|
The short answer is,
I know, some of my resumes do not 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,
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?
My resumes do get me interviews
even without the use of full company names on my resumes.
Company names on my resumes tend to be counterproductive
because they tend to limit
my opportunities, and therefore putting company names
on my resumes is not in my best interest. Why? Because
many recruiters concentrate on IBM, Research Triangle Park,
AND ignore dozens of other opportunities, if they see
that IBM, Research Triangle Park is on my resume.
Putting company names on resumes is dangerous; because the names
can backfire on me easily, and therefore putting names on my
resume is not 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".
Putting company names on resumes can make me a victim of a
resume identity
theft, and therefore putting company names on my resumes is not
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 even more widespread than many people
are aware.
However, unfortunately, no one seems to care.
What's more, on Monster,
Dice, and a few other job boards, job postings are now being used
to steal
identities from people. Monster alerted users to this last month.
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.
I feel that my client list is confidential, and
will only reveal them to another client, not a recruiter.
I'm generally suspicious
when a telemarketer pumps me for "more specific information".
Please do not 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 do not want
to be called at work".
Trust is an earned asset. Trust is not 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.
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 the work that I do.
|