Melissa Rivers says 'Just Say No!' to Tactical Recruiting Practices

I am honestly thrilled to be 'on the market' these days, but I readily admit that my list of job-hunting pet peeves is growing at quite an alarming rate. Yes, I'm glad to be pounding the pavement once again, and hand-to-heart I'm actually thrilled to be doing it all again! Why? So glad you asked! Read on, McDuff, and I'll share a few of the more unusual recruiting tactics I've run into recently.

Yes, I really do learn something new from every person I interact with, including all the head hunters and recruiters calling lately, each interviewer and interviewee I've met, and every new friend that has come into my life in the past few months. I appear to be trending, enjoying an unexpected uptick in exposure via LinkedIn and Indeed lately, with traffic numbers on the rise on those and other social websites. You wouldn't be wrong to assume that things have definitely 'blown up' for me lately. But it's all good, as the saying goes.

You'll find complaints about the joys of unemployment and job searching here, I assure you! I'm quite happy to be on the hunt again, managing a much tighter calendar and lengthier lists of calls and emails to return each day (sigh). BTW, my sincere apologies to those I haven't gotten back to just yet, and my thanks to you for your patience; I will be in touch, I promise. Two big thumbs up to those rare HR generalists who take the time to connect personally rather than rely too much on technology to sort through the overwhelming number of applicants only to spit out canned acknowledgements or automated rejection letters.

Yes, I know the aptly named basic courtesy call should be expected as basic good manners, but sadly things appear to have changed significantly since I last pounded the pavement in search of better opportunities. I kid you not, over the past several weeks I've had recruiters demand the following:

• One-way video conferencing (meaning they asked me to get dolled up for an interview and be filmed while filling out lengthy online pre-screening questionnaires designed specifically to knock applicants out of the running).

• Scanned copies of highly confidential documentation including all educational transcripts as well as copies of my driver's license and social security card.

• Complete access to private contact information for each of my references.

• Payment up front for background check, criminal and driving records and finger printing!

SERIOUSLY? Yes! And no, I do not embellish for entertainment's sake.

Thank goodness my self-esteem and happiness quotients have been consistently on the rise this summer, making it that much easier for me to simply say "NO!" to such unnecessarily intrusive recruiting practices. Just saying no held a touch of fear, but it still felt abfab (absolutely fabulous)! That gut instinct to say no also keeps me out of the clutches of greedy corporations that encourage such invasive practices by their recruiters and head hunters.

Yes, I'm quite content to steer well clear of conglomerates like the HMO giant I left after only eight years because management through fear had become de rigueur. To this day my co-workers still fear for their jobs, skip breaks and vacations regularly, stay constantly worried about keeping their position from one 'scheduling restructure' to the next. They remain afraid to use all their earned PTO (paid time off) earned from overtime they'd dare not refuse in the first place. C'est la vie. I for one simply couldn't continue working on eggshells day in and day out supporting the broken healthcare practices in this country (another story for another day, I promise).

Folks, there comes a point when living on the razor's edge, constantly worried about hanging on to that job and those benefits at any cost, simply isn't worth it anymore.

I for one am refusing to take the bait before recruiters and headhunters have even bothered to tell me anything beyond the generalized posting I can find for myself online. That's right, I refuse to play along unless y'all are willing to share helpful information about the position you're currently recruiting for, give me the opportunity to meet folks at your company and take a tour of the work site! No, I do not believe that that is asking too much!

Now, gentle readers, please turn off your computer and get outside to make the most of the sunshine and festivities in your neighborhood this summer! And while you're out there, please HUG the next rescuer, fire fighter, patrolman, volunteer, clinician, teacher, homemaker, parent, soldier, veteran and/or service animal you see. Sure, feel free blame it on me, if you must, but only if you've been tactful, circumspect and sweet in your approach! A little love and appreciation are the least we can do for the many folks who sacrifice R&R with their own friends and family to be there for others.

Thanks for reading!

Melissa Rivers

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