10,000 Foot Developer

I’ve been talking with recruiters as the economy has picked up a bit and there’s something different that has happened in the last few years.   Notably, its the treatment that we the developers get when trying to do business with these salespeople.  The treatment has become very much more poor, almost abusive, in many ways.  I talked with several of my developer colleagues and here’s what we’ve been seeing:

• Immediately we are asked for our rate — without even knowing the person.  If we refuse we are run through the mill and treated poorly.
• We are asked for all of our contacts — our developer friends — so they can be helped.  if we don’t capitulate again, the conversations with the recruiter and company take a turn for the worst.
• A few years ago we would agree to meet a recruiter for the first time on neutral ground, like a coffee shop, splitting the distance.  These days the staffing companies are expecting us to drop everything we are doing at our existing job (with raises flags) to go to their site to meet them on un-neutral ground.
• We are never, ever thanked for our time or, if naive enough, the information we have given them.  Ever.
• It seems to me that the actual knowledge the newer companies have about actual technology is very low compared to that of 10 years ago.

It’s interesting, this kind of treatment.  It’s interesting because it implies that the day of the turn and burn recruiter is here forever, and gone are the relationships and the long term vision of partnership and future business.  I haven’t formulated any response to this.

For instance, a few days ago I was berated for my rate — I just said, it depends on the job.  Why isn’t that good enough?  But when I ask an accounts manager for transparency into their margin percentage, some of these new types of recruiters and companies will very simply hang up on you.  If you call out that they are in fact selling you a job — that you are a buyer, not someone they are doing a favor for — they get very upset.

By no means do I suggest being belligerant, but lets face it: the idea of “employer” in today’s world is very temporary.   Do you seriously think you’d get paid these days to sit on the bench while they look for another contract placement?  Does anyone think their FTE-ship is beyond an episode of layoffs?  Seriously?  And add to that that we the developers are doing a different profession that they the sales.  We don’t even understand each other’s worlds.  Its all too often I see developers, not companies, putting up with these blocks of productivity and disrespect.

It doesn’t have to be like that.  As developers we have to realize that our peers are other developers.  They are our people.  We spend our daily lives with each other, not with sales or management.  To our people we owe our allegiance and to watch each others backs.  I have yet to see the promise of “if things get bad I’ll pull you right out” from a consulting company; not while there is money to be made.  YOU ARE JUST FODDER.

Now not every place is like the cold heartless consulting firm or company so let us be mindful and not participate in those horrid places.  It starts with you.