In response to ‘Consultants? Pah!’ (Recruiter: 2 September)
Gary Franklin

As an in-house recruitment manager, managing a team responsible for delivery across parts of EMEA, I disagree with what was said about the PSL and the LinkedIn connections. The need for an in-house team to maintain a solid network (pipeline) of contacts is essential. The same is true for agencies and their employees. However, I am not sure that the number of connections one has on LinkedIn is a reflection of the quality of a network and shouldn’t be a consideration when it comes to selection. Most who call themselves recruiters collect connections like merit badges without consideration given to the value or worth of each one or what value they might be to a customer. For example, I work in the security and storage markets among others. I have over 600 connections, but less than half of my connections could be considered assets to those two markets. The rest are made up of people I might interact with socially or via any of the other non-work related interests I have. The number of connections I have is irrelevant to anyone but me.

Can’t leave without a word on some of the web comments. Oh dear: some very typical and predictably aggressive responses from the agency people here. I appreciate that Hannah’s comment about the paper bag was inflammatory and offensive but why be so defensive and rude in your comments - did it strike a chord? These sorts of comments only fuel the poor opinion that is held by your peers and your potential customers, of you and your kind. You want to be taken seriously then come out with nonsense like that? When making such ‘educated’ comments about in-house recruiters, please remember we are your customers - or should I say we were your customers.