Sounds like the project is "on". You have to wonder how it is that someone supposedly looking for this sort of help is "so busy" as to not find a few moments in his week to talk with a person that, even allegedly, is needed to do what their project requires done.
Actually (and forgive the frustration), this is sort of the same thing that's happened for the third time this morning, and I'm seriously trying,without getting either discouraged or angry, to understand What I'm Doing Wrong.
First example was a need two weeks ago by a guy I've done split work with in the power industry. They needed someone with Enterra SCADA experience (never heard of that? Neither had I). Preferably Version 2.5 and 2.6. Needless to say a bit of a needle in the haystack, and yet given the paucity of job orders on my desk, I thought, well this might be interesting. Read up a bit, then sailed out there and lucky me, found someone who not only knew it, but had been working on it (for Alstom), and for the right bucks, would be willing to help. The right bucks I'd been told were available for the right person. So I copied my colleague the resume, and he asked for a blinded version that he could send the client. Did. Silence. Two days. Silence. Colleague doesn't call me back for a day or so. Finally catch up, and he's as much in the dark as I am because his client (Burns & Mac) won't call him back either. For a week. My suspicion is that finding a needle in a haystack isn't much good if they've given up sewing.
Second example is an integration group I've known and not done work for but we've spent plenty of time in the last year talking about working together when they're not able to farm out people. Had a call for Experion help. Two people (Ohio, just like the last example). Had sent resumes of Honeywell help, and never heard boo. In this case, I'd let up to a month pass before checking back. Got the integration guy on the phone, and sure enough, he'd heard nothing. Now how is it that his client had a need for two people (one for one year, the other for two years), but couldn't bother to respond to a resume, let alone have an opportunity to pursue it to the stage of having a phone conversation? It's a phone call, not a marriage commitment.
I'm starting to have my doubts on days when I'm depressed. But for the rest, on a more positive basis, I'm wondering EXACTLY what I might be doing wrong. I mean, sure we can cry in our beer or go commit hari kari, but really, does that solve anything? I'd rather improve my technique, method, or at least judgement. Of course I could use your input since you've seen it all from a lot of different angles.
One of the problems I think might be happening is not talking to the right person. I discovered long ago that if I talked to someone too removed from the action, I got watered down inaccurate information on basically every element of the need. I'll lump HR in that category. It's a rare job description written by that department that accurately describes the job. Second, there's talking to someone too far down the totem pole. Those are the guys who might wish for the moon, but either don't have the political or financial clout to seriously make a decision (sidenote: those are also the guys who will have you search Kingdom Come for someone excellent enough so that they can sell their wet dream to their boss). Lastly there are the folks who are too elevated. Sure, they have the clout and financial pull to get you paid, but they don't necessarily have the means to make things happen with a contrary subordinate who either doesn't like direction, or is worried you'll be proposing his or her replacement.
Another problem is timing, perceived and otherwise. Sure, they'd hire the right person right now, for the right price if he has the right skills and right experience. But rarely does that person just happen to be available so immediately. Nor can I expect to find someone who will be available in six months. No one know what they'll be doing in six months and if they're working (like you), they'll probably be working in six months and maybe on something else. Capable people are not stacked firewood (which could be the title of a long article).
So, at this point, I'm sort of evolving or refining how I take a job order (and PLEASE do not take offense at anything I've said here. I'm just trying to get better and put more people to work). For one thing, if someone needs help, I want not only a reasonably good description of what the need is, what the person will be doing, and what the person needs to know to do it. I also want a committed time frame on when that person will actually need to be there. Right now isn't the right answer anymore than 2015. Second, I want the name, and contact info of the guy or gal who this person is going to work for. Sure, they're busy, but I'm not going to bother them uselessly other than for them to know I'm spending my time helping them, and if there's anything else they'd like to add to what's actually needed, speak up now. It's also an indicator to me that if they have no time for me, I probably shouldn't have much time for them. Some folks don't want help. Actually you've met people who didn't deserve help. Dollars and sense questions could be answered right there too (as compared to vague What They're Worth) comments.
I believe I've gotten lazy, or stupid (I'm not willing to concede old just yet). I think there are needs for the sorts of people you and I know, and there's going to be lots of good projects ahead. Like any sort of problem solving effort, asking the right questions makes all of the difference.
No comments:
Post a Comment