And they really could do with some lessons in wisdom and basic etiquette. Dear oh Dear, do you deserve a title of 'Executive Recruiter' when all you are is a spam machine working for an offshore staffing unit?

It's part of life that people don't always reply to your emails. So when I saw CISCO advertising on Linkedin for a couple of roles in China that we could help them out with, I dropped them a short, sweet, polite email indicating that we had filled roles for tier-one technology firms along the lines that they were advertising. (They are currently looking to hire an Executive Recruiter in China to Manage their Talent Vendors and do high level search, for now the advert is here.

Anyway - rather than do the right thing, the polite thing, and at least reply to my email with a 'thanks but no thanks' - this guy from CISCO India tries to poach one of my staff members! The email he sent made it quite clear of his intentions.

Suffice to say, she politely declined! Working in house suits some people, but it can lack the excitement, variety and independence of working 'supplier side' in a search firm or agency. And what CISCO were thinking trying to use a guy in India to find their top people in China? To me it makes more sense to source local talent in China through people based in China.

What's worse is the email itself was terrible. Shaky grammar, poor spelling, mixed up fonts, and poor spacing. It really did look just like SPAM.

So if anyone at CISCO is reading this, you might want to rethink your strategy by appointing someone to do your direct hiring who actually knows the China market a little, maybe speaks the language, and... maybe they could even be here in China ! Also, trying to solicit staff by a messy email is a pretty lame way of 'Headhunting' IMHO. Phone first. Then email. Don't CISCO care about discretion?

I'd be interested to know which other members of the Glass Dragon CISCO had tried to convince it was great working there with a lousy email?

Good luck with that. And leave my staff alone!!

View my page on Glass Dragon - China Recruiter Network

Reading the 'Blogs' here on this site, I have to say, I was pretty bored, and disappointed. Although web 2.0 and blogging is nothing new, very often, people who haven't blogged before just post their latest WANT or an 'Advert' for their services, in rather un-entertaining, often unreadable formats - I guess the kind of thing they write in email blasts... lots of !! marks...

I'm looking for an HR Talents in Bangalore!!!!

I want candidates/clients!! Now!! for Great opportunities in Manhattan!!!!!! !!!

I thought I might be able to help by suggesting what a blog is, and what a blog is not:

BLOGS

• DO think of the blogs as your own personal notebook to share your thoughts and strategies with the community for the purpose of providing them value. 
• DON'T shamelessly promote your products or services. Post unique content specifically for the big biller audience represented on this network.