[cupcake-unicorn]

I'm nowhere near the top of my profession, so I'm baffled by it. I'm actually glad to read about it, since my non-dev friends don't understand it and get angry at me for bitching about people trying to offer me work! I am however, a minority in the field (a woman) so I sometimes think that this fact MAY have something to do with it :/

It really gives me even more reason to hate the recruiting spam - when I'm called "Mr." or when they tell me that "We're looking for a couple of great dudes like you!"

[rooshdi]

Ha! Definitely can relate (except for the great dudes part lol), but I wonder what kind of deals these recruiters have with companies? Do they really care about finding the right people for positions, or do they just want a quick cut of whatever commission they're making? It's flattering sometimes to see a voicemail full of recruiters, but one has to wonder if their intentions are optimally in line with what companies need.

[icambron]

Mostly the latter (the quick cut). They're basically like realtors in that sense. I've worked with a few recruiters on both sides of the fence (hiring and behing hired). They're are a few really good ones out there and a shitload of noise. The trick is to find one you trust and just run with them (or, increasingly, just use your personal network).