Friday, September 01, 2006

The Ballad of El Conquistador

Update: 3/15/07: Here's the radio spoof that inspired this exchange.

A colleague at work had a fun run-in with a Google headhunter. He decided to play the 419-scam baiting game with them...

(Names have been changed to protect the innocent)


From: Guido @google.com
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 6:17 PM
To: Joe @some.where.com
Subject: XXXX Conference Follow Up

Hello Joe,
I am contacting you because you attended the XXXX conference. I hope you enjoyed the conference and you were able to get your desired results from the event. Google is always looking for smart and talented individuals. I would like to help any of your friends or family that may be interested in Google opportunities. Please feel free to pass on my contact information to them if they are interested in having an internal ambassador for their job search with Google.
Please let me know a good time and phone number to reach you.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Thank you,
Guido


Reply:


I would like to thank you for taking the time to send me this follow-up e-mail.
I did indeed enjoy the conference and I would like to thank Google for sponsoring the event - it was a very selfless and thoughtful act which I believe demonstrates Google's commitment to security and privacy.
I am very interested in chatting with you about opportunities and my job requirements but before we get started, I have one very important request.
It is very important that in all future correspondence with me, that you refer to me as 'El Conquistador'. I understand that you could not have possibly known this in advance and I understand, no apology is necessary this time. I am very much looking forward to hearing back from you Guido, and please do not forget to address me as 'El Conquistador' in your reply as a sign of respect for my families distinguished lineage.

- El Conquistador


Reply:


Hello Joe
Sorry about the delay in my response. I was actually out of the office yesterday.
We actually have a variety of positions that you may find of interest (from the East coast to the West coast).
You can view our Google opportunities (including all of our locations) at the following link: http://www.google.com/jobs
Please let me know if you find a position of interest.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely,
Guido


Reply:


I'm sorry - whom are you addressing in your response below?
My given name is "Joe" but I am to be addressed as "El Conquistador". I sincerely apologize for not making that clear in my initial reply to your email (I was tired, it was late).
I am very interested in exploring career opportunities at Google!
I know that you only seek out and hire the very best and brightest individuals and I believe that my title speaks volumes about my accomplishments and capabilities so it was no surprise to me when you reached out to me.
I hope that it will not be a problem to be addressed by my future colleagues at Google as "El Conquistador". I'm sure Google has an open and respectful environment and that such talented individuals will understand and accept my title (which I realize does seem a bit strange at first). I'm presume elconquistador@google.com is available? Here at SomeCompany I login to our domain as somecom\elconquistador, I presume I would be offered the same privilege at Google?


Reply:


Hello El Conquistador,

I was actually responding to the first of your two email responses (where you did not ask to be called "El Conquistador").

If you would like to speak, you can call me at your convenience.

You can call me El Tigre;)

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