Don't call me on the phone about anything unless it's an emergency. I don't need interruptions.

In fact, I no longer answer the phone at all unless I recognize the number, since otherwise I'd be listening to telemarketing spam every 15 minutes.

But even without the spam, I loathe the phone as a mode of communication. What about yet another recruiting offer that I'm not the least bit interested in requires a phone call? I don't care if it's better for the recruiter. It's way worse for me.

I agree. With something like a job offer that requires a bit of contemplation before going ahead, email is clearly the better method of communication. Usually after these calls they end up emailing over the job description anyway.

I can only assume they somehow get better results from phoning people, because they persist in doing it. Although I'm surprised this is the case.

people who are slightly older than the average hackernewser still have the reflex of running to the phone when it rings. they cant not do it.

its really got at getting someones attention. and once they answered it, they think its too rude to "just hang up".

And that fact makes it really rude to call them for anything that isn't urgent or important for them. It's why telemarketers are so reviled.

Yes.

Spamming job specs to me on linkedin is good though. No need to be super kind or anything and it has to be tangially related to what I've done or am doing.

The guys/girls who send me super informal spam out of nowhere for PHP webdev roles when I have a decade of sysadmin experience.. I'm talking to you.

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If you're going to go for candidates in a personable way then make sure you read their bio and include the reasons why you think they're a good fit.

Just calling out of nowhere is rude as it impacts my day, especially as recruiters like to call during working hours.

Side note about recruiters: Years ago I ended up going to a couple of embarrassing interviews for jobs I was clearly not qualified for, having been talked into it by a recruiter.

Naively, I put this down to inexperience on their part, until I learned that most of them are paid a fee just for providing candidates for interview, regardless of success. Up until that point I'd always assumed they were only paid when a candidate is hired.

Maybe I'm the only one who is that naive, but learning that one simple fact made me a lot more suspicious of their motives.

Good recruiters (there are some!) won't do that. And will only get paid when you're hired.

Yes. If a recruiter has an offer for me, then she should send the offer for me to evaluate. I hate talking to random strangers on the phone and much prefer e-mail communication, especially that recruiters don't have the tendency to call when people are out of their offices.

Yes. The same question could be asked via email (much less intrusive) or, even better, not at all. People in programming are smart, they can find their own jobs.

I don't take random phone calls. An email is good, if it's in relation to an actual job opportunity. A lot of these emails are just fishing for resumes to add to a database so some junior employees can meet their quotas.

Not if they don't clear out who are they/for which company they are picking candidates for. It's actually flattering and helps keep the depressions away. :) But calls during working hours are annoying as hell.

Not at all, if they take "no" for an answer and don't call back for, say, six months.

Once or twice, my answer has been "yes". In fact, that's how I got my current job.

I never answer my phone.

No - I like to know whats going on in the market, who's hiring, what skills do they need