Thoughts of a Working Man

I'm being extended on my current contract for a couple of more months. They managed to find another project that could use my talents. I know they've said they like my work and want to keep me, but it's good to see that there are actions behind those words. Meanwhile, all those folks that were expressing interest in me last week seem to have forgotten me this week. All but one, I should say. One recruiter followed up with me about another opportunity. This is the way it normally goes. Everything has to be done right now, then nobody can make a decision. And most recruiters lose interest in you as soon as the client rejects your resume. I seldom even get courtesy calls back from most recruiters to let me know that things fell through. (The few that do, stay on my contact list.) But woe unto me if I don't reply to all inquiries politely and keep them properly informed about what I'm up to. They hold the hammer, and they love to use it. Everybody loves a hierarchy when they're not at the bottom.

Two days ago, I went out to a job board where I keep an online resume and touched it up in preparation for the coming job hunt. I know that newly posted or updated resumes get 'hit' more quickly and more often than older resumes. So I expected a few inquiries (mostly for things I wasn't remotely interested in, like selling medical supplemental insurance or financial planning) but nothing serious. There was one contract that looked worth applying for, so I sent out a submission for that. Well, I got three serious inquiries. One was on the submission I made, but the other two were cold contacts on jobs that aren't generally posted. Both of those contacts like my qualifications and skill set and both are submitting me for consideration. Additionally, I told the company I'm currently contracted through what was going on so that I didn't get submitted multiple times for the same job. Multiple submissions are generally counterproductive. In talking with my company, I learned that they hadn't really be pursuing anything at the moment; they had no requisitions pending for which I might be qualified. I also (intentionally) used the call to light a fire under them. If they want to do something, they'll need to move. They may expect that I won't really follow through in looking for another job. If so, they are mistaken. It won't be the first time that an employer has not taken me seriously when I said I was on the market. Each time in the past, they have been quite surprised that I did what I said I would do. It's really better to take me at my word in these matters. Still, nothing is guaranteed at this point. If one or more of these contacts pans out, that will be very nice. If not, the search continues. It's a crap shoot out there.