WHAT IT IS...

Hip Hop is how I define myself. Hip Hop did not start in the late 70's. It started long ago, undefined, from several points around the globe culminating into what we now call Hip Hop. Hip Hop is a way, a feeling, a thought. This blog reflects my Hip Hop.

Thank you for paying attention.



Monday, March 23, 2009

I may have been born in the day...

...but not yesterday.

You may take this egotistical or just or worry free
But what you say I take none of it seriously
And even if I did I wouldn't tell you so
I'd let you pretend to read me

And then you'll know.
Cause I hate when one attempts to analyze.
That I despise those who even try
To look into my eyes to see what I am

Thinking.
That dream is over you gotta sink it.

The legend known as MC Lyte was referring to love but those words could easily pertain to any nonsense being shoveled in your direction. For instance...

I get an e-mail the other day from a recruiter about a position in Manhattan. Description, salary, hours...everything sounded peachy. The recruiter and I had a quick 10 minute phone interview. He dropped some knowledge about the position. I dropped some science regarding self. I let him shoot the spiel, "I'm still interviewing other candidates...if the client likes you...we'll keep in touch...yadda, yadda, yadda." S'all gravy. My professional resume over the past two years has been spotty because most of my positions have been temporary. Nothing more than 9 months. in lenghth. No big deal, right?

Well, just before we get off the phone, the recruiter goes, "I just wanna say one thing. The client might make mention something regarding your longevity at the most recent jobs." I reply with, "So? They were temp assignments." He replies with, "Well, they might be looking for someone with more stability." I reply, "More stability...within the temporary ranks?" At this point, I'm thinking 'Oxymoron...In Full Effect Mode'. He didn't really respond to my question. Rather, he deflected with some mish mosh about how some companies like an in-and-out type super hire who comes in, gets the job done, and gets out. Or how some companies want someone for a longer period of employment. I just let him speak 'cause by that point I just wanted him off my phone. Plus, I'm sure he and the client have lives outside of the office. Don't get me started. I'll save that for another blog. This is where it gets interesting.

About two hours later, I receive an e-mail from the recruiter's assistant. It reads:

Hi,

Seth has asked me to send out a note advising that the clients name is The Firm, because this is a contingency search other firms may also be working with the client. Double submittals to The Firm will be rejected. We maintain exclusivity with all candidates.

There is no need to respond to this email. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Beth

(Names have been changed to protect me from a law suit.)

At first, I'm like cool...no problem. Then, as I do, I start...thinking. My first thought was, "WTF does that mean...really?!" My second though: "Double submittal is a bad thing...?!" One would think a submittal from multiple sources regarding the same candidate would mean that the candidate just might be the bomb. There might be other legalities involved too, I suppose. Such as, if said candidate were to get the position, which agency should get the credit? Totally understandable but not the candidate's issue. Still, something still wasn't striking the proper chord with me. I needed clarification. I e-mailed the assistant asking for such and she replied with:

Hi,

Yes, please do not allow any other firm to submit your resume.

Thank You,

Beth

Okay...pause. Between now and last April '08, I cannot count how many employment agencies I've submitted to (not counting the ones who've searched and viewed my resume online w/o my assistance). So now, I'm supposed to contact any and all agencies that have my resume and politely ask them NOT to submit my resume for a position because this OTHER agency says so. I don't think I sounded too ignorant to Seth over the phone so I can only assume he takes every for an ass. How much wool does Seth think he could pull over my eyes? How many people has it worked on?

In this day and age, I can easily understand human resource departments being unbelievably swamped with resumes. I was there in the early days of Monster.com. The form e-mail you receive now after submitting a resume, you know...the one that reads like like a robot wrote it, wasn't even a thought back then. You would actually get a call, sometimes within minutes of submission, from a real live human being. Imagine that! So yes, in the 21st Century, if a resume gets submitted multiple times by competing agencies, I might be inclined to believe an HR executive would pass that resume over the 2nd or 3rd time it runs across her desk...especially if that candidate wasn't worthy after the first perusal. But how can one agency expect ME to stop another agency from submitting ME for a position that will only benefit ME?

In all honesty, most agencies can't (or won't) refer you to a client unless they get your permission or confirm that you're still seeking employment. In this economy though, I'll be damned if I'm going to get caught having this conversation:

"Naw...don't submit me. Yeah, yeah...I want the job, no doubt. No, it's not like that. Ya see, it's actually kinda funny really. Seth, over at Agency X...yeah, you know Seth right? Well, he said I shouldn't let YOU submit my resume because he submitted it firs....hello? Hello?"

I was going to reply to Beth with an e-mail she wouldn't soon forget but I decided against it for a couple of reasons: 1. Why? She probably wouldn't understand. Literally 2. What difference would it make? They probably weren't looking for anyone aware in the first place.

As usual, thanks for reading.

One love...

Bigg Russ

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Welcome To NY, Larry Hughes!!

Larry Hughes & Rick Green

Last night, the creators of Rhythm hosted a party @ Citrine for Larry Hughes, the NY Knicks latest pick up. Recently of the Chicago Bulls, Larry has been added to a Knick team that hopes to raise out of the depths of despair it's been languishing in for pretty much a decade now. I had the privilege of being invited by Rick Green (Rhythm) to take some photos. The party started slowly but soon blew up as select NBA ballers and various celebs showed up.

I wanna shout out my Mt. Vernon neighbors and former Argent peoples who I ran into as well! Always love!

Check out a few photos below. As usual, thanks for reading! One love...

Bigg Russ

Rick Green & Grammy winner Ralph Kearns

Al Harrington (NY Knicks)

DJ Kut (Power 105.1)Murphy Lee

Vince Carter (NJ Nets) & Rick Green

Diana Sanchez (far right) and crew

Jackie Tyson and friend



Monday, March 9, 2009