Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too?

#11

Post by wikwocket » Tue, Dec 03, 2013, 6:24 AM UTC

gesman wrote: post #5

I almost always reply with request for salary range (if recruiter has opened position). If recruiter replies with usual salesmanship dance, such as "depends on experience" or "competitive" or alike, I usually ignore him for good. Otherwise, if the pay range is reasonable I don't mind to communicate further, depending on my current situation.

I think this can be a good idea, just to get data points on salary ranges in your field. It's good to know the market value for what you do, to have an understanding of what you're worth. And if a recruiter tells you they are trying to fill a job with salary X, that's a pretty relevant data point.

Re: Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too?

#12

Post by codeonfire » Tue, Dec 03, 2013, 8:52 AM UTC

I try to respond to recruiters, but have come to the conclusion that they cannot help me. The fact that I am talking to a recruiter means that the job is under someone I don't know personally. I literally can not do anything more career wise to improve the job I could get without personal connections.

Re: Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too?

#13

Post by Peroni » Tue, Dec 03, 2013, 11:45 AM UTC

tostitos1979 wrote: post #6

I'm curious about what other people have to say. I feel very bad for ignoring recruiter emails. But I really don't have the mental energy to do the dance.

Former agency recruiter here. Feel free to ignore them. The vast majority of emails sent by recruiters go ignored. If they want to speak to you really badly because they've actually done their research properly, they will find a way to get your attention.

Re: Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too?

#14

Post by fsk » Tue, Dec 03, 2013, 7:38 PM UTC

That's what gmail search is for. I see if the headhunter has E-Mailed me before. If never, I give him the benefit of the doubt, and reply. If several times or he's a spammer, I ignore him. I have a list of headhunters I refuse to contact.

Re: Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too?

#15

Post by bandy » Tue, Dec 03, 2013, 9:54 PM UTC

If they're actually local and speak English well enough to be understood over a crummy cell phone connection, I'll keep in touch.

If not, I whack the Spam button.

Re: Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too?

#16

Post by bluejellybean » Wed, Dec 04, 2013, 3:23 AM UTC

I'm on the other side of the fence compared to most of you. Still trying to land my first job so unfortunately most recruiters don't respond to my emails.

Re: Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too?

#17

Post by hashtree » Wed, Dec 04, 2013, 6:00 PM UTC

If they shotgun emails, I will add them to this repo so that anyone who leverages never has to be hit by them: https://github.com/rockymadden/scattershot

If they are at all thoughtful, they get a thoughtful reply back.

Re: Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too?

#18

Post by collyw » Wed, Dec 04, 2013, 6:09 PM UTC

I actively try to wind them up.

Not all of them, but the ones where they clearly haven't even read my CV. For example the ones that say "if you know anyone else suitable for this role". I ask them how much they will pay me for doing their job.

Re: Ask HN: do other developers just ignore all emails from recruiters too?

#19

Post by collyw » Wed, Dec 04, 2013, 6:17 PM UTC

bluejellybean wrote: post #16

I'm on the other side of the fence compared to most of you. Still trying to land my first job so unfortunately most recruiters don't respond to my emails.

God luck, I graduated in the dot com bust in 2001, and had a year and a half before I got a full time job. It can be hard, but what helped for me was doing some poorly paid temporary jobs (one job was testing and was paid reasonably). Once I had some experience on my CV, recruiters actually started to look at it.