Magnus Marketing Blog

*Note to any clients that read my blog: unless the opportunity is spectacular - I am not looking for full time employment.

One of my resolutions is to talk to any prospective clients or recruiters that contact me and talk to everyone. In the event I lose clients or experience financial distress, I would like to have a call list of people that could potentially help me as a resource whether a job or another opportunity.

One day I get a ping through LinkedIN from a recruiter who presents an interesting opportunity for a local company for a VP of Marketing. Hm, sounds interesting so I am willing to talk. The recruiter and I set up a call, which has to be late in the day because I work all day and many evenings. The recruiter calls me and explains that the company insists that the VP of Marketing be local, have a marketing background, and have marketed SAAS. This SAAS was important, and had to be noted all over my resume - she says. I ask, what type of marketing do they want - what is their goal? She said, "Marketing". To which I then had to explain the difference between new business marketing and customer loyalty and strategic development. To which she said that they had some great customers and were looking to go into new markets (ah, I guess new biz, strategy). She kept emphasizing how great the people were there. She wanted me to rewrite my resume to emphasize the "SAAS" (which i had explained I sold SAAS before it was SAAS - but ASP hosted apps). She also expressed concern because the last five years I wasn't in Marketing - no MARKETING. To which I had to explain that my experience now is strategic marketing and sales doing one of the hardest things ever - get businesses with no clients, clients and build a market and marketing program. Ah. I sent my resume, we were to talk on the weekend. I then got an email that her friend's husband passed and she wouldn't be able to talk....and I never heard from her again.

Let's dissect a few points here that made this the worst recruiting interaction ever:
1. The recruiter was NOT well versed in sales, marketing, business development and did not understand what the hiring manager really needed. In fact, I am not even sure the company really knew what it needed, but without the right discussion, that would never be found out. Why did they want or need Marketing? What kind of marketing? What did they do that wasn't working? Why, if they had a sales team, did they need a VP of Marketing? etc.
2. The recruiter was NOT well versed in technology or what SAAS was or the requirements to sell and market SAAS. Almost my entire client base is SAAS which I have marketed and sold for - for over 10 years.
3. I am a passive candidate, you need to work around my schedule not the reverse. If you want to close business for your client, you do what you have to - call me evenings or weekends.
4. Why do I need to rewrite my resume? Why a resume at all? Why not forward my LinkedIN profile to the hiring manager and note points of accomplishment? One other point, I am glad the recruiter thought the company had great people, but that is all in the eyes of the beholder - I fit into certain highly autonomous environments with high value people. They may not be great people in a great culture for ME - not a selling point dear.
5. Finally, I am sorry your friend's husband died and I am sure she is upset, however that has nothing to do with my situation. What if I were married with kids and my husband unemployed for months and I need to feed my children? Isn't that equally as important as your friend? Balance your priorities.
6. Finally, finally - the disappearing act - no follow up, no apology, no split with another recruiter.

I also feel sorry for the client who did not have the opportunity to talk to me. Maybe I could have provided some insight, maybe they could have become a client for me in the future or an employer - who knows.

This is why recruiters get a bad name. With recruiters like that, companies SHOULD have the hiring managers do the job themselves.