I’ve seen too many recruiting blogs that are either written for recruiters, or cold and cliche. You have a very personable, relevant style for your candidates. As a reader, a techie, you have my interest. And through your blog I feel that I get to know you better. I can feel that we have some kind of relationship, even if we don’t meet.

And then when you approach me about an opportunity, I know you are a real person that I can relate to. Or when I’m ready to make a change you’ll be the first one I approach.

Other recruiters seem to me to be cold, and standoff-ish… so what I’m saying is that your blog (and style) is facilitating a certain type of relationship that non-bloggers don’t have with me. Make sense?

If I were a recruiter I’d be doing the same thing that you are doing. Others that are doing this (building a brand that target candidates can relate with) well include Carl Chapman and Harry Joiner.

All recruiters can blog if they can do it like Rob does.

And those are really nice words, Jason… too nice, actually… but the end of the day I’d like folks to be clear that the “like Rob does” is secret code for “get PASSIOANTE about stuff… and WRITE about it!”

But geesh John, after reading all this, how can you say you don’t have a brand? It’s definitely there

- Jason Pinochinose Alba

Hmmm, perhaps JA meant “oft topic”? “often to pick”? Or, “oaf topic”?

I think I’m concerned that I am just misunderstood. Maybe because when I look thru my pane in the Johari window (or is it pain), I see things that should be and ask why the heck not. Often. I admit that! Often! I’m outraged so often, it’s easy to get lathered up several times a planetary rotation. It’s just that some days the Planet in question is Mercury.

And, blogger?

I’m not so sure I qualify as that.

When I look at all the erudition slathered over the blogosphere, maybe I’m more like MySpace.

When I see some folk blogging for branding, I remember I’m unique.

My brand is ZBS! (zero “barbara streisand”) Call ‘em as you see em’! And let the chips fall where they may. (Isn’t that being “colorful”?)

I call what I do “plogging”. A “personal (whine) web log” of what I find. My motto is “Wasting your time with things I find interesting, amusing, or enraging.” So maybe that IS the definition of an “off-topic blog”.

I always wanted to be an exemplar.

I can hear JA and others saying “See what happens when you don’t network, … when you don’t brand, … when you don’t manage your career … … you wind up like HIM!!” while pointing this way and looking down a Pinnochio’s nose.

In any event, I’m glad I was “listening” when JA put out the “bat signal” for crazy fjohn to participate. At least, I was first at something.

Guess, I should be happy to be invited at all. Maybe I should be more circumspect? To paraphrase Grouch, “I wouldn’t want to be part of any club that would have me as a member!”.

fjohn
the big fat old turkey hisself

P.S.: In counseling job seekers — usually FOWGs who didn’t see the axe being swung — I have a collected a slew of recruiter stories. Maybe one of these days, I’ll chronicle then in a series of blog posts. I’ll probably get sued if I name names. Be a different kind of carnival?

P.P.S.: Seekers can visit my “turkey farm” at http://tinyurl.com/lxu93. Just mention Jason’s name at the gate. (Just joshing, there’s no gate.) I give it all away trying to repay all the people that have helped me along the way.

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

Webform that creates an urgent email => http://2idi.com/contact/=reinkefj
Web page => http://www.reinke.cc/
My blog => http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/
LinkedIn url => http://www.linkedin.com/in/reinkefj