Help would be appreciated!

[Nasta]

I have just recieved a phonecall from a company saying that they are looking for people doing my job in my area. They tell me that the money is much better than mine.

Are these things for real, or is it a waste of time ringing back.

(was busy when i took the call, so didnt get any info)

Help....any ideas??

[alexkp]

Nasta said:

I have just recieved a phonecall from a company saying that they are looking for people doing my job in my area. They tell me that the money is much better than mine. Are these things for real, or is it a waste of time ringing back. (was busy when i took the call, so didnt get any info) Help....any ideas??

Sounds very dodgy - doesn't sound like a headhunting agency to me.

Did they ask for you by name?

Ask for their contact details, website etc. Any serious recruitment company will have a website these days.

[birdbrain]

A lot of agencies/headhunters fish for candidates by saying they have loads of jobs doing what you do but paying more money simply as a means to get a list of candidates. So when a company calls and says, "I want a network administrator (or whatever)" the agency then says "I've got 50 candidates for you straight away."

Makes them look good but doesn't help you.

[themaskedavenger]

Best way to tell agencies who are trawling for CV's and real headhunters is to get them to name the company and the details.

Very rare that they will be headhunting on a no-names policy.

[Incorrigible]

Ask them specifically which of your specific skills they're looking for

And ask salary and comuting distance from where you are now

98% of the time they won't have the answer. If they do it's much more likely to be genuine

[Plotloss]

Its a scam, they are just trying to get you to make contact.

I thought this sort of practice was long gone to be honest.

I've had them all my particular favourite being

'I'm organising a 5 a side match and wondered if you could supply the names of 5 developers willing to take part'

Yeah alright then mate

[TDTH1975]

As an ex-headhunter, I can pretty much confirm that it is a scam with a purpose. They will be doing one of 2 things.

a) It will be from the candidate sourcing team and they have a daily target of new candidates to source regardless of the roles the company currently has - then you become part of a database.

more likely at this time of year given it is prime job moving time is as follows:

b) Not sure what you do but say they have a role for a Senior Partner who specialises in restructuring in a law firm, they call all the associates/Of Counsel etc first to do some digging to find out who the correct person in the firm is, how the hierarchy works etc etc before actually approaching the correct person about the role they do actually have - they will then say to you, "thanks but I don't think you are senior enough, we will keep you on our book and call if anything comes up".

Or I could just shut up.

[minimax]

themaskedavenger said:

Best way to tell agencies who are trawling for CV's and real headhunters is to get them to name the company and the details. Very rare that they will be headhunting on a no-names policy.

I had a recruitment agency ring me recently who said they wouldn't release details of the company until I'd applied! I said I guess I'll never know then and ended the call. bet they get loads of quality candidates