Interview - Verbal acceptance - Now the problems
Discussion
More of a irritated grumble that a rant tbh! 
Had an interview off the back of an approach by an Agency I'd entertained before. Was offered the job, and was keen. Had a suggested start date in mind.
But in the initial offer letter some things that were mentioned at the interview weren't confirmed. So fired back an email and they confirmed SOME of the things. The main one they ignored was future career progression. But I was prepared to take a small chance given that I can't really expect to walk into a company and be promoted ahead of their existing staff in record time.
So filled in some emailed forms as they requested and sent over copy of my Passport, driving licence and other bits and bobs. Then that wasn't good enough so I had to go and physically see them again (on a Saturday) to prove the details I'd sent were correct. So they could take their own copy!
Then eventually the contract comes through and the overtime rate has dropped. The bonus scheme is presented to me and is not as described initially. And there's more duplication of forms that I MUST fill in. (again!)
I haven't put in my notice where I work. So tbh, I'm more likely than not to retract my acceptance. Even though it will piss them and the recruiter off. It just strikes me that its one of "those" companies. And if they are like that now, what hope for the future! The old spidey senses are kicking in!
Why do they do this? Did they hope I'd not notice the discrepancies? Did they think they'd done such a good job at interview, that I would be falling over myself to work for them regardless? All it's done is waste my time and theirs!
Had an interview off the back of an approach by an Agency I'd entertained before. Was offered the job, and was keen. Had a suggested start date in mind.
But in the initial offer letter some things that were mentioned at the interview weren't confirmed. So fired back an email and they confirmed SOME of the things. The main one they ignored was future career progression. But I was prepared to take a small chance given that I can't really expect to walk into a company and be promoted ahead of their existing staff in record time.
So filled in some emailed forms as they requested and sent over copy of my Passport, driving licence and other bits and bobs. Then that wasn't good enough so I had to go and physically see them again (on a Saturday) to prove the details I'd sent were correct. So they could take their own copy!
Then eventually the contract comes through and the overtime rate has dropped. The bonus scheme is presented to me and is not as described initially. And there's more duplication of forms that I MUST fill in. (again!)
I haven't put in my notice where I work. So tbh, I'm more likely than not to retract my acceptance. Even though it will piss them and the recruiter off. It just strikes me that its one of "those" companies. And if they are like that now, what hope for the future! The old spidey senses are kicking in!
Why do they do this? Did they hope I'd not notice the discrepancies? Did they think they'd done such a good job at interview, that I would be falling over myself to work for them regardless? All it's done is waste my time and theirs!
My advice is this : Is you are not happy now, it will not get any better and nothing will change.
I learnt that when I started my second job 25 years ago. I turned up on day one and they gave me the contract. "erm, what's this about working 1 weekend in 4 ?". "Yep, that's correct". "You never mentioned that in the interview". "Well, that's what we all do". "I'm not". "Erm, okay then".
Then a few days later "we need you to work on the customer's site, just for a couple of weeks". "Hmm, I've just moved house, and I've not got everything sorted yet". "Well, it will only be about 2 weeks". 6 weeks later I'm still on site. So I rang them up and said so. "Ok, we will sort that". And did they sort it ? No, they ignored it. So I resigned after less than 3 months. "Oh dear ! Why have you done that ? "Because I said I was not happy and you have done nothing about it. Therefore I have done something about it" "Oh, that's not what we wanted to happen". Followed by "What am I going to tell the customer now?" "Ah, so you are not concerned about me, you are concerned about you".
And over the years I've seen this type of thing happen many times; A company's attitude/behaviour/thinking never changes; so if you are worried now, don't think things will change in the future because they will not.
I learnt that when I started my second job 25 years ago. I turned up on day one and they gave me the contract. "erm, what's this about working 1 weekend in 4 ?". "Yep, that's correct". "You never mentioned that in the interview". "Well, that's what we all do". "I'm not". "Erm, okay then".
Then a few days later "we need you to work on the customer's site, just for a couple of weeks". "Hmm, I've just moved house, and I've not got everything sorted yet". "Well, it will only be about 2 weeks". 6 weeks later I'm still on site. So I rang them up and said so. "Ok, we will sort that". And did they sort it ? No, they ignored it. So I resigned after less than 3 months. "Oh dear ! Why have you done that ? "Because I said I was not happy and you have done nothing about it. Therefore I have done something about it" "Oh, that's not what we wanted to happen". Followed by "What am I going to tell the customer now?" "Ah, so you are not concerned about me, you are concerned about you".
