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Not all companies get the results they are looking for when they retain a
technology consulting firm. Here is the unfortunate story of a fictitious
company called NottaClient.
NottaClient received a cold sales call from a technology out placement firm
called NottaWare, a company founded by sales and recruiting folks. NottaWare
sales reps have sold enough services to know how to "talk the talk". They know
the right keywords to use when speaking to clients, but have no real technical
depth.
If you're NottaClient, a typical interaction with NottaWare goes something like
this:
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The NottaWare sales person contacts you several times a day
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Once any need is identified, the sales person ask you for all of your open
requisitions
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The sales person sends those requisitions on to his recruiter
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The recruiter keyword-matches resumes from databases, and sends you an endless
stream of matching resumes
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You make time to wade through a pile of (mostly irrelevant) resumes
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You schedule phone screens and interviews with any decent-looking candidates
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You try to determine if any of the candidates have the technical and soft
skills to help with your project
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If you find a good developer, then the NottaWare salesperson facilitates
bringing them in
That's a lot of steps with "you" in them. Chances are that YOU are already
swamped with trying to meet project deadlines, and don't have time to dedicate
to screening candidates. By attempting to reach out for help to NottaWare, you
have instead created more work for yourself when you are already overtaxed.
For the NottaWare salesperson, it's a numbers game. If he deals with enough
clients, and throws enough candidates at them, eventually a client will retain
a developer and he will get paid.
Other traits of a "NottaWare"-type company
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Developers don't like to work for them; they provide cut-rate salaries and
inferior benefits
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Developers are not loyal to NottaWare and do not stay with them for any length
of time (creating continuity issues for you)
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Your account manager changes often, as attrition is high
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Developers have a mercenary attitude, and take little ownership or pride in
work done for you
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