Recruitment Agency Told My Boss I'm Leaving?
Discussion
Last Thursday I have received email form a specialist recruitment agency asking me if I would be interested in a Job or I knew anyone who's on a lookout...as I'm traveling 40 miles one way I though if it was much closer to home I could give it a go...so I have asked for the exact location and job description... Friday afternoon I got my GM wondering in to the office asking me if I'm happy here (he does it so that everyone can hear) if I'm not going anywhere this week, and he closes in by saying did I ever dream about a position in such and such discipline in such location - at this moment I'm stunned as it appears that he knows more than me.I have denied all on the spot, but then went to his office and said that I have my eyes open as the travel is a bit much - not sure why I did it - maybe it's my stupid honesty? loyalty of some sort?
Now the situation in the office is bit tense and I'm fearing the worst.
I asked where does he (GM) know from that I'm supposedly looking for jobs and have interviews arranged (which I'm not) and he said 'he's got his sources'.
I have emailed the agency opp who send me the email and asked if he have contacted my employer - I had no reply - so at this stage I think they are guilty as charged - question is what should I do?
A: Nothing - Just Wait
B: Get myself new job elsewhere then tackle the dodgy agency
C: Get mad with the MD of the agency?
D: Something else?
Now the situation in the office is bit tense and I'm fearing the worst.
I asked where does he (GM) know from that I'm supposedly looking for jobs and have interviews arranged (which I'm not) and he said 'he's got his sources'.
I have emailed the agency opp who send me the email and asked if he have contacted my employer - I had no reply - so at this stage I think they are guilty as charged - question is what should I do?
A: Nothing - Just Wait
B: Get myself new job elsewhere then tackle the dodgy agency
C: Get mad with the MD of the agency?
D: Something else?
Is it possible your boss has contacts at the other company? In my industry there's a fairly large risk of this within a wide area of the country as everyone seems to know someone at most other firms.
Ignoring how he has this information, I think it is ridiculous for your GM to even bring this up, and in particular in public.
Ignoring how he has this information, I think it is ridiculous for your GM to even bring this up, and in particular in public.
aizvara said:
Is it possible your boss has contacts at the other company? In my industry there's a fairly large risk of this within a wide area of the country as everyone seems to know someone at most other firms.
Ignoring how he has this information, I think it is ridiculous for your GM to even bring this up, and in particular in public.
It's possible but why did the agency gone silent - thy didn't got back to me with the company/position/location detail didn't answer when I asked them if they contacted my employer or where thy have sent my cv.Ignoring how he has this information, I think it is ridiculous for your GM to even bring this up, and in particular in public.
Yes - I don't think it's sort of thing he should be sorting out in public - If he's reading my hours here are counted lol
Did you send your CV to the agency ? Your post says you asked for the job spec, but doesn't reveal if you actually applied.
I.E does the potential new firm actually have your application. If they do then of course they may be connected in some way to your GM. If they don't then it would appear the agency is potentially at fault.
If the role is specialist, they may know your GM, since they may have tried to hire into your firm previoslt, if that is their field/specialism.
I would call the agency guy, and ask them about the chain of events, not accuse them, just explain that some how this information has got back to your boss, ask them how they think that happened.
Part two, I think you made a mistake with your GM, you said it was the travelling. Wrong answer, now they will question your long term commitment to the firm.
Go back again, say you had a call out of the blue, from this agency, name them, they said a lot of very flattering things to you, and it made it sound attractive. However you are happy here, enjoy the role etc. Ask him how he found out, if he says he has sources, ask him directly if the agency informed him you were interested.
I.E does the potential new firm actually have your application. If they do then of course they may be connected in some way to your GM. If they don't then it would appear the agency is potentially at fault.
If the role is specialist, they may know your GM, since they may have tried to hire into your firm previoslt, if that is their field/specialism.
I would call the agency guy, and ask them about the chain of events, not accuse them, just explain that some how this information has got back to your boss, ask them how they think that happened.
Part two, I think you made a mistake with your GM, you said it was the travelling. Wrong answer, now they will question your long term commitment to the firm.
Go back again, say you had a call out of the blue, from this agency, name them, they said a lot of very flattering things to you, and it made it sound attractive. However you are happy here, enjoy the role etc. Ask him how he found out, if he says he has sources, ask him directly if the agency informed him you were interested.
Don't know how its leaked but i think your biggest issue was your reply to your boss.
I don't know anyone in a professional industry that doesnt get sounded out by recruiters, i do via linked in.
All i ever say is that i'm currently happy where i am but i'm always willing to see what is happening within the industry, so am happy to see what they have to offer.
The reply to your boss should have been that you had been chased by a recruitment agency, and out of curiosity you have asked them to forward the job info, no more no less!
I have no interest in moving away from my current employer, as i'm happy with travel, wage, benefits, bonuses and future progression. At the same time though i'm more than happy for a RA to do the donkey work and send me some job specs. Until i ask for an interview i'm just looking at the market place. And with this they should not contact the company looking for employees or my current employer as i have not requested or instructed them to do so!
