Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Automatically detecting and replying to recruiter spam

blog.waleedkhan.name

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 111 posts

Re: Automatically detecting and replying to recruiter spam

#51

Post by onemiketwelve »

Tempest1981 wrote: post #17

One recruiter was pestering me, and I was ignoring his emails... then he sent this which made me laugh: > I can do this all day - it's quite literally my job :) > > Really though, we are highly interested in your background ... > > Chat soon?

My profile used to just say "Im a really bad engineer working with technology a, b and c. Also I steal"

I don't think anybody cared about it and I always thought it was funny as shit

Until one day a recruiter specifically called it out. His subject was "looking for really really bad engineer"

Hey, we're looking for to hire someone who does technology A, who also had a penchant for larceny. Interested?

That made me lmao and really respect the tenacity of that recruiter

Re: Automatically detecting and replying to recruiter spam

#52

Post by ryanmercer »

I clear international freight through customs, my job title is "Customs Trade Coordinator" at least once a week I'll get recruiter email or a LinkedIn message for mechanical engineering jobs.

In the past few months I've also had emails along the lines of " I just came across your profile and was very impressed with your background and what a solid fit you appear to be for this role. " for:

- Enterprise Architecture

- Operations Manager

- Director of Continuous Improvement

- CI Engineer

- Continuous Improvement Engineer

And several others that I can't readily find in my gmail trash.

Wut?

Re: Automatically detecting and replying to recruiter spam

#53

Post by thetest3r »

whoisjuan wrote: post #12

In LinkedIn I have my first name as my first name + middle initial. I always know when is a mass message or a real personalized message based on whether or not they include that initial. Works surprisingly well for me but sadly for LinkedIn that’s a case of an implementation detail totally destroying their value proposition for recruiters.

Instead of an initial, I'd recommend putting an emoji in the first name. (And putting your last name as your full name). I've been able to filter out most "InMail/auto" when they say something along the lines of "Hi {emoji}."

I learned of it here: https://www.glennstovall.com/the-wolf-test/

Re: Automatically detecting and replying to recruiter spam

#54

Post by gonehome »

mvc wrote: post #27

I don't understand the attitute that most software engineers seem to have with recruiters. My early years as a software developer were in locations where opportunities were not like they are in your big tech centers. In those years, recruiters would get you a foot in the door and you were grateful for any opportunities that came. Even in big tech centers, until you build your own network, recruiters will likely be an…

+1 - I’ve always hated this behavior.

It’s just a status behavior (“I’m so important, everyone wants me”, etc.) that’s wrapped up in pretending this is a problem.

Be kind to people on the way up, you might need them one day on the way down.

Re: Automatically detecting and replying to recruiter spam

#55

Post by brailsafe »

gonehome wrote: post #54
mvc wrote: post #27

I don't understand the attitute that most software engineers seem to have with recruiters. My early years as a software developer were in locations where opportunities were not like they are in your big tech centers. In those years, recruiters would get you a foot in the door and you were grateful for any opportunities that came. Even in big tech centers, until you build your own network, recruiters will likely be an…

+1 - I’ve always hated this behavior. It’s just a status behavior (“I’m so important, everyone wants me”, etc.) that’s wrapped up in pretending this is a problem. Be kind to people on the way up, you might need them one day on the way down.

Perhaps some of specifically what the parent mentions is about status, but the recruiter hate starts from recruiters sucking. Recruiters doing something useful for me is actually far less likely than just having a successful application randomly on the internet. At worst through much more of my time is wasted talking to them, because they don't help, and often intentionally obscure details that should be available.

Re: Automatically detecting and replying to recruiter spam

#56

Post by thrwyoilarticle »

arxanas wrote: post #10

Update on this: since October 4, I've received an additional 17 emails, of which 5 generated useful discussion, and 2 out of those 5 had legitimately interesting opportunities. Also, despite having set up SPF and DKIM, LinkedIn continues to reject my reply emails.

Hosting your own email is hopeless. You need to pay for an email service like SES.

Re: Automatically detecting and replying to recruiter spam

#59

Post by brailsafe »

mvc wrote: post #27

I don't understand the attitute that most software engineers seem to have with recruiters. My early years as a software developer were in locations where opportunities were not like they are in your big tech centers. In those years, recruiters would get you a foot in the door and you were grateful for any opportunities that came. Even in big tech centers, until you build your own network, recruiters will likely be an…

If we're fair, you not knowing why recruiters often but not always suck, is in a sense a status signal itself. Recruiters suck because most of the time, they literally don't do anything useful, nor do they even usually have direct contact with a hiring manager. Quite literally, most of them just accept a CV, then give you the HackerRank test you'd get anyway, if they actually work for the company. If they don't, you get to pass every line of communication through them, maybe even letting them modify your resume so it obscures your own contact details, before you get that automated test.

That said, some are fine.

Re: Automatically detecting and replying to recruiter spam

#60

Post by Double_a_92 »

mvc wrote: post #27

I don't understand the attitute that most software engineers seem to have with recruiters. My early years as a software developer were in locations where opportunities were not like they are in your big tech centers. In those years, recruiters would get you a foot in the door and you were grateful for any opportunities that came. Even in big tech centers, until you build your own network, recruiters will likely be an…

It's actual spam at this point. It's not like a real recruiter that really wants exactly you for a specific position somewhere.
Post reply on HN