The recruiter from LinkedIn called me today:

LinkedIn Recruiter: Hi, I am .. (I forgot the name honestly!), we have this job: Recruitment Product Consultant Manager (I did remember that!) in LinkedIn, …etc.

So we have a chat about the weather, and so on, and in a few minutes the real interview starts. The first question from LinkedIn Recruiter was:

LinkedIn Recruiter: Do you know what is the dark matter?

Me: No.

LinkedIn Recruiter: Uhm,…

From there on the interview is taking slightly different direction. Enthusiasm is gone, and the LinkedIn Recruiter is trying to find a way how to wrap up the interview. I am still thinking what he had asked about – the dark matter? And why? While I am thinking, if I have heard the dark matter term before in the connotation with astronomy or quantum physics the LinkedIn Recruiter is rambling on how he doesn’t see the recruitment experience required on my profile – hence that would be all.

He kind of finishes up talking happy with himself how he got out of the unpleasant situation. Then silence on the phone line. As seconds pass it becomes more embarrassing for both of us. To break the silence I ask with the most relaxed voice:

Me: Well thank you for the call and considering me for a position in LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Recruiter: No problem (Or something similar. You know one of those short 2 – 3 word sentences people say quickly just to keep the conversation going)

Me: Do you mind me asking just one question please?

LinkedIn Recruiter: Yes, sure, go ahead.

Me: What is the dark matter you asked me about?

LinkedIn Recruiter: Dark matter is the data hidden on the web. It requires special techniques to discover it like Boolean search string. It is a term used by American sourcers, and I have heard it coming over here to us in Europe as well.

Me: Ah, kind of like the stuff that Irina and Boolean Black Belt are talking about?

LinkedIn Recruiter: No it is a hidden data that requires special techniques to be found…

Somewhere on top of my LinkedIn profile it must say I do SEO training, and I bet there is a link to my SEO blog ranking 1st for the word SEO in our local Google.ie. If we SEO guys cannot find the dark matter. It must be well hidden. Not astronomy, it must be quantum physics!

It made me thinking, if LinkedIn Recruiters are calling people and asking them just that one question: Do you know what is dark matter? – it must be something very important to them. If I haven’t heard of it, it really must be very, very hidden somewhere on the web? And special techniques are required to find it.

Have you found the dark matter?