Why we hate Recruitment Agencies

[bad company]

gobuddygo said:

Interesting responses from both sides, any agents like to explain or justify the practise of advertising fake jobs?

If it was a retailer this would fall into the trades description act would it not? Or in most trades a breaking of the code of conduct for the relevant trade body?

Oh I forgot agencies don't have an independent one do they, silly me.

Well I would question how common advertising fake jobs is. I'm not saying it never happens but it's infrequent.

I can honestly say that in my 23 years as an owner / manager of an agency we never advertised a fake job. We were accused of doing so a few times by candidates who for whatever reason we could not put forward for a particular job.

Thisis the main trade body - https://www.rec.uk.com

Edited by bad company on Tuesday 29th July 21:35

[Pit Pony]

One word "Huxley"

[lookingforajob]

Bad-company seems to be getting an awful lot of stick here. I feel unfairly. He seems to come across as someone who is giving you an honest insight into an industry.

Whilst many people (including myself) have had varying degrees of bad experiences with recruitment consultants, it's no more reasonable to say that they are all bad than it is to tar all NHS staff if you once got a crap Doctor.

I've interviewed to work as a recruitment consultant for three firms, and was offered the job at two. My reasons for not going for it are not important. However the owner of one was really clear - he specialises in being the best in his industry and not making a quick buck. His decent principles seemed to be working out for him from the look of his red Ferrari. His line to me was 1 quality call is worth more than 20 st ones.

Alternatively another company I interviewed for (a big one who most on hear will have heard off ) seemed completely awful. Their working practises seemed on par with batty chicken farming. All targeted for x number of calls a day, x number of emails, x number of leads generated, with no focus on actually doing a good job. I can see why people would get upset when dealing with them.

So like most industries it depends on the company and the management. I'd also say that I can't really see the value in posting fake jobs. It's a lot easier to get CV's from jobboards or use Linkdin.

[bad company]

Pit Pony said:

One word "Huxley"

Never heard of him.

Seriously I have no idea wtf you are on about.

[texasjohn]

Pit Pony said:

One word "Hxxley"

LOL,

This shower of muppets circulated my mate's CV to his then-current employer, resulting in a very awkward meeting between him and his boss.

[bad company]

texasjohn said:

LOL,

This shower of muppets circulated my mate's CV to his then-current employer, resulting in a very awkward meeting between him and his boss.

So why doesn't your mate sue them for damages?

[Pit Pony]

texasjohn said:

Pit Pony said:

One word "Huxley"

LOL,

This shower of muppets circulated my mate's CV to his then-current employer, resulting in a very awkward meeting between him and his boss.

I applied for a Job role, via them, and then constantly for the next year, got emailed CV's of all the potential recruits they had, who had similar experience, buzz words and qualifications as me. I assume they got confused, but even after I emailed them, with a clear explanation of how they'd got confused and how I'd applied for a job via them, and was now getting CV's, it still didn't stop. In the end I just gave up, and instead used the CV's to hone my CV layout.

[Du1point8]

Getting really pissed off with 2 or 3 recruitment companies now.

get an email or a phone call for:

Lead/Manager/Specialist role... in finance industry leader, will pay market rates and excellent location.

They know my situation as I talked to them and Im on their DB (despite being asked not to be contacted anymore)...

So get the phone call and its one of 2 routes...

1) Wont tell me the salary/location until I send CV and agree to let them represent me... get told no unless location and salary are told, because its more likely a) not in London and b) not in finance industry... Repeat call telling them to go away as it says on my files Im not interested unless those 2 bits of information are given.

2) Contacting me about a job that the salary is not great... but they wont tell me anything until after their sell... listen to it get the salary... ask them if they are finished, tell them to read the notes on my file with regards to salary... read notes off with my salary requirements way past the upper budget of their job... Then get into arguement that they think my expectations are un-realistic and I should really look lower for salary and hence their job, then ask them why would I move to another job that is still paying less than my current job.

Have asked many times now to not be contacted... Still getting jobs that would be 'an excellent career upgrade' to the job I have, just need to go to Basingstoke...

How do I get off their records.. 3 times this week its happened now.

[bad company]

Du1point8 said:

Getting really pissed off with 2 or 3 recruitment companies now.

get an email or a phone call for:

Lead/Manager/Specialist role... in finance industry leader, will pay market rates and excellent location.

