Warning:  This is just a total rant.

It seems I am constantly contacted by recruiters.  99% of the time I blow them off because they bring me something I have no interest in.  However, recently two different recruiters approached me with something that I actually sparked an interest.  So began the talks.

I swear you talk with these guys and then one of their partners before you ever actually get to talk with the actual company.

So recruiter 1A speaks with me for on a couple of occasions about an opportunity then hands me off to recruiter 1B. I am not sure if 1B got any background info of me because we basically went over everything as I did with 1A.  Finally had the opportunity to meet the company over the phone.  This was their internal HR.  So she took down again mainly the same info as I already went over with 1A and 1B.  Next she scheduled a phone interview for me with their Team Lead for Monday at 2:00pm.

2:00pm rolls around no call.  I shoot an email to my recruiter telling them I was stood up.  They quickly get in touch with the company and I get an email from the HR gal.  "Sorry for the confusion, can we re-schedule?"   I replied, "What was the confusion, we had scheduled an interview for Monday at 2:00.  Yes we can reschedule."   So we did, and I finally spoke with the Team Lead.  He in-turn asks nothing technical, just wanted to basically find my interest in the project.  I'd like you to come in for an in-person interview.  My thought was ok fine..   He said he would have his people contact my recruiter to line something up.  Man too many people involved.  

After a few days I got a call from my recruiter, "They really liked you and want to bring you in for an in-person interview, but your rate is too high."  Which really means, the rate the recruiter proposed to them is too high.  I don't know how much they marked up my rate, but obviously way too much.  1B said she they were willing to take a big hit, but I still need to drop my rate a bit.

Enough of the talks, I said I am not going any lower and if they (you) change your mind let me know.

Ok now for the rant with a different recruiter. Lets call him 2.  2 contacted me with an opportunity that he wanted to discuss with me.  Sounded good so he forwarded me more info on it.  I gave him the go ahead to propose me to the company.

He came back with a couple of things needed.  He wanted me to lower my rates a bit just like the last recruiter company (here we go again).  I actually was willing to drop a bit for this one so I said ok.  Next he needed a couple of references.  I gave him a couple of references expecting that they would simply be forwarded to the company to be contacted via phone.  Turns out he emailed them this big reference form (attached).  Wow, I didn't know he was going to do that.  I wouldn't ask this of my references, I felt like an ass.

2 recruiter companies in 2 weeks.  Blerg.