moon 2007-1-12 11:53 AM
The Honest Recruiter
Was lucky enough to find a few hours of time (out of my crazy schedule) to attend LinuxWorld - the world's largest and most comprehensive event focusing on Linux and Open Source solutions, being held at the Moscone Center this week – here in San Francisco…
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Was ABSOLUTELY amazed at the top quality presentations, exhibits, booths and information that was being shared among this crowd of sales representatives and my brothers and sisters of geek-hood and techn-noid-ism. What I was REALLY amazed about – was not one company that I ran into made any effort about mentioning that they were searching for any type of technical talent… (other than DICE – oh course!)| } D+n b
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Now, I’ve been doing technical recruiting for 15 years now… and I know that each one of the organizations represented within that crowd is currently doing some type of hiring. Why would an organization not promote the employment section of their website at these events that draw the EXACT type of geeks that they would want to find ?? Is there a problem – does the group in Marketing… not like the folks in HR ? Is Marketing concerned about sharing leads generated at this event ? Does Sales feel that the effectiveness of the convention would be damaged due to some type of creative or passive way of getting out the words “We’re Hiring” ?? I believe that I was one of a VERY FEW Staffing and Human Resources Professionals who even thought about the networking possibilities this event had…
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These organizations should have Human Resources and staffing representatives there – and should plan in advance – inviting any prospective technical talent to the event (exhibit all passes were FREE!) and perhaps to a networking event – either sponsored by the organization – or perhaps access to one of the other product demonstrations or speeches.
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I’m a Recruiter… - I just am always looking for ideal opportunities to meet quality, qualified technical talent. I’m going again today – and plan on talking to anyone who will listen to me speak. I’m also going to listen. Have a free pass to one of the lectures or product demonstrations… - and I’m probably going to pick the topic I know the least about. I learn more from attending one of these events – than anyone could ever learn from reading some type of “technology topic text book.” It’s kind of “sink-or-swim” philosophy. You pick up stuff (besides a lot of expo crap) – technology buzzwords… hot “dirt” on computing competitors… or get clarification on an architecture or technology practice… Really get some of the pieces of this weird technology puzzle that forms the landscape revealing itself to you on the cardboard table of your mind.
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I literally heard this wonderful woman say something about VMware and Novell’s Zenworks – when standing at the VMware vendor booth (stopped by – because I know they’re local)… - listened very carefully – and was amazed that I was able to piece together a very good understanding of the topic. Was even able to ask for clarification without sounding like idiot. Know what I did next ??
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Ran to the freak’n Novell booth – and basically repeated the premise of what was discussed prior at the VMWare booth… - asked sales representative his thoughts on the topic…- you would have thought I was Bill Gates… - two addition representatives swooped over like Spiderman or something. I was able to comprehend the conversation and probably absorbed about 70% of the information – but definitely got some additions pieces of the puzzle – and a better understanding of security, tools, ERP, mobile and other Linux technologies.%}Xn.JG.{
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Got enough information from that Novell conversation and with my existing knowledge of wireless technology – was able to go over to the PalmSource booth – talk about accessing / synchronizing my ERP application via their product (JUST read an article in eWeek or InformationWeek – about this very topic) – talking intelligently – but more important – got a new workout T-Shirt – with these cool little pigeons on them (if you know anything about Linux – you’ll get the pigeon thing)… Although – I did refuse to play their stupid video-game they had on the floor (you had to stamp around on this thing to music in order to get a pigeon key chain)…