I don't know anyone in a professional industry that doesnt get sounded out by recruiters, i do via linked in.
All i ever say is that i'm currently happy where i am but i'm always willing to see what is happening within the industry, so am happy to see what they have to offer.
The reply to your boss should have been that you had been chased by a recruitment agency, and out of curiosity you have asked them to forward the job info, no more no less!
I have no interest in moving away from my current employer, as i'm happy with travel, wage, benefits, bonuses and future progression. At the same time though i'm more than happy for a RA to do the donkey work and send me some job specs. Until i ask for an interview i'm just looking at the market place. And with this they should not contact the company looking for employees or my current employer as i have not requested or instructed them to do so!
Smells fishy. If you work in a specialist field unfortunately a lot of people do know each other - it's a given. However I strongly suspect that there may well be something dodgy on the agency side, especially if they've gone quiet.
Still think your GM was behaving like an absolute tit mind you.
Unfortunately the REC (governing body for recruiters) won't get involved unless you can prove the agency acted in an underhand manner.
Still think your GM was behaving like an absolute tit mind you.
Unfortunately the REC (governing body for recruiters) won't get involved unless you can prove the agency acted in an underhand manner.
Had a similar thing happen to me. Same initial head hunting phone call and as soon as I expressed the remotest interest they went straight to the boss for a reference. I hadn't even applied for the post!
When I grabbed the agency idiot by the balls and squeezed he said that filling the post was very time sensitive and they were trying to cut off a corner or two. Of course, I told them what I would cut off if I ever met him!
Boss still hasn't forgiven me and the relationship with him has been greatly changed. I am cut out of a lot of things and my opinion isn't sought anywhere like it used to be, although a thaw does finally seem to be happening.
When I grabbed the agency idiot by the balls and squeezed he said that filling the post was very time sensitive and they were trying to cut off a corner or two. Of course, I told them what I would cut off if I ever met him!
Boss still hasn't forgiven me and the relationship with him has been greatly changed. I am cut out of a lot of things and my opinion isn't sought anywhere like it used to be, although a thaw does finally seem to be happening.
Pfft... wait until the an agency sends your CV to a company you have applied to with a different name attached, but word for word the same.
They were doing it to try and get them both flagged up and binned, it was a bloody good job I knew the hiring manager and the recruiter very well.
I found out the recruiters who did it and they acted dumb that someone copied my CV and sent to them.
All a misunderstanding of course.
I usually just tell my boss that if anyone contacts him about my position, its just cause I said I would meet the recruiter or taken a job spec to get them off the phone from a hard sell, with them not taking no for an answer its easier than spending 30 mins on the phone with them trying to convince you to move... plus I get a free coffee/lunch... makes my boss laugh when he hears the free lunch bit.
For some reason people do not accept the words 'Im happy here thanks, can you take me off your books' as an answer. A face to face is often easier to get the point across and it often gets me a free lunch.
They were doing it to try and get them both flagged up and binned, it was a bloody good job I knew the hiring manager and the recruiter very well.
I found out the recruiters who did it and they acted dumb that someone copied my CV and sent to them.
All a misunderstanding of course.
I usually just tell my boss that if anyone contacts him about my position, its just cause I said I would meet the recruiter or taken a job spec to get them off the phone from a hard sell, with them not taking no for an answer its easier than spending 30 mins on the phone with them trying to convince you to move... plus I get a free coffee/lunch... makes my boss laugh when he hears the free lunch bit.
For some reason people do not accept the words 'Im happy here thanks, can you take me off your books' as an answer. A face to face is often easier to get the point across and it often gets me a free lunch.
It's probably a painfully dumb recruiter sending your cv round to everyone on their mailing list (including your boss) as a "look at this applicant we think sounds relevant to your company" email. Seen it happen far too many times. And I don't even have any involvement with recruitment. God knows what it must be like for those that do!
Yes the agency have probably f'cked the pooch!!
I worked in a specialised field and word gets around if you are unhappy.....
Ditch the agency and maybe the fact that the boss is so unhappy is that they can't afford to lose you! You never know....or now realise that you're first on the list for redundancy...
There may be an action legally, but from my experience your employer would have to feck up spectacularly for this to happen (i.e dismiss you for looking for a job) and at the moment you haven't experienced any loss or damages..yet...plus it's probably prohibitively expensive and practically take too long...e.g. no money coming in whilst in the court/ET....
As they may already have you for using your PC for 'personal' reasons (it's in many contracts in my business). I've seen it happen to me...sorry a mate!
Sorry for being the harbinger of bad news but times is tight and you have to be extra careful in contacted agencies..i.e. use personal phone and e-mail them from the phone NOT using their WIFI - although that part (WIFI) may be a bit too paranoid!!
Ben
PS - Buy lots of choccys.....
