Inept recruitment consultants!

[_daveR]

I've seen the perfect role for me, local, fits with my skill set and wants some niche experience that I fortunately have. I am 99% sure that if I got to speak to the client I would get the gig. But...

The recruitment consultant is a moron! Firstly, he cannot converse in English even remotely well. He continues to just read the spec to me over and over and the ask me the same question even though Ive spent 10 minutes explaining all relevant experience to him.
I asked if there was another person I could speak to who may be able to discuss things with me but surprise surprise, he repeated himself again and started reading the job spec to me!

What on earth do I do in this situation? I was tempted to call the Agency office and try to find someone else to speak to but chances are its his role to fill and I'll just get put through to him again.

[jacko lah]

Huxley ?

They kept sending me CV's of manufacturing engineers, looking for business improvement positions.

At least it meant I knew what the opposition had to offer.

[_daveR]

Its an outfit called ICS Solutions. God knows why they decided to let this guy face clients and candidates though.

[JamieBeeston]

_daveR said:

I was tempted to call the Agency office and try to find someone else to speak to but chances are its his role to fill and I'll just get put through to him again.

So???

Do it.. whats the worst that could happen? You get him again... so no loss..

Then try again and be a little more forceful which whomever answers the phone.

[JustinP1]

_daveR said:

Its an outfit called ICS Solutions. God knows why they decided to let this guy face clients and candidates though.

Because he or someone else will tell the employer that this guy they have been talking to is great, they will interview you, take you on, and the agency will pocket £5000 in their work is ascertaining you are right for the position.

In that they can still just about get away with being morons as long as clever people still ring up and put themselves forward for jobs!

It doesnt surprise me though. We requested to an agency that we can get an office junior with a good employment record for staying in a job, as we want someone we can develop through the business.

I got about ten CVs, most of those hadnt ever held a job for more than 6 months, and two of them were in their 20's and for the last few years had picked up short contracts over the winter each and every year so they could be holiday reps abroad in the summer!

For this introduction for someone completely opposite that what we wanted, if we took them on they wanted two grand...!

[rich1231]

JamieBeeston said:

_daveR said:

I was tempted to call the Agency office and try to find someone else to speak to but chances are its his role to fill and I'll just get put through to him again.

So???

Do it.. whats the worst that could happen? You get him again... so no loss..

Then try again and be a little more forceful which whomever answers the phone.

Agreed.

But to be honest the more clueless consultants out there unwilling to sell themselves the better

Is that harsh?

[_daveR]

rich1231 said:

JamieBeeston said:

_daveR said:

I was tempted to call the Agency office and try to find someone else to speak to but chances are its his role to fill and I'll just get put through to him again.

So???

Do it.. whats the worst that could happen? You get him again... so no loss..

Then try again and be a little more forceful which whomever answers the phone.

Agreed.

But to be honest the more clueless consultants out there unwilling to sell themselves the better

Is that harsh?

Thanks guys. I'll get on the case tomorrow morning.

rich1231, I don't get what you mean? I'm new to this lark so I am still trying to suss certain aspects out. In this case, how forceful to be with agents/agencies. Without wanting to seem arrogant, I am quite confident that if I got to interview I would do well from the lengthy job spec I've seen. Hence why this is bugging me so much.

[spikeyhead]

Can you work out form the lengthy job spec that he kept reading to you who the company is?

if so then call them directly, save them the agency fee and a time delay.

[_daveR]

spikeyhead said:

Can you work out form the lengthy job spec that he kept reading to you who the company is?

if so then call them directly, save them the agency fee and a time delay.

I have an idea. They are a bit large to just call out of the blue IMO, but I have a contact that I will be tapping up tomorrow to see if he has an idea on who to speak to. Cheers.

[Mosi]

Dave, if you think you know who is hiring buzz me tomorrow and I will give you whatever contacts we have in there (the chances are they will be on our db somewhere). Happy to just pass you the info for nowt mate....what goes around comes around and all that. Failing that, check out LinkedIn to get the names of the key hirers in the company you are trying to get into.

Cheers

[Bibs_LEF]

Ask for the job spec via email, check the doc properties, it might have the company name in there and call 'em up yourself.

Or call me, I'll call them for you

[bga]

I may be missing the point but I don't see what the problem is.
Recruiter has job spec, you have skills. You tell recruiter how you meet each of those requirements and he puts you forward for the role.

[Fidgits]

yeah, recruitment agencies are a pain in the backside - im sure there are good ones out there, but my experience this week is they just get in the way...

As someone has said, I generally try and find out who the company is (usually i just ask) and then go to the company website and apply directly..

[mouk786]

agencies DO get a lot of josb that dont get advertised in papers/websites tho so they have at least 1 use.

plus a good agent can talk you up

[jacko lah]

jacko lah said:

Huxley ?

They kept sending me CV's of manufacturing engineers, looking for business improvement positions.

At least it meant I knew what the opposition had to offer.

I've just been offered a job via a 'Good' consultancy.

Funny thing is that I tried 9 months ago via 2 people who moved from where I am now to work in my target company, and it went nowhere really, but the 2 guys I've been dealing with, at the GOOD RC, have a sensible approach. Once I'd shown them I was not desperate, and refused a couple of interviews based on the fit not being right, and once they knew I'd turned down a couple of jobs via a couple of other RC's they took my requirements seriously.

I did get the feeling I was their pet project, to be worked on when they had spare time.


Just got to get the all clear on medical and reference and then I can resign here

[Bruce Lee]

I own and operate my own technology agency. I clearly wouldn't employ a consultant that didn't demonstrate first class client and candidate facing skills as this is a representation of the business, front of house.

If I were you I would simply call the MD of the agecny and explain, politely your concerns and that you don't seem to be gaining the information you require. I am certain the owner/manager would be keen to hear constructive critic of his/her business so he can fix it. If you have highlighted it no doubt plenty of others have too however he/she should be aware if he is as inarticulate as you describe.

Honesty is the best policy and this consultant could be the obsticle between you gaining a savvy role. There is no sentiment in money so just call up and be frank....or you could be yourself I will let you decide.