🚀 go-pugleaf

Yesterday I got a call from the local Kforce people (they used to be
Romac International, but they changed thier name) The nice lady said
she'd gotten my info from the Software Contractors Guild, and had
about 180 open contracts in the area to fill.  

Then she asked me what I do for a living. Now, if she'd read my resume
at the SCG site, it's really obivious. I've been a SysAdmin for over
10 years. Says so in plain english. So does my web site. But, since
few headhunters ever read a resume, and can't be bothered to check out
a web site, I indulged her.

We chatted for a while, and she said she wanted to meet me in
person. I said I'd be happy to meet with her in Boulder, she says
fine, we can meet at our offices in Broomfield. (10+ miles away, for
those who aren't familiar.) OK, so she's geographically challenged. 

She also mentions that I'll have to spend a few hours taking thier
tests to prove that I do know how to do my job. Really annoying, but
not uncommon. Also not billable. So in order to make Kforce happy,
have to piss away at least half a day I could be billing. This is
getting close to not being worth the effort, but I agree.

Then she says that I'll need to bring a few things along with me. They
want some of my business cards, some of my letterhead, my articles of
incorporation, my EIN, proof of at least a million in insurance, and
my last years quarterly tax returns.

Now, I'm used to being asked to provide reference accounts and my EIN,
but in 6 years of operating, no prospective client has ever asked for
my tax returns or articles of incorporation.  I asked her if Kforce
would reciprocate, and give me copies of thier tax returns and
corporate papers, and she got really flustered and said she didn't
know if they could do that or not. I asked her how I could be sure
that I could trust them, since they obiviously didn't trust me to be a
legally operated corporation. (she had no answer) 

I told her that this was an outrage, an insult, and that it was
obivious that we'd never be able to work together, since they operate
from a lack of trust.  She rather feebly said that she thought this
was industry standard, and was really shocked that I'd done work for
Fortune 50 companies with nothing more than a valid PO from the
customer, and sometimes only a handshake. I also pointed out that
although I'm sure no big company would ever do such a thing, they're
asking for all the info they'd ever need to represent themselves as my
corporation, and they'd be able to prove it, since they'd have
letterhead, business cards, etc. (never mind that I've already had
several placement firms misrepresent me this year. I'm sure it was
just a fluke, and all other placement firms must be as honest as a
preacher.)

In short, if KForce calls and wants to represent you, or fill your
contract openings, don't bother talking to them. They're invading your
privacy, wasting your time, and with this attitude, they won't have
too many contractors to put on your projects.

ericr

Eric Robison
Clue Computing, Inc.
ericr@clue.com/www.clue.com