Why we hate Recruitment Agencies
Discussion
siovey said:
I've also applied several times for recruitment jobs as i fancied giving it a try. 20 years sales / customer service experience but i've not had a single response. Then hearing about air hostesses or people who used to work ib a shop doing this job, it does my head in!!
'Fancied giving it a try' is not going to motivate anybody to interview you. You need to convince them.The reasons the air hostesses and others get offers is that they probably have connections in their particular industry. That would help them to develop a niche.
bad company said:
siovey said:
I've also applied several times for recruitment jobs as i fancied giving it a try. 20 years sales / customer service experience but i've not had a single response. Then hearing about air hostesses or people who used to work ib a shop doing this job, it does my head in!!
'Fancied giving it a try' is not going to motivate anybody to interview you. You need to convince them.The reasons the air hostesses and others get offers is that they probably have connections in their particular industry. That would help them to develop a niche.
Engineer1 said:
I've just recieved an e-mail from a recruiter where rather than BCC all the recipients she has CC'd the recipients - surely that is a little sloppy as in theory you could use the e-mail addresses to do some digging for dirt or just for mischief- reply all...
Sloppy indeed and potentially a data protection issue.Presumably this one was human error.
bad company said:
Sloppy indeed and potentially a data protection issue.
Presumably this one was human error.
I guess so, they seem a little sloppy generally I seem to remember being vague and saying I'd get back to them over the role they have already put me forward for and started arranging interviews for.Presumably this one was human error.
Bad company
Can I ask if there is ever a genuine reason for an RA to ask a candidate for information about which jobs they're currently applying for? To me it's a big flashing sign saying "We're hoping you can give us leads and then we're going to write to them and send through CVs of other candidates" so it results in the conversation coming to a quick end.
The height of unprofessionalism or am I being overly cyncial?
Can I ask if there is ever a genuine reason for an RA to ask a candidate for information about which jobs they're currently applying for? To me it's a big flashing sign saying "We're hoping you can give us leads and then we're going to write to them and send through CVs of other candidates" so it results in the conversation coming to a quick end.
The height of unprofessionalism or am I being overly cyncial?
olly22n said:
To map out where you have been, and the likelihood of you accepting the RA's role over another.
Usually the RA isn't offering me any role it's normally a "just keeping in touch" conversation [which sometimes includes number of people in my team, contacts in the HR department, has there been any turnover, will there be any turnover, if there is any turnover can I let them know etc etc]Countdown said:
Bad company
Can I ask if there is ever a genuine reason for an RA to ask a candidate for information about which jobs they're currently applying for? To me it's a big flashing sign saying "We're hoping you can give us leads and then we're going to write to them and send through CVs of other candidates" so it results in the conversation coming to a quick end.
The height of unprofessionalism or am I being overly cyncial?
It's certainly fishing for leads but I don't see why you would regard that as unprofessional. It's just business and keeping on tabs on what jobs are out there and what the competition are up to.Can I ask if there is ever a genuine reason for an RA to ask a candidate for information about which jobs they're currently applying for? To me it's a big flashing sign saying "We're hoping you can give us leads and then we're going to write to them and send through CVs of other candidates" so it results in the conversation coming to a quick end.
The height of unprofessionalism or am I being overly cyncial?
Sorry I see nothing wrong with any of that.
bad company said:
It's certainly fishing for leads but I don't see why you would regard that as unprofessional. It's just business and keeping on tabs on what jobs are out there and what the competition are up to.
Sorry I see nothing wrong with any of that.
Because they tell me that the reason for asking is they don't want to put me forward for jobs I'm already applying for when, in reality, they want to know so they can send other candidates through. I consider the "lying through their teeth" to be unprofessional.Sorry I see nothing wrong with any of that.
Countdown said:
bad company said:
It's certainly fishing for leads but I don't see why you would regard that as unprofessional. It's just business and keeping on tabs on what jobs are out there and what the competition are up to.
Sorry I see nothing wrong with any of that.
Because they tell me that the reason for asking is they don't want to put me forward for jobs I'm already applying for when, in reality, they want to know so they can send other candidates through. I consider the "lying through their teeth" to be unprofessional.Sorry I see nothing wrong with any of that.
Nonetheless asking candidates where they have interviewed is something I always encouraged my team to do. If that makes me unprofessional then so be it.
bad company said:
Nonetheless asking candidates where they have interviewed is something I always encouraged my team to do. If that makes me unprofessional then so be it.
What kind of percentage of people, do you think, answered with something other than 'Mind your own business'? I don't know any contractors that would tell an agent where else they were interviewing, for instance.bad company said:
Countdown said:
Because they tell me that the reason for asking is they don't want to put me forward for jobs I'm already applying for when, in reality, they want to know so they can send other candidates through. I consider the "lying through their teeth" to be unprofessional.
Tell them that they should not be putting you forward for any jobs without discussing the position with you first and identifying the client firm. If they do not comply they are in breach of both data protection laws and the employment agencies act.Nonetheless asking candidates where they have interviewed is something I always encouraged my team to do. If that makes me unprofessional then so be it.
The point I'm making is they lie about the reason for asking me where I'm applying. And secondly, if I was silly enough to tell them, they would be using any "relationship" we have against me. Yes I think that's incredibly unprofessional and also why I refuse to use Agencies like them when I'm recruiting.
bigandclever said:
bad company said:
Nonetheless asking candidates where they have interviewed is something I always encouraged my team to do. If that makes me unprofessional then so be it.
What kind of percentage of people, do you think, answered with something other than 'Mind your own business'? I don't know any contractors that would tell an agent where else they were interviewing, for instance.
. Were they really big or clever? Edited by bad company on Wednesday 16th April 23:42
;)Edited by bad company on Thursday 17th April 08:15
Engineer1 said:
bad company said:
Sloppy indeed and potentially a data protection issue.
Presumably this one was human error.
I guess so, they seem a little sloppy generally I seem to remember being vague and saying I'd get back to them over the role they have already put me forward for and started arranging interviews for.Presumably this one was human error.
bad company said:
bigandclever said:
bad company said:
Nonetheless asking candidates where they have interviewed is something I always encouraged my team to do. If that makes me unprofessional then so be it.
What kind of percentage of people, do you think, answered with something other than 'Mind your own business'? I don't know any contractors that would tell an agent where else they were interviewing, for instance.. Were they really big or clever? Maybe it's a paranoia thing. I usually ask them what they're having for their tea, it has as much relevance to the situation.Tonberry said:
What is the general consensus on consultancies asking you to provide references and a whole host of other information (copy of DL / passport, CRB / standard disclosure etc) before interview?
I'm interested in the role and apparently my CV has been submitted to the client.
I can't see a problem with it. There is a legal need to check your ID / right to work before appointment. I guess the agency would be embarassed and look un-professional if one of their candidates got through selection, through interview and then got an offer, which then got kicked into touch if your ID wasn't kosher.I'm interested in the role and apparently my CV has been submitted to the client.
Tonberry said:
What is the general consensus on consultancies asking you to provide references and a whole host of other information (copy of DL / passport, CRB / standard disclosure etc) before interview?
I'm interested in the role and apparently my CV has been submitted to the client.
Normal practice for an agency to check your ID etc., nothing wrong with that.I'm interested in the role and apparently my CV has been submitted to the client.
What I don't understand is why they have submitted your CV without your knowledge or consent. What if one of the managers at the firm was a friend or relation of your current employer? Terrible practice IMO and probably illegal under data protection laws and the Employment Agency Act.
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