Recruiters, a scam?

[heyhomes]

I'm currently a manager at a major transport hub and have recently been looking around for work. I've registered myself on most of the main online jobsites and applied for a few positions.

I've had a few phone conversations and meetings with recruitment agencies, and most of them have been very keen to find out my current salary, job spec, how many people I'm in charge of etc. As soon as they get this information they seem to disappear or cease responding to communication. I just got off the phone to one guy who really wanted to give me a phone interview so he can 'get to know' me in greater detail. He seemed very keen on finding out my salary details and asked me over and over again why I was looking for work, not accepting the answer i gave him.

I've got a really strong gut feeling that there is something dodgy about this agency, and I don't think that I'll be accepting the phone interview.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I might be worrying over nothing, or perhaps they are just after my details so that they can sell them on, or perhaps there is something more sinister going on.

[Ste1987]

Sounds like what I'm experiencing at the moment. I wouldn't worry they're just a pain in the arse. Like salesmen, they're on commission.

[Zoon]

Did they tell you their company name?

[anothernameitist]

Apply direct to Eddie Stobarts. End of!!!

if not there is alway Waberners or Willi Betz

[bigandclever]

Because in a week they'll phone up your boss and tell them they're sorry to hear you're wanting to leave but they can get him a better, cheaper replacement with no bother. And they've already trawled any social media contacts you have.

[heyhomes]

Zoon said:

Did they tell you their company name?

Yep, I won't say on here though as they are probably legit (going by the professional looking website). I suspect that they are just far more interested into getting into recruitment for my organisation than actually finding me a job.

[hairyben]

Ste1987 said:

Sounds like what I'm experiencing at the moment. I wouldn't worry they're just a pain in the arse. Like salesmen, they're on commission.

Its an industry that can give car dealers, estate agents and traffic wardens a run for their money in the ruthless unprofessional money grabbing parasites game, soon as they have a use for you you'll hear, untill then they wont understand why they should want to communicate with you.

Seems to vary in different industries though, mine (trades) as you may surmise is particularly bad although not had to have dealings with agys for a good time.

[Zoon]

heyhomes said:

Yep, I won't say on here though as they are probably legit (going by the professional looking website). I suspect that they are just far more interested into getting into recruitment for my organisation than actually finding me a job.

Did it end in "art" by any chance?

[joshleb]

Friend of mine used to be in recruitment, he would find out what jobs they were applying for and what they wanted, then find someone better for those roles.

[heyhomes]

Zoon said:

Did it end in "art" by any chance?

Nope, had the word pioneer in the name :-)

[heyhomes]

bigandclever said:

Because in a week they'll phone up your boss and tell them they're sorry to hear you're wanting to leave but they can get him a better, cheaper replacement with no bother. And they've already trawled any social media contacts you have.

I reckon you hit the nail on the head there.

[MikeGoodwin]

They are buggers. But it's best to use them to your advantage and I've had some really decent ones get me jobs. find a job posting you like the look of them add them on LinkedIn or message them asking for a chat and go over the usual bullst about you present situation etc. Fire you cv to them and dont contact them again unless they contact you. Best you accept its a numbers game and you' may not hear back. If you just go straight to an agency as they may not always have a job available for you. As others have mentioned they will not necessarily be interested in yourself f you just go direct to a random agency rather someone to fill your current role.....

[MitchT]

My OH has changed jobs on average every couple of years (seems to be a good strategy for getting your income up) and has had a lot of contact with recruiters over the years. However, every job she's ended up getting was via direct application.

[anonymous-user]

Just remember who pays recruiters (hint- it's not candidates). These are the people recruiters are interested in pleasing. Candidates are just fuel and expendable.

Being fair that's a massive generalisation, and there are some very good, very attentive specialist recruiters out there (typically one-man firms with long lasting relationships). These are fewer and further between and for every one of those, there are 200 low paid telephone jockeys who move jobs/careers every 20 minutes.

[CaptainSlow]

I've noticed a fair decline in the standards of finance recruiters over the last ten years. Previously I would know the individuals and go out for a drink with them, now it's just a numbers game. A close friend is now an "experienced" recruiter, his own Linkedin profile history is completely made up as I know this time last year he was an estate agent.

For some reason they are desperate to "meet up", there must be targets behind the scenes, I no longer bother. The thing that make me smile is despite them claiming to have a good understanding of a role, whenever they talk through the role their tone changes and it's obviously they're reading the client provided spec. This time next year most will be flogging cavity wall insulation.

[aka_kerrly]

Ste1987 said:

Sounds like what I'm experiencing at the moment. I wouldn't worry they're just a pain in the arse. Like salesmen, they're on commission.

Same here, far too many hours spent on the phone to recruiters and not a lot to show for it.

I've been doing the temping game for a while and like another poster suggested, many employers seem reluctant to give temps permanent contracts yet appear disappointed when you move onto another job.