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> Secondly, it appears that Honda has a "preferred vendor" process. This is
> the bane, in my opinion, of the free-market system. Some purchasing agents
> try to make technical writing a "commodity" issue, and the preferred
vendor
> process reinforces that approach. There is no room for quality, creativity
> or innovation in that process. I guess we all can guess where I stand on
> this issue! :)
You and all other 1099 contractors who are shaking the trees. It means that
we have to go through a preferred vendor who has already established the
relationship and terms with the employer. Most 1099s I know would leap at
the chance to deal directly with a big employer.
>Good firms should report back to
> you what they've done on your behalf. The not so good ones will provide
you
> with an experience like the one you've had. In your place, because of what
I
> know as member of this business, I would have passed on the second
> recruiter, even though it might mean missing the opportunity. When you
> submit your resume with more than one firm for the same position, many
> companies will jump to the conclusion Honda did. It isn't fair, but it's
> real. It is also sort of a "damned if you do, damned it you don't" kind of
> decision, but this isn't an easy life in an easy economy.
Yes, the candidate's lesson about duplicate submissions is that they won't
forward your application, any more than whanging on the button at a
pedestrian crosswalk will make the light change sooner. A better technique
is to commit your application firmly and unambiguously just once. I've
found it helpful to speak to the button soothingly, assuring it that I have
every confidence and will not reset its processes by doing it again.
But I'm not quite sure why the employer can't just go with the first agency
that submits a candidate. Presumably, the employer clears the deck as a
simple expedient. Everyone loses their sunk costs and everyone is to blame
for not avoiding the problem. But why not use some sort of 'postmark'
criteria?
What is the recruiter's perspective when a second agency submits you for a
different job at the same employer? Should we be tracking all opportunities
with an employer through one recruiter to optimize our chances around work
already done?
Ned Bedinger
Ed Wordsmith Technical Communications
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