Why we hate Recruitment Agencies

Why we hate Recruitment Agencies

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bad company

18,484 posts

265 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
Tonberry said:
Spot on.

I've got away with a copy of my DL photocard and two references so we'll see how I get on.

Cheers
We would not have accepted the DL as that does not prove that you have the right to work in this country. A UK or EEC passport does.

Good luck anyway.

KFC

3,687 posts

129 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
bad company said:
We would not have accepted the DL as that does not prove that you have the right to work in this country. A UK or EEC passport does.

Good luck anyway.
I never had a problem just using DL with recruitment agencies in the past (10 years or so ago though). Your license says where you were born - would it be possible for that to say "United Kingdom" and for you not to have the right to work there?

bad company

18,484 posts

265 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
KFC said:
I never had a problem just using DL with recruitment agencies in the past (10 years or so ago though). Your license says where you were born - would it be possible for that to say "United Kingdom" and for you not to have the right to work there?
Yes although not likely. There are accepted documents which prove the right to work and the passport is far and away the easiest.

GuinnessMK

1,608 posts

221 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
quotequote all
I applied for a few jobs via an agency last year, although I never made it to interview stage, so I never signed any paperwork, or saw their T's & C's.

Fast forward to Tuesday and I get one of their usual emails suggesting a suitable role, however instead of sending it out BCC'd to everyone, they CC'd everyone in their database. So now I have every other applicants email address and they have mine......

I pretty pissed off, for a couple of reasons, 1 I don't want everyone to have my personal email address, and 2 I'm not looking for work, I'm in a permie position, but don't want it going round the industry that I'm looking...

So I sent them a fk off email asking to be removed from the data base, to which the agency responded that they had now removed my details from the database.

Until lunchtime today when I got another email from them, clearly showing they haven't removed me from their database.

Have they breached the data protection act??


bad company

18,484 posts

265 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
quotequote all
GuinnessMK said:
I applied for a few jobs via an agency last year, although I never made it to interview stage, so I never signed any paperwork, or saw their T's & C's.

Fast forward to Tuesday and I get one of their usual emails suggesting a suitable role, however instead of sending it out BCC'd to everyone, they CC'd everyone in their database. So now I have every other applicants email address and they have mine......

I pretty pissed off, for a couple of reasons, 1 I don't want everyone to have my personal email address, and 2 I'm not looking for work, I'm in a permie position, but don't want it going round the industry that I'm looking...

So I sent them a fk off email asking to be removed from the data base, to which the agency responded that they had now removed my details from the database.

Until lunchtime today when I got another email from them, clearly showing they haven't removed me from their database.

Have they breached the data protection act??
Yes they have. You should complain to the agency initially saying that if you are not satisfied with their response to the Information Commissioner.

gobuddygo

1,383 posts

184 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
quotequote all
Interesting thread.

I got made redundant from a VERY large IT company in February, they gave me 3 months with a professional employment service who polished my CV and had a reasonable website with a good job search engine and an email alert that actually did what it said on the box (LHH was the company).

So armed with a good CV I posted it on all the job boards and LinkedIn, I stated in the top of the CV and on LinkedIn I have recently been made redundant and looking for a particular role around West Yorkshire.

Wow 5-10 phone calls every day 10 –20 emails, I think I will get a job easy then after a few weeks I get totally p!ssed off with agencies this has continued for 5 months.

This is my list of why I detest Agencies.

Ringing me before 7:30am and after 9pm grrrr.

Sending me for interviews for the wrong job 3 times (I am a developer they sent me for Consultant roles) they must have changed the job spec as it was different from the one the Employer had (Employer not happy), In the end I started to insist on a quick telephone with the employer to save everyone’s time this stopped it.

Sending me emails offering roles totally unsuitable, I even got sent a German Interpreter role to consider!!! I always politely reply why they think I am suitable for the role I have NEVER had an answer back.

Pumping for information that’s not relevant, like asking for companies you have had interviews with already (so they know who is recruiting and they WILL contact them).

Fake jobs advertised, yes a certain company (has 2 forenames in its title) likes to keep its profile high in its sector by advertising made up jobs, an EX employee told me this and they use the same job spec for different roles, when challenged they say the jobs are not “live” eventually when I applied for a job with them I stated only get back to me when this job is “live” 80-90% are made up they will NEVER tell you the company name.
Multiple emails from the same company, my record is 5 from the same agency for the same role in an hour.

