Does anyone know of any reliable headhunters?

[Robin Newman]

I am desperately tring to find a job and I'm thinking I should get some help!!! I recently lost my job - I was working in the supply chain distribution industry as a software developer. I don't have any experience in Java - I just took the Sun Java Programmer 1-week course and am studying for the programmer certification exam...
Can someone out there give me some tips or a lead on a good headhunter? Thanks!!

[Mark Herschberg]

Most head hunters are regional. It would help to list where you are looking for a job. Some even specialize further, e.g. QA, architect/senior developers, tech support, contractors.
--Mark

[Robin Newman]

I live in Boulder, CO so I'm looking in Boulder and in Denver... I would love a software developer job but I would definitely take a QA job at this point... Thanks...

[Reid M. Pinchback]

Originally posted by Robin Newman:
Can someone out there give me some tips or a lead on a good headhunter? Thanks!!

Most of the head-hunting firms got pounded when the dot-com boom ended. Their staff ended up unemployed almost as quickly as the developers. It isn't too hard to find the remaining recruiters; probably 3/4s or more of the job ads posted are done via recruiters.
The things I'd watch out for:
- recruiters with ads for non-existent jobs
- recruiters that don't pay much attention to what you say you are looking for
- recruiters that seem hell-bent on steering you to one particular company (it probably means they have some contract with that employer, and they really don't care what you are looking for or who you are)

[Shura Balaganov]

Isn't "reliable headhunter" an oxymoron?
Shura

[Michael Ernest]

An "honest resume" is another one. There are few innocents in the job placement game.

[Mark Herschberg]

I am the first to criticize head hunters. I had to deal with the sleazeballs both as a candidate, and a hiring manager. However, I have found a couple of really good honest ones. I found one who is increadible. Of course, since right now they are getting flooded with resumes, they are being a little selective wrt to new candidates.
--Mark

[Rufus BugleWeed]

recruiters with ads for non-existent jobs

What's the game they are playing with this ploy?

[Fred Hoecker]

Originally posted by Robin Newman:
I am desperately tring to find a job and I'm thinking I should get some help!!! I recently lost my job - I was working in the supply chain distribution industry as a software developer. I don't have any experience in Java - I just took the Sun Java Programmer 1-week course and am studying for the programmer certification exam...
Can someone out there give me some tips or a lead on a good headhunter? Thanks!!

Robin:
While most of the headhunters out there have been laid off as quickly as the developers, there are a small hand full of us that still exist and are credible. Most recruiting firms are regionally based, you have gotten some good feedback from the other posts in the topic, but I'll give you one more.
Ask the recruiter for references of other candidates that he/she has helped in the past and well as how long they have been in recruiting. These should be good tell-tale signs that they are a good honest recruiter. Also, a very good recruiter will also be very selective who they work with, I know personally since I have been in the recruiting industry a while, I only work with Senior Level candidates and Above. There are recruiters out there that specialize in junior or entry level positions, they are usually the majority and are not too hard to find.
Hopefully this helps, please feel free to drop me an e-mail if you would like to chat further on the subject.

[Reid M. Pinchback]

Originally posted by Rufus Bugleweed:

What's the game they are playing with this ploy?

Probably trying to hide the fact that their business is in the dumpster. I think it has more to do with getting in new clients than new recruits.

[Fred Hoecker]

Originally posted by Reid M. Pinchback:

Probably trying to hide the fact that their business is in the dumpster. I think it has more to do with getting in new clients than new recruits.

Actually Reid, it has to do with unethical recruiting and most of the "Good" recruiters don't agree with it and don't do it. Hopefully you guys aren't too jaded by the recruiters that are out there giving recruiters like me a bad name.

[Dolfandave Uyemura]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Reid M. Pinchback:
Probably trying to hide the fact that their business is in the dumpster. I think it has more to do with getting in new clients than new recruits.
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As a former recruiter in Southern California(left on my own terms), current IT student, and Developer wannabe, the "game" is to add resumes to their internal databases. You should insist that the recruiter disclose the company they are sending your resume to. They won't do so until after they have your resume but nonetheless that eliminates double submittals and helps you keep track of where you go.
Also, to the original poster, it is a "weeding out" process like any other profession. There are good apples and bad ones. Once you work w/ recruiters for awhile you will get the sense of who is straightforward with you. Good luck in your search.
DDAVE