate I don’t mind off colour jokes but some of my contacts would be offended by that sort of thing.) (I never send the same joke to everyone on my contact list at the same time. I will sent individuals or small groups known to each other the same joke and then send the same joke to others in separate e-mails.) Call once in a while to say hello. Don’t only call when you want something. Call to offer them something, a job lead, a business opportunity, a promising candidate for a job that they may have, or something. If you are passing through their city even just changing planes, take them out for coffee or lunch, or at least use that as an excuse to call.
The best is if you can do something unique for their kids. I was once working on a major Canadian military base that had an annual international fighter exercise. All the NATO countries sent fighters here for a six-week exercise. One of my contacts had a kid who was aircraft crazy. I got them a pass onto the base and they spent the day about 200 m from the ramp where the aircraft (F-`15, F-16, F-18 Harriers, Migs etc) were being serviced (fuel and weapons, think of a pit pass to a race car track). I also passed on a couple of patches (badges) and zaps (stickers) that I had been given and the kid was in seventh heaven. The Dad and I are now discussing some significant work.
The original question was “Is the future of engineering such that we will all have to choose between being pimped out by technical staffing firms or being jobless? Any thoughts?” There is a third option and that is the solo route. I know that it isn’t for everyone but the rewards are real and the satisfaction levels can be higher. If you don’t want to go solo or even if you do I cannot stress the importance of networking to find the real jobs and most importantly the jobs that you fit and that fit you.
Good Luck
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
