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From: "Sarah Altemeyer"
Date: 9 December 2009 13:09:24 CET
To: "Pascal Honore"

Hi ,

The market is picking up at a ferocious rate and I am swamped with new job roles that need to be filled. I am currently shortlisting candiates for roles and running their details through our database in order to bring up relevant jobs, please fill this in and get it back to me ASAP so that I can get some more opportunities across to you. Apologies if you have already filled this out but I will run your updated details through our system and get things moving quicker that way!

1) Your notice period
2) Your basic salary
3) Your last bonus
4) 2 referees (one should be your current line manager; these will not be contacted until you have received an offer but we are required to keep this information on your file)
5) Locations in which you can work
6) Main areas of interest for your next role
7) Interviews in the last 12 months: including the line manager you spoke to and the role you applied to 1) Company name 2) Name of person who interviewed you there 3) Description of the job you applied for 4) Why you think that it was / wasn't successful. (This will also help me create a picture of what roles you are interested in, as well as informing me who I can put you in contact with in the future.)
8) If there are any specific organisations you would be interested in applying to (your main competitors etc).

If you are not looking for new roles then feel free to pass on my details to anyone with a similar profile that may currently be looking for opportunities. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks and Best,

Sarah
Sarah Altemeyer
Selby Jennings Limited

From: Pascal Honore
Date: 9 December 2009 14:12:24 CET
To: Sarah Altemeyer
Cc: Pascal Honore
Subject: Re:


Hi Sarah,

I think that it is the second time already that you send that kind of totally unsolicited email to me. I remember that the first time I blogged about it and shared with my readers how scammy your tone, request and overall email contents looked like. You remind me those Nigerian scammers who promise millions to their recipients in exchange of small services.

Sarah, please, remove my email address and any other details you hold about me from your database, and don't ever assume again that if one day I ever want to find a job I will go through your agency.

Regards,
Pascal.

Will do Pascal and I am sorry that you feel that way. Some people do appreciate being contacted when opportunities arise, I will remove you from our system.

Best,

Sarah

Thank you.

It wasn't so much against you than the fact that once upon a time headhunters were doing an actual job, and the people paying them were getting something for their money (most of the time). Nowadays, people like you just sit there, send mass emails or connection invites to LinkedIn, and then feel that they are doing something.

You wanted to know whether I fit to some of your "opportunities" ? Just put my name on Google. You will learn much more about me and about what kind of jobs I like, what I am suitable for, and what motivates me in my career, than my cv or your "database" would ever tell you. I know that not everybody in the industry has got their own website (mine is a remain of me having been, above all, an academic researcher), maybe for other people another method would be required, but at least you would have done a bit of investigation.

Sarah, do something (if you have time), Read the following ...
[ url removed ]
... that I wrote last year. And if you do have something matching my style, I mean really matching my style and intelligence, if you have among your clients, somebody who is currently dying to meet someone like me, a client who would be ready to fly to Amsterdam to have lunch with me and explain to me in person why I should work for them, then send me an email.

Kind Regards,
Pascal

ps: merry xmas.