The Business of Headhunting

That's what I'd like to know. I get a call from a headhunter who tells me he's got the perfect job lined up for me. He'd like for me to come in as soon as possible. He'd like me to meet with the "Creative Director." Creative Director of a recruiting firm, I wonder, but I think, Hey why not? Back to the call, Sure thing, I say. Day of, I even wake up early to pretty myself up. I go in and wouldn't you know it? They have about 10 forms for me to fill out. Some of which are credit check forms, some kind of tax form, an application to re-write my resume (a copy of which they would like for me to attach). I tell them I don't want to write down my social security number or fill out any tax or credit check forms until I hear about the position. A gregarious fellow, whom I know to be the person who called, pipes in and say, Oh those forms are necessary for the employers - they all want them. I say I want to talk to the recruiter first. They ask me to wait in another room, the guy who was standing next to me a minute before enters and says, I knew it was you. Big handshake. I don't bother getting up. He asks for me to wait a minute and brings in the lumbering Creative Director. She looks through my resume and quips, I have quite a varied amoutn of experience. Yes I do. She asks me what I want to do. I give her the spiel, I want to make films, but I happen to have a particular set of skills... and if the money is good I'll keep doing it for as long as I have to. Well I ask her about the positions, Can you tell me about the positions? She looks down and says yes, there's a Web Integrator position at an Entertainment company. Okay one job. One job which she's probably shopping to every freelancer out there. I ask her the rate. Naturally, it's half of what I usually charge - before taxes. I tell her my usual rate. She blurts out, That's not gonna happen. Caught you bridge and tunnel. At which point I tell her, well I'm better off finding work on my own, thank you. She's used to this, or gave up on me when she saw me. We simultaneously get up from the table and go separate ways, never turning back.

So I ask you. Why bother bringing me in? Why ask for my social security number from the start even if there's no job for me? Does the sales guy meet a quota if they sign me on? Why the push to have me fill out papers? I wonder things. I wonder what happens if they put me on their payroll or as part of their roster. Is all their money only made through commission? I wonder. In any case, the only good experience I had with a headhunter was my very first during the late dotcom era. She was amiable and actually tried hard to find a good fit for me. Ah the good old days.