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The short answer is,
I know, some of my resumes don't contain full details, but I need to
stick to this, even when sometimes recruiters in need of sales
leads complain they can't go further without full details. I
keep a full resume for actual interviews.
The long answer is...
My resumes do get me interviews
even without the use of full company names on my resumes.
Competitive:
Company names are competitive information.
If you're reading this, chances are you're a recruiter with a
small or medium size contract service firm. Moreover, chances are,
your firm has a list of 10 or 15 important customers.
How would you feel if I asked you for the names of
YOUR 10 most recent, most important customers, including the
names of their best hiring managers?
Confidential:
I believe my client list is confidential, therefore I
will reveal them only to another client, not to recruiters.
I'm generally suspicious when a telemarketer pumps me
for "more specific information".
The second I reveal my clients' identities to telemarketers
(who often make it look like they're real recruiters with real opportunities)
I can all but guarantee they will use every trick up their sleeves
to poach my client list I've worked so hard to protect.
Without any exclusive agreement or an iron-clad contract to protect me,
I the unwitting job seeker, can find myself the recipient of a
call advising me that my own job, plus all the jobs I've
listed on my resume have been mysteriously filled.
Recruiters of multi-office contract service firms are the worst
culprits. Trained to chase the money, often to the detriment of
ethics and personal relationships, they aggressively seek
and pounce on the slightest hint of a lead I may offer to them
through company names on my resumes.
Counterproductive:
Company names on my resumes tend to be counterproductive
because they tend to limit my opportunities. Therefore,
putting company names on my resumes isn't in my best interest.
Why? Because many recruiters will concentrate on IBM,
Research Triangle Park, AND ignore dozens of other opportunities, if they see
that IBM, Research Triangle Park is on my resume.
Dangerous:
Company names on resumes
can backfire on me easily, therefore putting names on my
resume isn't in my best interest.
Corporate clients are known to do "vanity searches". They
search the web periodically, and look for documents that mention
their company names. If you're an employee or contractor, and
are searching for a better job or contract, is it a good idea
to let your employers know that you're looking? Sometimes the
answer is "yes", but most of the time the answer is "no".
Resume identity theft:
Company names on resumes can make me a victim of resume identity
theft, and therefore putting company names on my resumes isn't
in my best interest. Resume identity theft? Yes! Identical
resumes show up at client sites where only the names of
candidates have been changed. The dates, work history,
and experience remain the same.
Resume identity theft is more widespread than people are aware of.
However, generally, no one seems to care.
what is more, on Monster, Dice, and a few other job boards,
job postings are now being used to steal
identities from people. Last month, Monster alerted users to this.
Therefore, when I send out my resume, I generalize
the name of the company, and say something like
"Fortune 500 Electric Utility Company",
instead of naming the specific organization.
Telemarketers:
Please don't be like the telemarketer who called me last week.
He claimed he was a recruiter. He had nothing specific,
pumped me for specific information, and kept me on the phone for
what felt like hours. Later he called me at work, too;
after I had made it clear to him many times that, "I don't want
to be called at work".
Trust is an earned asset.
Trust isn't something that is just given.
When an unknown telemarketer calls you, and when he's just "fishing",
is it a good idea to trust him blindly, and give him competitive information?
Is it a good idea to give him the names of your most important customers
that he can use and abuse? I don't think so.
Real recruiters:
If you're a real recruiter, DEFINITELY call me if
something comes available for contract.
I'm pleased that you are considering my help for employment
opportunities with you; and would like to thank you for your
interest in me, and in the work that I do.
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