- 99% of IT recruiters are playing a numbers game. That is, they are not taking the time to study candidates and reach out to those who actually fit the job description, choosing to take a rapid-fire, buckshot (a.k.a. spam) approach instead. You'd be surprised how many emails I get for PHP, Java, Ruby, or Python positions which require 5+ years experience in the given language. I am a JavaScript developer with little experience in any of these languages... something that a 30 second once over of my GitHub / LinkedIn would make very clear.
- 99% of IT recruiters will waste your time filling out tables with 10 - 15 fields for things like your updated email, best contact number, years of experience in x, y, and z... all of which were listed on the updated resume I literally just emailed to them. The #1 rule in development is Don't Repeat Yourself. If I have taken the time to craft an updated resume, do not ask me to repeat myself and put the same information in a table for you. I have other things to do with my time... you can take a few minutes and pull that information yourself.
- 99% of IT recruiters do not know the true needs of the client. This is partly the fault of the hiring manager / senior developer who handed the requirement to the recruiter, but if you're going to be a head hunter, odds are it is worth your time to get to know the client, cut threw all the bs, and find out what they really need. I've gotten requirements that were two pages long with all these technologies and years of experience for 40 different things... it is not realistic for anyone to be an expert in so many technologies, and you'll probably end up hiring someone who is great at everything but the main thing you needed them to be great at.
The 99% thing isn't gospel... and honestly is probably far from the truth, but for myself and others it truly feels that way @ times. IT recruiters are both a gift and a curse. IT is one the few fields were one could never apply for a job and STILL get hounded with offers for jobs making $50 - $70+ per hour; all this without a college degree.
On the other hand, some recruiters use spam tactics and don't respect our time. It would be nice if more IT recruiters approached their job with the same quality and attention to detail as the professionals they're trying to recruit. The industry as a whole would be the better for it.