“Just read your CV” then asking questions proving they have never read a word, like “so why did you leave your last job” “err read the 2nd paragraph of my CV”.

Phone calls saying I know you state you are looking for a role in W Yorkshire but would you consider a role in London/Kent/Edinburgh/Glasgow/Budapest/Bath/Switzerland/Southend.

“I will put you forward for this role is that ok”, “yes sure” then you never hear a thing.

Agencies using call centres in India who have never heard of Yorkshire and seem to be talking from inside a tin can.

Automatic emails that scan your profile and send you emails for something I did 15 years ago.

Not understanding IT despite working for a “top” IT recruiter claiming to be the leaders in the sector "no CRM is not the same as ERP"

One Agency insisted I went in for an interview with them at the local Leeds office went and was asked the same questions I had already been asked on the phone, was told they would post me more information the same day, still waiting 2 months later.

Amazingly one agency put me in touch with an employer who after 2 phone interviews and a face to face meeting offered me a job, the agent did nothing except arrange the original phone call, we arranged everything ourselves as my new boss thinks Agencies are a necessary evil, agent rings my every day and seems worried the job won’t go through.

So my impression of Agencies out of about 200+ phone calls, 700+ emails about 5% or so seem to be professional and I would trust, not a good percentage is it.

I start new job next Monday :-)





Edited by gobuddygo on Tuesday 22 July 22:31

bad company

18,484 posts

265 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
quotequote all
gobuddygo said:
I start new job next Monday :-)
Edited by gobuddygo on Tuesday 22 July 22:31
So in summary the agent found you a job, charged you nothing for the service & you are peed off!

lookingforajob

1,339 posts

117 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
quotequote all
I was called by a recruitment firm. Women was amazing - she was really great. Wouldn't just put me forward for job unless she was sure I was suitable. Insisted on Skype interview with her - I was really impressed.

Went to interview. She asked I called her asap after interview.

Promised me feedback - I've got nothing. I know they are busy and work on commission so I don't blame her if it's a no go, would still have been nice to get an email saying "sorry they thought you were st".

texasjohn

3,687 posts

230 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
quotequote all
gobuddygo said:
Fake jobs advertised, yes a certain company (has 2 forenames in its title) likes to keep its profile high in its sector by advertising made up jobs, an EX employee told me this and they use the same job spec for different roles, when challenged they say the jobs are not “live” eventually when I applied for a job with them I stated only get back to me when this job is “live” 80-90% are made up they will NEVER tell you the company name.
That sounds like 'B.S.' to me wink

Good luck in the new job, by the way


gobuddygo

1,383 posts

184 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
quotequote all
bad company said:
So in summary the agent found you a job, charged you nothing for the service & you are peed off!
Nope, in Summary ONE agent put me in touch with a company who was interested in my skills, I did the rest, I am peed off with the rest, I have had 5 emails already this week offering me roles totally unsuitable for my skills, I have politely asked them why they think I am suitable, responses? a big fat ZERO as usual.

gobuddygo

1,383 posts

184 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
quotequote all
texasjohn said:
That sounds like 'B.S.' to me wink

Good luck in the new job, by the way
Nope not BS, my sector is very specialised I know 90% of the companies in W Yorkshire who do it, when you get an advert saying "World renowned retail company with 20+ outlets in Europe and 100 in the UK 2 mins walk from Leeds railway station, the interest in this role is growing fast interviews will be held next week apply quickly" Advertised 3 times in 3 months then I smell a rat, agency says sorry this is not live yet!!! Only company that slightly matches is ASDA and they don't use my skills.

Thanks looking forward to it :-)

Countdown

39,690 posts

195 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
quotequote all

gobuddygo said:
Pumping for information that’s not relevant, like asking for companies you have had interviews with already (so they know who is recruiting and they WILL contact them).
It's not just expecting a candidate to provide you with leads that are going to be used against them that's pretty despicable. It's the blatant lying about why the RA is asking that's the icing on the cake.

