Friday, December 24, 2010

Hook & Bait, Revisited

I have more thoughts in addition to my previous post on this topic.

I got this automated Monster spa^H^H^Hemail:
Subject: as per your posting on Monster - Embedded Software Developer

Hello MyName, my name is John Doe, a recruiter with XYZ.

I recently came across your posting on Monster while conducting a search for an Embedded Software Developer, and I currently have an opportunity which I feel you would show a strong interest in.

If you could please reach back to me at your earliest convenience we can discuss this opportunity further.

Thank you.

John Doe
Recruiter
[contact info]
I replied to his ad (he's local) asking for job description/pay rate/location and got this reply back:
My supervisor Sean Doe will be reaching out to you shortly to discuss this role in more detail. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Diggin into XYZ's website (BTW don't you wonder why they always have a dumb Flash intro page whose only function is to say "Enter site"?) I learned that XYZ requires that all candidates be seen face to face by the recruiter.

Yet Another Mandatory Waste of My Time (YAMy-WaMyT).

-ulianov

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

How I Declined an Interview with an STB Maker in Mississauga

I got contacted by a local recruiter about an Embedded Linux job. By Googling for significant strings in the job ad I discovered that it was with XYZ, a STB maker of Mississauga, ON. This being very close to home I obliged.

Two weeks later he came back to me with a request that I attend a two-hour test on the 28th of Dec. He was nice to me and sent me some previously-asked questions:
1. Algorithm with O(n logn).
2. Algorithms with no solution.
3. Design class diagram for board game engine with pluggable algorithm.
4. Decorate, observer and strategy patterns.
While #1 and #2 are covered at length in Horowitz and Knuth I have no interest in #3 (I do Embedded Linux after all) and have no clue about #4.

So I asked myself whether it's worth wasting 4 hours and gas on this in lieu of the customary phone grilling or on-line test and here's what I replied to him:
Just as corporations (e.g. XYZ) I do have a policy when it comes to hiring [after 100+ interviews I know what flies and what not].

To me an interview is a two-way conversation that allows me to assess the company and the people I would be working with. A test is none of this. Some interviews have tests embedded -- this is fair and expected.

This is outside of my comfort zone & against my policy: what I like to see is a phone interview followed (maybe) by an in-person interview. I have deviated from this before with no positive outcome.

Thus I am not going for this waste of my time.

Unless you can arrange a phone interview [or maybe one full in-person interview] with XYZ I am afraid I am not willing to work for a company that has such inflexible and silly policies.

On the other hand I have hired for a Fortune-500-Company and I learned that it is very hard to find qualified talent -- and they were paying much much better. So it's up to them.
Alas some Canadian corporations feel that it's allright to abuse of the candidates' time and to summon them for such pointless tests.

I have noticed that this job was posted on XYZ's website for more than a year. This means that either they are incredibly picky or that they have a dizzying turnaround rate.

-ulianov

P.S STB = set top box

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

AMD/ATI Contract Rate?

This just off CareerBuilder: ATI (a well-known Canadian sweatshop) is hiring for a fairly senior Embedded Linux position (requirements below). Aside for XYZ's (an agency) boastful BS and if I can take the numbers at face value I read that ATI pays max $65/h to the agency for this position. Very stingy and in line with their reputation.

-ulianov

# Driver bring-up and qualification on new hardware platforms
# Debug, analyze and resolve quality and certification issues as reported by Customers and QA
# Improve driver performance
# Write detailed design notes for new features
# Coordinate closely with peers and colleagues to ensure timely and effective communication of all assigned work activities
# Execute software assignments as a highly motivated, self-starter
# Experience in implementing Embedded Linux System on various microcontrollers

This is a contract position with XYZ. XYZ is a Fortune 1000 company with over 350 office throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. XYZ is in the top three in staffing in the nation and in the top 5 in the world and has been serving some of the nation's strongest companies for 60 years. As a XYZ employee, you can expect the highest level of on-site support. As an equal opportunity employer, we have a long-standing tradition of developing lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with its employees. XYZ is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and we maintain a drug-free workplace.

XYZ is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Minimum Requirements:

# Proficient in object oriented programming (3+ years)
# Proficient at C/C++ programming language (3+ years)
# Experience with software debuggers such as kgdb (3+ years)
# Experience with Kernel mode driver programming under Linux environment (3+ years)
# Good understanding of PC architecture
# Excellent understanding of operating system fundamentals and multithreaded programming issues.
# Strong oral and written skill
# Experience with graphic driver (optional)
# Experience with low-level hardware device programming (optional)
# Experience with embedded systems and/or real-time programming is an asset (optional)

Location: Markham, ON

Type: CONTRACT

Duration: 180 - 365 Days

Pay Rate: $29.00 - $45.00 Hourly DOE

Ant & Bēe Strikes Again

I got a cold call from the Toronto office of Ant & Bēe. N.C was calling asking whether I reviewed the job description she sent me. Apparently she used an old Monster ephemeral address (I keep changing them as Monster from time to time pads their bottom line by selling the candidate database to scammers).

Tho I explained to them about the ephemeral address and gave her my current one I never got a job description from her and I've waited for a week. Very unprofessional.

She grilled me in a stern manner as if she was going thru a checklist gave me her e-mail address and demanded that I send the CV so she can hook me up to an Embedded Linux job in Burlington, ON. She did not extend the courtesy of telling me the name of her client and asking whether I've applied at that company already.

Without my asking or permission she submitted me for another job as an Implementation Analyst. Had she read 2 lines from my Resume she would have realised this is not my trade.

Last I heard of N.C she called me "Daniel" in an e-mail (not my name). I got so pissed that I phoned her boss at Ant & Bēe and asked for them to stop contacting me.

This is the most unprofessional agency I've worked with, even worse than Oxford Intl in the US. N.C is the type of recruiter I would give a wide berth.

-ulianov