Sorry, No Recruiters
on Apr 14, 2008 - 3:42 PM PSTAs much as I hate to say it, we can’t allow recruiters at Lunch 2.0 any more. Companies that host us are requesting the ban and I understand their concern. Unfortunately, a few recruiters ruined it for the rest.
I watched one headhunter walk through an event and hand out his business cards like they were fliers. He made no attempt to engage others in conversation. It was like being confronted by an in-person pop-up ad.
A couple of recruiters tried luring away employees from companies that hosted us.
Mostly, head hunters who come to events seem to add nothing to the conversation and are only after their own interests: recruiting as many people as possible as fast as they can do it.
I’m not communist. I want everyone who comes to an event to grow their business. But a mixer isn’t like a banner ad. It’s not meant for pushing business. It’s about connecting with people.
If you come to any of my events and try to get to know the guests, I promise you they’ll naturally want to do business with you.
Will I make reasonable exceptions? Yes. Lots.
Josh Stomel, is a great example. Not only is he a great guest who cares about others’ needs, he helped grow Mixergy and Lunch 2.0 by introducing us to Oversee.net and encouraging them to bring us to their office.
If you or someone you know deserves an exception, just ask. You can do it in the comments here or message me through Mixergy.
Update:Â Todd Cranston-Cuebas emailed to ask about this. Todd, please come! This restriction isn’t aimed at recruiters like you. It’s aimed at the kind of recruiter who would end a conversation as soon as he discovered he was talking to someone who wasn’t a developer. Anyone who treats guests like people and not like potential checks is welcome to come.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Before you annoint Stomel with sainthood, I would check his background. He is a plagarist and a spammer from what I have read and experienced first hand. http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=92
May 6th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
[...] Warning: No Recruiters [...]
May 6th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Hello All,
I believe I deserve to be an exception since I try to give and get as much industry information as possible from every contact I make during these functions. I was at the Oversee Luncheon and had the best time talking about MySQL’s acquisition with a Product Manager from Sun. Consultants need to understand that Recruiters exist for a reason and that reason is to be the hub of all information pertinent to people and companies within their domain. In our situation, we are talking about IT; in my specific case, we are talking about Web. I have to admit, I have not written a single line of code in my life, however I believe that my knowledge on “big picture concepts” and local companies is comparable to those of a Manager. I did not come to Drinks 2.0 recently as Recruiters were again not invited although it was around the corner from where I live and a lot of my “friends” were attending. If a recruiter disseminates cards like a flier or try to steal people from the hosting company, he/she is plain *dumb* and this has nothing to do with the fact he/she is a Recruiter. I am sure many of you had very bad experiences with Recruiters; trust me I did, too while I was looking for a job. But let’s not write off a whole profession because of these examples. I am going to the dentist tonight and believe me I had very bad experiences with Dentists, too!
The best way to recruit talented individuals is by word of mouth. That is why I meet and network with all types of IT professionals whenever I can without any agenda in mind. This way when they are looking to make a change or when they have a need in their company, they come to me.
Lastly, I deserve to be an exception to attend these meetings and my promise is that I will not bring a single business card with me.
May 6th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Ceren, please come. See you there.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
May 6th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I believe that everyone should be invited with idea of spammers and bottom feeders get booted and banned for life.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Odd, I personally know Josh and he is someone who has helped our company grow significantly.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
We responded to an ad on SocalTec for this Neohire also and they seemed like a sham. Not professsional and then we called and no one answered the phone. Then the emails kept coming. I would ban any headhunters at such events, they are too pushy and wasting time.
Rashid Qazi
May 7th, 2008 at 11:52 am
re: Josh Stomel
I don’t know anything about Josh Stomel’s past online or off prior to meeting him and working with him over the last 2 years at Oversee.
All I will say is that if I was deeply engaged in the fight of my life, I’d want Josh Stomel to have my back. People can and do recover.
As for recruiters being banned: this process in place seems completely reasonable to me.
Ron Sheridan
May 7th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
It appears SensibleMarketing.biz has an overwhelming amount of time on their hands.
Josh Stomel has provided DIG (Disney Internet Group) with the highest quality candidates and top notch service over the last year.
In my eyes, he is one of the most connected and hard working individuals I have ever met.
Keep going Josh
May 7th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
No one answers the phone and they spam. Neohire and similar types aren’t reputable headhunters and they should be banned.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Banning seems strong, since it impacts the many in hopes of reaching the few. It would be a shame to miss out on a meaningful interaction simply because an individual is a head hunter/recruiter/ body snatcher. Perhaps it’s better to simply reiterate the reasonable code of conduct (don’t knick the hosts silver) and leave it to the community to manage the outliers.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Eric, I think you’re right. That’s what I’ll do next time.
May 7th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Wait a minute here, what is this site becoming Gossip Girl? Whoever this guy is that took a shot on Josh Stomel is acting like a high school girl. That link is like 3 years old, give me a fickin break!
In the last 6 months Josh has placed at least 15 high quality employees for my organization. He has provided the most professional, responsive, and cost effective recruiting anyone could ask for. In the LA digital space few are as connected or respected as Josh.
The initial blog got it right, Josh and NeoHire are the best.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:25 am
The latest Austin Powers installment not only introduces Michael Caine as the spy's equally dentally challenged dad, and adds the villainous Goldmember to Mike Myers' growing arsenal of heavily prostheticized creations, it also dips into the 70s (where Beyoncé Knowles appears as a vixen named Foxxy Cleopatra) for some heavily disco-flavored disney acting auditions costume and setting requirements. As on the previous Powers outings, production designer Rusty Smith and costume designer Deena Appel are more than up to the challenge. Michele Burke supplies the sun-damaged, flaky skin makeup design for Goldmember, while the Stan Winston Studio design for Myers' grotesque Fat Bastard has been augmented by Howard Berger and Chris Nelson of KNB Effects to include another look. DP Peter Deming, who shot the first Austin Powers movie, is back on board for the third.
August 13th, 2009 at 9:25 am
The latest Austin Powers installment not only introduces Michael Caine as the spy’s equally dentally challenged dad, and adds the villainous Goldmember to Mike Myers’ growing arsenal of heavily prostheticized creations, it also dips into the 70s (where Beyoncé Knowles appears as a vixen named Foxxy Cleopatra) for some heavily disco-flavored disney acting auditions costume and setting requirements. As on the previous Powers outings, production designer Rusty Smith and costume designer Deena Appel are more than up to the challenge. Michele Burke supplies the sun-damaged, flaky skin makeup design for Goldmember, while the Stan Winston Studio design for Myers’ grotesque Fat Bastard has been augmented by Howard Berger and Chris Nelson of KNB Effects to include another look. DP Peter Deming, who shot the first Austin Powers movie, is back on board for the third.
August 13th, 2009 at 9:25 am
The latest Austin Powers installment not only introduces Michael Caine as the spy’s equally dentally challenged dad, and adds the villainous Goldmember to Mike Myers’ growing arsenal of heavily prostheticized creations, it also dips into the 70s (where Beyoncé Knowles appears as a vixen named Foxxy Cleopatra) for some heavily disco-flavored disney acting auditions costume and setting requirements. As on the previous Powers outings, production designer Rusty Smith and costume designer Deena Appel are more than up to the challenge. Michele Burke supplies the sun-damaged, flaky skin makeup design for Goldmember, while the Stan Winston Studio design for Myers’ grotesque Fat Bastard has been augmented by Howard Berger and Chris Nelson of KNB Effects to include another look. DP Peter Deming, who shot the first Austin Powers movie, is back on board for the third.