[dclowd9901]

Because they fired all the recruiters? Sorry that was mean.

I honestly hope these companies start culling these non essential employees. When I left the valley, they were one of the biggest reasons. They were affecting the local intelligence culture in a very negative way.

[poof131]

I feel like you are being harsh. Recruiting seems like a pretty essential part to a fast growing company. And to say they affect the “local intelligence culture”, well there’s a lot of locals in SF who say that about all of tech and there’s many a way to define intelligence.

As a developer, I appreciate the role recruiters play. Reaching out cold to people isn’t easy and the fact someone else spends time on this while I write code is great. And the fact that my LinkedIn has multiple leads from people about job opportunities should I want to move is fantastic. Are we so spoiled to scoff at people offering us jobs when so many people can barely find quality work.

Certainly there are some shady players, but not really more than I’ve seen on the Engineering side, and my main issues have been less with recruiters and more with the hiring managers who the recruiters work for. “Oh, your rocket ship hasn’t grown revenue for 6 months straight yet you told me 100% YOY growth.” It was two directors of engineering and not a recruiter that lied to me about growth at a well respected YC startup. I blame the people crafting the message more than the messenger.

[dclowd9901]

I'm not speaking specifically on recruiters, whom I also believe play a valuable role (possibly second most valuable to actual engineers, given their importance on bringing in talent), more on middle managers, marketing and sales orgs. I had a general sense of ennui with the way they shaped self-obsessed materialism in SF, and their insistence on packing 5 at a time in apartments they couldn't afford, driving out families with fewer income earners per head just to be part of something they didn't help make. To me, that brand of person gives Baby Boomers a run for their money.

[ryguytilidie]

It really takes a special kind of person to hope that tons of people lose their jobs...

[dclowd9901]

i would argue it takes a more special person to think perpetual growth and bloated companies are realistic. Nobody's wishing misery on others. Just natural culling cycles.

[VeilEm]

Good recruiters are essential for building a good team. I have been happy to know many of the great recruiters I have had the pleasure to be on the same team on. Hiring is a complex topic involving marketing the company, searching for candidates, understanding the needs of the company and the legal terrain and helping everyone through the process.