I worked in a specialised field and word gets around if you are unhappy.....
Ditch the agency and maybe the fact that the boss is so unhappy is that they can't afford to lose you! You never know....or now realise that you're first on the list for redundancy...
There may be an action legally, but from my experience your employer would have to feck up spectacularly for this to happen (i.e dismiss you for looking for a job) and at the moment you haven't experienced any loss or damages..yet...plus it's probably prohibitively expensive and practically take too long...e.g. no money coming in whilst in the court/ET....
As they may already have you for using your PC for 'personal' reasons (it's in many contracts in my business). I've seen it happen to me...sorry a mate!
Sorry for being the harbinger of bad news but times is tight and you have to be extra careful in contacted agencies..i.e. use personal phone and e-mail them from the phone NOT using their WIFI - although that part (WIFI) may be a bit too paranoid!!
Ben
PS - Buy lots of choccys.....
sunoco69 said:
Had a similar thing happen to me. Same initial head hunting phone call and as soon as I expressed the remotest interest they went straight to the boss for a reference. I hadn't even applied for the post!
When I grabbed the agency idiot by the balls and squeezed he said that filling the post was very time sensitive and they were trying to cut off a corner or two. Of course, I told them what I would cut off if I ever met him!
Boss still hasn't forgiven me and the relationship with him has been greatly changed. I am cut out of a lot of things and my opinion isn't sought anywhere like it used to be, although a thaw does finally seem to be happening.
O/T But I know your boss.When I grabbed the agency idiot by the balls and squeezed he said that filling the post was very time sensitive and they were trying to cut off a corner or two. Of course, I told them what I would cut off if I ever met him!
Boss still hasn't forgiven me and the relationship with him has been greatly changed. I am cut out of a lot of things and my opinion isn't sought anywhere like it used to be, although a thaw does finally seem to be happening.
I spoke to an agency once. A week later there was a pile of CV's from the agency on my boss's desk.
When they get wind that you are looking to leave, some figure that you will be leaving a hole and get in there before you have even left.
That said, I work in IT and there are many Internet monitoring devices and invisible software packages that can report every key typed on a work PC/Internet connection to the management. Do not use work PC's for personal stuff, do not even use work wireless (and your own phone/device) for personal stuff unless you are an up to date IT security expert and are confident that you are secure.
That said, I am afraid I have no advice other than that I would write a heavy sounding recorded delivery letter to the agency MD, explaining that you have only spoken to that one agency and your boss has raised the issue with you. Demand to know who contacted your boss. Tell them that you rescind any right they have to hold your personal information as is your right under the data protection act, and that any further evidence that they are holding/using your personal information will be sent to the Information Commissioner's Office.
(The above is para probably a legally inaccurate rant, but then I would not spend any money pursuing this legally so it would make me feel better).
When they get wind that you are looking to leave, some figure that you will be leaving a hole and get in there before you have even left.
That said, I work in IT and there are many Internet monitoring devices and invisible software packages that can report every key typed on a work PC/Internet connection to the management. Do not use work PC's for personal stuff, do not even use work wireless (and your own phone/device) for personal stuff unless you are an up to date IT security expert and are confident that you are secure.
That said, I am afraid I have no advice other than that I would write a heavy sounding recorded delivery letter to the agency MD, explaining that you have only spoken to that one agency and your boss has raised the issue with you. Demand to know who contacted your boss. Tell them that you rescind any right they have to hold your personal information as is your right under the data protection act, and that any further evidence that they are holding/using your personal information will be sent to the Information Commissioner's Office.
(The above is para probably a legally inaccurate rant, but then I would not spend any money pursuing this legally so it would make me feel better).
Thanks for all the replies - I will be sending a letter to the agency MD.
Now I have a different problem my GM is pushing for me to move in locally he wants to have another chat with me about in private tomorrow - I have already refused to acknowledge the idea...wtf is he going to put an ultimatum in place move or leave?
It's a sort of company where if you don't like it foff or we will find a quickest semi legal way to get rid anyway...
In the meantime I got an email from MD saying he understands if I want to leave and he will not make it difficult for me and I can do it at my own pace but he will be sorry to see me go...I'm confused...
Now I have a different problem my GM is pushing for me to move in locally he wants to have another chat with me about in private tomorrow - I have already refused to acknowledge the idea...wtf is he going to put an ultimatum in place move or leave?
It's a sort of company where if you don't like it foff or we will find a quickest semi legal way to get rid anyway...
In the meantime I got an email from MD saying he understands if I want to leave and he will not make it difficult for me and I can do it at my own pace but he will be sorry to see me go...I'm confused...
Edited by sickrabbit on Monday 4th February 15:33
Just be honest with him, you got a call out of the blue, they pressured you on the phone, you said, I really like my current role, the only downside is the commute. Blame the agency 100% for stirring up trouble.
Tell him you never had any intention of leaving and you like the company and your role. Possibly mention areas for development for you too.
Good luck.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff