Would you pay $100 to talk with a tech professional about a job?
Lane Campbell and his co-founders in June believe enough recruiters will that they’re ready to begin activating the first of those who have been applying since JoinJune.com was launched at the end of August.
“I think June is the next evolution” in recruiting, says Campbell, June’s CEO. By requiring recruiters to pay candidates for that first contact interview, it “cuts through the noise” for tech candidates who are in one of the most in-demand fields.
When a recruiter has to pay for each conversation (pricing starts at $60 and goes up from there, with $100 being the most common), it makes them more selective. Before spending that $100, recruiters are going to do enough backgrounding on the candidate to have confidence in the match.
On the other side of the deal, that selectivity means candidates won’t get spammed or overwhelmed by recruiter contacts. Only serious recruiters will be willing to spend real money to talk to them. And before candidates accept an interview request, they’ll review the job description to decide if it’s something they want to pursue.
Campbell discovered for-fee interviewing when he ran a tech staffing firm. He paid candidates a modest amount to talk with him, finding it worked. He also discovered other agencies were doing the same.
The obvious question is what’s to keep a candidate from gaming the system?
“Among other aspects,” a note on the JoinJune site tells candidates, “we look at where you’re currently employed, what your role is and any public portfolio you may have. To ensure the quality of the members in our network, each application is carefully examined by a real person.”
A post specifically for accepted candidates by co-founder and CTO Amir Yasin explaining the process details some of the safeguards:
- You get a detailed description of what the recruiter wants to chat about, how long they anticipate the call will last (usually 12–17 minutes).
- If you decide you’re interested in a chat, you schedule a call through our conference system. The call is recorded to prevent fraud (candidates misrepresenting their skills, or recruiters misrepresenting the call to get a refund).
- You may choose to share your contact info at any time, there’s no requirement for you to do so.
- You get paid whether or not you pursue the opportunity any further.
- Recruiters do get to see how many calls you’ve taken in the last 90 days…if they see you’ve taken a bunch, they’re less likely to reach out to you. This prevents candidates with highly in demand skills from gaming the system.
- You will have an opportunity to rate the recruiters you speak to, ensuring that bad ones naturally get weeded out while good ones rise.
On the flip side, if a candidate misrepresents themselves or their actual interest, recruiters can get a refund, and they and candidates both provide feedback on their interaction.
Participating in June, says Campbell, means, “I’m a serious recruiter. You are a serious candidate.”
But whether the fee is $100 or $1,000 (as at least a handful of professionals demand), will top talent participate? Campbell points to the 20% of the candidates who, he says, are MIT grads. “If you look (at who’s signing up), the top talent is there… They want a firewall from recruiters,” he says, adding that it is the top talent that’s most likely to already be getting recruiter calls and are anxious for a filter.
Since launching on August 30, the JoinJune has enrolled about 1,000 or so candidates. Campbell says sign-ups now average about 100 a day; the company goal is 100,000 by the end of the year. An affiliate program by which agencies will share in the candidate interview payments for every one of their candidates who join June.
Later this week, the first recruiters will be allowed in. More will follow in the coming weeks. Corporate, as well as agency recruiters can participate. What’s required is an up front $500 minimum and acceptance.
One last question: What’s with the name? In January, new recruiting budgets kick in. June was picked as sort of a reminder that recruiting is year round.