I'm tempted to tell them about fictional interviews / job vacancies at large employers, for which "another agency has been appointed as sole recruiter" and enjoy the thought of them bashing their heads against a HR brick wall.biggrin

gobuddygo

1,383 posts

184 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
quotequote all
texasjohn said:
That sounds like 'B.S.' to me wink

Good luck in the new job, by the way
Bit Naughty this but hey ho.

MS Dynamics CRM- Wakefield- Developer- cGBP40k- bens

Fake job would not put me forward for it as not "live", not advertised on any other agency site been advertised twice in the last few months, I cant find any company using CRM in Wakefield in that sector.

MS Dynamics CRM- York- Junior Developer- cGBP35K + benefits

Ignores every single email and application again when asked on the phone "not live yet" been advertised 3 times in the last few months 35k for a junior developer FFS

Apply for a laugh if you don't believe me I can give u a great CV.

After some friendly advice edited this to remove direct links to the agents website a quick Google of the job title will reveal all though.


Edited by gobuddygo on Thursday 24th July 11:48

texasjohn

3,687 posts

230 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
quotequote all
gobuddygo said:
texasjohn said:
That sounds like 'B.S.' to me wink

Good luck in the new job, by the way
Nope not BS, my sector is very specialised I know 90% of the companies in W Yorkshire who do it, when you get an advert saying "World renowned retail company with 20+ outlets in Europe and 100 in the UK 2 mins walk from Leeds railway station, the interest in this role is growing fast interviews will be held next week apply quickly" Advertised 3 times in 3 months then I smell a rat, agency says sorry this is not live yet!!! Only company that slightly matches is ASDA and they don't use my skills.

Thanks looking forward to it :-)
No, I meant the name of the agency is two first names, one beginning with 'B' and the second beginning with 'S' biggrin


ETA: I see your post above now. There is more than one agency doing this, then!

gobuddygo

1,383 posts

184 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
quotequote all
Sorry Texas I misunderstood .

bad company

18,484 posts

265 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
quotequote all
Countdown said:
It's not just expecting a candidate to provide you with leads that are going to be used against them that's pretty despicable. It's the blatant lying about why the RA is asking that's the icing on the cake.
Why despicable? It's finding out what your competitors are doing which is good to know.

My team always asked as did our competitors. As a candidate you should politely decline to answer AND require names of firms the agent wants to send your CV to.

bad company

18,484 posts

265 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
quotequote all
gobuddygo said:
Nope, in Summary ONE agent put me in touch with a company who was interested in my skills, I did the rest, I am peed off with the rest, I have had 5 emails already this week offering me roles totally unsuitable for my skills, I have politely asked them why they think I am suitable, responses? a big fat ZERO as usual.
So ask them to remove your details from their databases. Easy.

lookingforajob

1,339 posts

117 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
quotequote all
Rather than be a negative thread (and to stop me having to start a new one). Will any recruiters be willing to tell me what to do for me to get the most out of you guys? What I mean is what can I do to get noticed and to really help me get into a new role. The longer I am unemployed the more desperate I feel and the more anxious I am to get back into work.

Sorry if that's not what this thread is about.

Edit - ive recently done prince2 to try and make me stand out a bit, what is your advice for me to actually get a job? And I'm not picky and expecting 50k a year. Right now I'd be happy to earn close to 20k and work my arse off!

Edited by lookingforajob on Thursday 24th July 19:04

bad company

18,484 posts

265 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
lookingforajob said:
Rather than be a negative thread (and to stop me having to start a new one). Will any recruiters be willing to tell me what to do for me to get the most out of you guys? What I mean is what can I do to get noticed and to really help me get into a new role. The longer I am unemployed the more desperate I feel and the more anxious I am to get back into work.

Sorry if that's not what this thread is about.

Edit - ive recently done prince2 to try and make me stand out a bit, what is your advice for me to actually get a job? And I'm not picky and expecting 50k a year. Right now I'd be happy to earn close to 20k and work my arse off!

Edited by lookingforajob on Thursday 24th July 19:04
Rotten for you and I really can't help as my experience was almost 100% recruiting qualified lawyers.

I can only see keep knocking on doors and good luck.

It may be worth adding here what you do and where you want to work in case a PH'r has something.

gobuddygo

1,383 posts

184 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
bad company said:
So ask them to remove your details from their databases. Easy.
I do very politely they still don't respond.