Amitai Givertz’s Recruitomatic Blog

I grew up watching Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby helped me form positive images of African-Americans different from the stereotypes so often portrayed in the media. He also made me laugh. Similarly, I grew up reading John Sumser. John helped me form a view of online recruiting that was a refreshing alternative to a world where applicant tracking was confused with bar coding resumes. He also made me think.

I’m told being a celebrity is no easy thing to manage. It seems to me celebrity is something you have to work at, especially when the latest trends are moving faster than your comedy, faster than your commentary. Elder status in your community confers certain privileges – things that come with rank and good standing – reverence and patronage being good examples. But, just as many in the African-American community now reject Bill Cosby’s holier-than-thou position on some social issues – even though he may be right – I am coming to wonder if John Sumser is increasingly out of step with the community he helped to foster.

Some might argue the retro look of John Susmer’s web site is analogous to a 60’s Dunkin’ Donuts – nostalgic, warm and cozy. Some would say it represents a lack of attention to keeping up with the times, almost contemptuous of its readers. Some might argue the relevancy of white papers and trend reports from years gone by are as pertinent today as when they were when they were first published. Maybe so for the ill-informed, but for those of us who have read it over and over, the value is purely sentimental.  I – and many other content-hungry consumers – now have choices for where to get our buzz-worthy news from, our industry analysis, our market research and our opinions. It seems to me – and I could be off the mark, so you decide – John’s getting tired. For as much as I respect and admire John Sumser for what he has contributed to my understanding and appreciation of the space I now blog in, I have to ask: “What have you done for me lately?”

What’s the point? Just click-over and move on right? Why be a blowhard? I’ll try and explain why:

The Blog Swap is a great idea. It is an experiment that I am committed to actively participate in. As such, I am obliged to giving it my very best and earnest effort.  It is a way for me to honor my peers, you – my readers, and most certainly, my mentors too. I see the value of this collaboration as being quintessentially communal, worthwhile. But it also has to be authentic too. With that said, it sticks in my craw to read patronizing drivel coming from John Sumser passed off as blog swapping. I quote and comment:

We’ve agreed to help the blogosphere [Well, John, thank you so very, very much. We would have sunk into wasted oblivion without you] by publishing an article from a guest writer each week as a part of the recruiting blogswap. As you know, a number of bloggers have banded together [like gutter-snipes mobilizing to mug the gullible among you] to promote each other [right, each other, but not you. You are too lofty to be banding together with the likes of us lowly pukes, right, John?]. Our part [for which we are eternally grateful, big-white bwana] is to give the whole thing a much wider audience [well I hope you publish this then!]. It’s important that these [lost and lonely] voices get heard [damn right, John – it is important].

Please go to interbiznet to read the rest of the John’s demeaning intro to EXCELER8ion’s “guest” post – if you can find it. For someone who espouses the value of easy web navigation, interbiznet is a cobbler with no shoes.  Julian and Shannon Seery Gude are bloggers who I hardly know but have come to respect and admire through their work. John Sumser is a pseudo-blogger who I once thought I knew and am now happy to forget.

As for running a full thirty two weeks, I can tell you for sure, the Blog Swap will only run for thirty one weeks at best. My puny mind and impudence would obviously leave John Sumser and his reader’s gasping for air. So I shall not bother them further.  Not because my “youthful naiveté” might be so irritating to a fuddy-duddy, but because that is the very thing that affords me the opportunity to point out for you: the emperor has no clothes on. 

As Bill Cosby so aptly put it, “Anyone can dabble, but once you’ve made that commitment, your blood has that particular thing in it, and it’s very hard for people to stop you.” Hey, that’s me. Bill Cosby may be a has-been but I shall continue to watch. John Sumser I shall now switch off. I’ve seen enough of the re-runs.