And over the years I've seen this type of thing happen many times; A company's attitude/behaviour/thinking never changes; so if you are worried now, don't think things will change in the future because they will not.
Firstly, just to check that the first interview was with the company and not the agency. It's not unusual for agencies to be more liberal with the facts in order to snare interested candidates. Assuming it was with the company and speaking from the employers perspective:
It’s rare for career progression to be set out within a contract or any other formal means unless there are specific KPIs that exist or other target based performance criteria. As a general rule, most credible companies will do what they can to retain the best employees including promotions, pay-rises, etc. - and this is something that doesn’t really need setting out in any formal sense.
Forms! The company will be filling out way more forms than you have to. It’s a pain and maybe they can streamline but it is what it is.
Passports, etc. We ask for copies to be sent in advance of a formal offer being made then originals to be brought along on the first day. Nothing odd in that.
On the other points, ask! Say that some of the details were not as discussed and assess their response. They’ll not withdraw the offer because you asked.
It’s rare for career progression to be set out within a contract or any other formal means unless there are specific KPIs that exist or other target based performance criteria. As a general rule, most credible companies will do what they can to retain the best employees including promotions, pay-rises, etc. - and this is something that doesn’t really need setting out in any formal sense.
Forms! The company will be filling out way more forms than you have to. It’s a pain and maybe they can streamline but it is what it is.
Passports, etc. We ask for copies to be sent in advance of a formal offer being made then originals to be brought along on the first day. Nothing odd in that.
On the other points, ask! Say that some of the details were not as discussed and assess their response. They’ll not withdraw the offer because you asked.
Or take an alternative route:
Document to the end client / employer in an email the terms that the Recruiter made you aware of and the discrepancy between those and what you have been presented to sign.
If the end client / employer states those were never the terms then the issue is misrepresentation by the agent or lack of education of the agent by the client, either way should be easy to sort if its kept emotion free.
If on the other hand its the end client / employer moving the goal posts post verbal offer with no justification (we all make mistakes) then as others have said, move on.
Document to the end client / employer in an email the terms that the Recruiter made you aware of and the discrepancy between those and what you have been presented to sign.
If the end client / employer states those were never the terms then the issue is misrepresentation by the agent or lack of education of the agent by the client, either way should be easy to sort if its kept emotion free.
If on the other hand its the end client / employer moving the goal posts post verbal offer with no justification (we all make mistakes) then as others have said, move on.
S1KRR said:
Then eventually the contract comes through and the overtime rate has dropped. The bonus scheme is presented to me and is not as described initially.
I thought these stunts had died out years ago, apparently not. Walk away, as others have said, it won't get any better. If this is how they recruit people, imagine what its like trying to sort out problems when your feet are under the desk.
So I emailed the recruiter my concerns. Not exactly kicking the employer, but stating why I felt I had been misled. And that I would be declining the offer as a result. I also included my current wage details/ot/bonus structure to back up my reasons.
The recruiter fired back saying "don't do it yet, I'll speak to them" So I decided to give him a few hours to see what he could nail down. Maybe it was a misunderstanding and I could get it all straightened out.
What he actually did, was forward on the email in it's entirety to the employer! FFS! 
The employer to be fair, made his case again. Everything I was concerned about was correct. He disputed a few of my opinions, but said he was offering as much as I was worth (which of course is significantly less than my current OTE, which made me smile) And to reconsider. Since the company was (paraphrasing) "on a path to greatness"
I politely declined to the employer and wished them well. CC-ing in the Recruiter.
The recruiter phoned me several times. But his actions have made me seriously reconsider asking them to take me off their database for good. Why would he think it prudent to forward on a relatively confidential email?!?!
Recruiters used to be pushy, but useful, as they had great contact lists. They seem to be declining in standard over the last few years.
The recruiter fired back saying "don't do it yet, I'll speak to them" So I decided to give him a few hours to see what he could nail down. Maybe it was a misunderstanding and I could get it all straightened out.
What he actually did, was forward on the email in it's entirety to the employer!
FFS! The employer to be fair, made his case again. Everything I was concerned about was correct. He disputed a few of my opinions, but said he was offering as much as I was worth (which of course is significantly less than my current OTE, which made me smile) And to reconsider. Since the company was (paraphrasing) "on a path to greatness"
I politely declined to the employer and wished them well. CC-ing in the Recruiter.
The recruiter phoned me several times. But his actions have made me seriously reconsider asking them to take me off their database for good. Why would he think it prudent to forward on a relatively confidential email?!?!
Recruiters used to be pushy, but useful, as they had great contact lists. They seem to be declining in standard over the last few years.
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