They know my situation as I talked to them and Im on their DB (despite being asked not to be contacted anymore)...

So get the phone call and its one of 2 routes...

1) Wont tell me the salary/location until I send CV and agree to let them represent me... get told no unless location and salary are told, because its more likely a) not in London and b) not in finance industry... Repeat call telling them to go away as it says on my files Im not interested unless those 2 bits of information are given.

2) Contacting me about a job that the salary is not great... but they wont tell me anything until after their sell... listen to it get the salary... ask them if they are finished, tell them to read the notes on my file with regards to salary... read notes off with my salary requirements way past the upper budget of their job... Then get into arguement that they think my expectations are un-realistic and I should really look lower for salary and hence their job, then ask them why would I move to another job that is still paying less than my current job.

Have asked many times now to not be contacted... Still getting jobs that would be 'an excellent career upgrade' to the job I have, just need to go to Basingstoke...

How do I get off their records.. 3 times this week its happened now.

Put in a written instruction by email to remove all of your details from their database. Make sure the email reminds them that you have asked for this to be done before and state that you will be making a complaint to the Information Commissioner if they fail to comply.

[Mercury00]

I applied for a job through an agency last week. The job advert states permanent, full-time and is still live now. I've been speaking to someone from the agency for about a week trying to secure and interview at this company as it sounded right up my street, and I finally got an interview yesterday.

Just as I was about to leave the house for the interview I got an email from them with a hastily-typed word document confirming details of the job. Hidden amongst the text were the words 'temporary assignment' so I called the agency to ask WTF was going on. Their reply was "obviously it's only until Christmas and then we'll see after then"... obviously. I asked how on earth is it obvious when up until this point they've led me to believe it's a permanent role? They still haven't changed the job advert so no doubt other people are going to fall into the same trap. Needless to say one agency staff member is now nursing a freshly-torn ahole.

They obviously knew what they were doing - send an email as the recipient is setting off for their interview knowing they probably wont be checking their emails at that time. They might be offered and accept the job without thinking to double check, as they've been told it's permanent who would think to? The agency gets paid, job done.

fking aholes. I thought about emailing the company in question and letting them know the situation, but I didn't want to blacklist myself.

[TypeRTom]

Another agency on my blacklist... had been receiving occasional e-mails since the start of 2012. Had asked for my details to be removed at least 4 times. Found out the names of the directors and sent them a stern e-mail, had an apologetic reply within half an hour saying my details had finally been deleted and they would look into why they hadn't been deleted sooner.

[photosnob]

TypeRTom said:

Another agency on my blacklist... had been receiving occasional e-mails since the start of 2012. Had asked for my details to be removed at least 4 times. Found out the names of the directors and sent them a stern e-mail, had an apologetic reply within half an hour saying my details had finally been deleted and they would look into why they hadn't been deleted sooner.

So once you have asked the director to remove them it was done in half an hour and they are on your blacklist?

Bet you get another email tomorrow!

[TIGA84]

Mercury00 said:

I applied for a job through an agency last week. The job advert states permanent, full-time and is still live now. I've been speaking to someone from the agency for about a week trying to secure and interview at this company as it sounded right up my street, and I finally got an interview yesterday.

Just as I was about to leave the house for the interview I got an email from them with a hastily-typed word document confirming details of the job. Hidden amongst the text were the words 'temporary assignment' so I called the agency to ask WTF was going on. Their reply was "obviously it's only until Christmas and then we'll see after then"... obviously. I asked how on earth is it obvious when up until this point they've led me to believe it's a permanent role? They still haven't changed the job advert so no doubt other people are going to fall into the same trap. Needless to say one agency staff member is now nursing a freshly-torn ahole.

They obviously knew what they were doing - send an email as the recipient is setting off for their interview knowing they probably wont be checking their emails at that time. They might be offered and accept the job without thinking to double check, as they've been told it's permanent who would think to? The agency gets paid, job done.

fking aholes. I thought about emailing the company in question and letting them know the situation, but I didn't want to blacklist myself.

FFS.

I'd mail the company direct. And I'm an agent.

That's fking poor. I'd love to speak to the agent to see just how far in that process he thought he was going to get before he got found out. That's appalling.

[TIGA84]

Du1point8 said:

Getting really pissed off with 2 or 3 recruitment companies now.

get an email or a phone call for:

Lead/Manager/Specialist role... in finance industry leader, will pay market rates and excellent location.

They know my situation as I talked to them and Im on their DB (despite being asked not to be contacted anymore)...

So get the phone call and its one of 2 routes...

1) Wont tell me the salary/location until I send CV and agree to let them represent me... get told no unless location and salary are told, because its more likely a) not in London and b) not in finance industry... Repeat call telling them to go away as it says on my files Im not interested unless those 2 bits of information are given.

2) Contacting me about a job that the salary is not great... but they wont tell me anything until after their sell... listen to it get the salary... ask them if they are finished, tell them to read the notes on my file with regards to salary... read notes off with my salary requirements way past the upper budget of their job... Then get into arguement that they think my expectations are un-realistic and I should really look lower for salary and hence their job, then ask them why would I move to another job that is still paying less than my current job.

Have asked many times now to not be contacted... Still getting jobs that would be 'an excellent career upgrade' to the job I have, just need to go to Basingstoke...

How do I get off their records.. 3 times this week its happened now.

Again FFS.

To comment on your point 1 - Why in the name of all thats fking holy do agencies think that disclosing a salary and location is going to be in any way detrimental to them?

To comment on your point 2 - Sounds like a st rookie, just tell them to fk off, it won't be the only time they hear it that day. No way a decent recruiter would probably call you, maybe only to ask if you if you know anyone that does what you do, for less, in Basingstoke. But only at a push.

[bucksmanuk]

Well my contract has come to an end, and I am currently lowering my hand into the tank of piranhas- sorry- talking to agents.
Not all of them are bad, but it must be getting on for 75-80%.
Most don’t know the industry, any of my specialisms, what level I should be at in terms of jobs/roles. I have been told that my salary expectations are too high, when the job they were offering was less than I was on the time, I was called a liar down the phone!
When you look at most of their LinkedIn profiles, they have almost no experience of anything. When you talk to the better ones, it’s a total breath of fresh air.
When they give the location and the type of work, I can usually put 2 and 2 together, and tell them who the company is. Some of them seem amazed at this level of knowledge. I know we all have to start somewhere in life, but some of them are starting from a very low level.
I consider most recruitment agencies just about equal with estate agents. I know they have to make money, but why do it with lies and deceit? People talk to one another, word gets round about sharp practice.
The agency mentioned above beginning with H must be one of the worst culprits; all their emails go in the spam folder.

[texasjohn]

bad company said:

texasjohn said:

LOL,

This shower of muppets circulated my mate's CV to his then-current employer, resulting in a very awkward meeting between him and his boss.

So why doesn't your mate sue them for damages?

It was a few years ago and no 'damages' resulted, fortunately.

He did put a 'shot across the bows' to this effect at the time, and had he lost his job as a result of their actions I am certain he would have pursued the agency. But how do you prove an agency has been directly or indirectly responsible for the loss of your job? No employer is going to declare formally that they decided to let you go because you were looking around and I suppose that you would need a basis of evidence to support any claim.

[Mercury00]

TIGA84 said:

FFS.

I'd mail the company direct. And I'm an agent.

That's fking poor. I'd love to speak to the agent to see just how far in that process he thought he was going to get before he got found out. That's appalling.

Done. I was really unsure about sending them an email but since you agreed I've gone ahead and done it. I sent a sincere message to the manager to explain what had happened and sent him the link to the advert showing that they are still advertising for full-time staff even though I complained about it on Monday.

[bad company]

Mercury00 said:

Done. I was really unsure about sending them an email but since you agreed I've gone ahead and done it. I sent a sincere message to the manager to explain what had happened and sent him the link to the advert showing that they are still advertising for full-time staff even though I complained about it on Monday.

Nice one, well done.

Of course it could be that the client firm changed the job spec from perm to temp. I'm not saying anything more than it's possible.

[AuthurDaley]

Some intresting stats from my experience.

