I hear what you're saying, however that's not the case - or the reason I put it on here.
The first reason I put it on, is that I've seen others doing it not only on this forum, but on others too. The second is that a lot of car forum'y type people are in IT, or at least they are in my experience so far and so I thought perhaps they may know someone, or perhaps be looking for a change themselves. The third is, that I thought this was a pretty open community that enjoyed helping each other out, advice or otherwise - so in this case I've put up an ad for a job, which I put here: http://www.cwjobs.co.uk/JobSearch/JobDe ... d=41417095 first..
That and I dislike recruitment agencies, having in the past worked for one (in an IT role). I have a problem with paying 25% for them to send me a CV - which in this case could potentially be £8000. Its worse than the commission you'd pay an estate agent in some cases - and they do a lot more work for it. So no blushing from me, IMO I have many valid reasons
It's only networking, just online. Go for it, and I reckon you'd be about right with the ratio of IT peps on most forums.
Good luck, and if you can beat the agencies at their own game, do it.
+1 Past experience of using agenices taught me they are more miss than hit and attract too many transients who have no long term interest in the job.
In some ways its like those who come on here looking for ZEDS, they are looking for what is likely to be a more sound buy than what is offered up in autotakethepiss or the like. Someone on here might well be suited for the job, and if known to others here might just be a little more of a sound bet that someone applying who is completely unknown. Just my two-penny's worth