Unfourtunate situation of redundancy at end of Feb. Started full on work search at end of march. 10 years expereince, never been out of work before, HUGE global names on my CV as previous employers. I started my work search with Linkedin and applying through the usual job boards with the following results:

approx 7 recruitment calls per day, solid, for 10 weeks. approx 350 calls = 2 interviews actually attended. 1 no reply. 1 put 'on hold'

10 direct applys - on company recruitment sites to internal recruiters (big names) - 6 interviews. 3 with success at all stages,

Notable details:
- 90% of roles from recruiters where with companies I had never heard of in my life, but they certainly done a span dangle job of making them sound like they where serious players.
- Shocking ethics. Including bad language on calls, fishing for details of contacts at my other interviews: (oh...whos interviewing you at XXXXXX is his name dave? oh just remind me of his surname? oh, remind me where he is based again. I told one recruiter I was being interviewed by Reg Dwight at Cisco and he seemed thrilled to have this potential opening for himself. He obviously did not have the faintest that R.D is none other than the rocket man himself, Elton John)
- One recruiter ringing my home line at 10pm to try and convince me not to be internally recruited by XXXXX as he could represent me and get me the job. Gob smacked. What an oxygen thief!

[Jakg]

I received an email today from a recruitment agent today along the lines of "saw your profile on LinkedIn, we have vacancy xyz, job has amazing salary / location / dolphins, are you interested?"

All well and good, but then I notice it's been sent to my work email account...

I curse and check my LinkedIn profile to find that my work email address isn't listed.

Bit odd as my email address isn't in the public domain and my employer deliberately has a low-key online presence.

I get back to the recruitment agent and explain it's not for me but express concern that they somehow have my work email address.

I get a reply telling me they "just guessed it". I'm a bit bemused as to why they didn't just send me a message on LinkedIn - but I hardly think contacting someone using their work email account is appropriate when your trying to poach them for someone else! And until very recently all unmatched (i.e. untaken) email address @ourdomain.tld were being sent direct to the CEO - imagine if they'd guessed the wrong email address and the CEO asks me wtf a recruitment agent is doing emailing me jobs!

I explain that I do not want them using my work email address and give them a personal email address to use instead - I get a reply saying "I thought I would respond via your personal account {blahblahblah}" sent to my bloody work email address again!




And another story...


When I left University I ended up on the lists of a lot of recruitment agents. I made enquiries about one job, all seemed to be going ok but didn't hear anything for a while and got a job in the meantime. I then get a call from the agent to arrange an interview, but at this point I have to refuse.

He asks if I know anyone else who might be interested - like a good friend I recommend my friend who's also just graduated / looking for work. They get in touch and he opens with "your friend has put your name forward and will get £500 of vouchers if you get the job". I had no ideas there was any kind of incentive, and it put me in a very awkward situation with my friend ("did you just put my name forward so you could get those vouchers?" "what vouchers?!". Bearing in mind that I had no idea about the vouchers I hardly "lost" them so let him have them...

Even after months of chasing - the vouchers weren't forthcoming. And then the agent left the company... it turns out that after a long career in recruitment (<12 months) he'd couldn't be bothered anymore and hadn't done any of the paperwork required for the vouchers to be sent. After nearly a year of chasing, and having to escalate it twice, they arrived. Left a very sour taste in my mouth and put wanting to ever use the agency again.

...imagine my surprise when last year I get a call from the same agent, trying to push more stuff my way! Looking at his LinkedIn profile it seems he went back to University, but then somehow ended back up in his old job...



And one more...

I saw a job advertised at £30-£33k. Thought the salary looked pretty healthy for basically the same job I was doing for £24k so got in touch with the agent who wanted to arrange an informal interview with them first - fair enough.

Having taken some time off at work and retrieving my finest suit from the wardrobe, the agent pushes my for my current salary and stupidly I told her. Suddenly the jobs no longer £30-£33k, the absolute maximum the client will pay is a 10% "uplift" on my current salary (i.e. £26.4k). Not sure what bearing my current salary has on what value I'd have at a new company? And of course new company = probationary period = risk - I'd certainly want more to move! Which was way I applied for a job in the range £30-£33k in the first place... complete waste of time for both of us.

I get a call a few days later telling me they want someone with more experience "like they thought she would" (well then why bring me down in the first place...). Then a few months later they still haven't filled the role and apparently I'm the best candidate and they'll definitely be able to get me >£30k. And then I never hear anything again. Waste of time.


Of course - I'm sure that there are some good agents. But I've yet to meet one. Perhaps the good ones who try hard just don't make enough money on the typical £20k-£30k PAYE jobs and so the scattergun approach is all thats left?