Recruitment etiquette
Discussion
Hypothetical scenario:
A recruitment consultant has been contacting John for months asking if he is interested in looking at job opportunities.
After a few time John agrees, if a role fitting a provided set of criteria emerges.
A suitable role emerged ad John was introduced by said consultant.
Interviews went well, offer was made. It was a lengthy interview process, 3 stages with a final interview with CEO and CTO.
John went back to his current employer with the news and after discussions secured a better package.
John apologises to consultant, mentioned that he would not be accepting the offer.
Consultant not happy for time wasting and mentioned that John cost him his reputation.
He also loosely threatened to pass negative feedback to other potential employers
Is John in the wrong here?
A recruitment consultant has been contacting John for months asking if he is interested in looking at job opportunities.
After a few time John agrees, if a role fitting a provided set of criteria emerges.
A suitable role emerged ad John was introduced by said consultant.
Interviews went well, offer was made. It was a lengthy interview process, 3 stages with a final interview with CEO and CTO.
John went back to his current employer with the news and after discussions secured a better package.
John apologises to consultant, mentioned that he would not be accepting the offer.
Consultant not happy for time wasting and mentioned that John cost him his reputation.
He also loosely threatened to pass negative feedback to other potential employers
Is John in the wrong here?
The recruitment consultant is just doing his job. He needs John to take the role, or he doesn't get paid. So he will say anything, up to and including this kind of blackmail if the recruitment consultant is a poor example of the breed.
It is extremely common for people to go through the interview process and decide the job's not for them. That's what the process is for.
John is worrying about nothing. But at least he now knows what kind of person the recruitment consultant is and can block him in the future.
It is extremely common for people to go through the interview process and decide the job's not for them. That's what the process is for.
John is worrying about nothing. But at least he now knows what kind of person the recruitment consultant is and can block him in the future.
I've only had experience with handful of recruiters in the past and can honestly say only one is helpful.
The last one kept pestering for a phone call even though I've said I'm only interested if a role meeting my specific requirements pops up.
"I've got a few suitable roles in the pipeline, when can I call you?"
Finally agreed to a call and I find it a total waste of time.
Roles are non-existent and it was mostly a data mining exercise.
Got another call and was pushed to go for a role that is obviously not for me, I've only went for the phone interview as the recruiter basically lied about the actual job requirements.
It's definitely frustrating experience.
The last one kept pestering for a phone call even though I've said I'm only interested if a role meeting my specific requirements pops up.
"I've got a few suitable roles in the pipeline, when can I call you?"
Finally agreed to a call and I find it a total waste of time.
Roles are non-existent and it was mostly a data mining exercise.
Got another call and was pushed to go for a role that is obviously not for me, I've only went for the phone interview as the recruiter basically lied about the actual job requirements.
It's definitely frustrating experience.
Ex owner of a recruitment agency here.
The recruiter is to say the least being unprofessional. ‘Counter offers’ from existing employers happen on a regular basis but for obvious reasons they are unwelcome. In my experience most candidates who accept a counter offer from their existing firms often come back as whatever the problems/issues were don’t go away. If the recruiter handles the situation professionally and gracefully the candidate will most likely come back to them.
The threats are just ridiculous. I’d have fired any of my recruiters if they did that.
The recruiter is to say the least being unprofessional. ‘Counter offers’ from existing employers happen on a regular basis but for obvious reasons they are unwelcome. In my experience most candidates who accept a counter offer from their existing firms often come back as whatever the problems/issues were don’t go away. If the recruiter handles the situation professionally and gracefully the candidate will most likely come back to them.
The threats are just ridiculous. I’d have fired any of my recruiters if they did that.
WonkeyDonkey said:
John can also pass on bad feedback to all his work colleagues about this certain recruiter. Very naive from the recruiter.
True but John probably doesn’t want anyone to know he was even speaking with the recruiter. If I was John I’d just tell the recruiter never to contact him again and to remove all of his details from the recruiter’s database. He could make a complaint to the agency but I’d say not worth the hassle.T5R+ said:
If CEO and CTO of a significant business - then you will have blotted the RCs copy book to some degree.
I would be surprised if that happened. It's not the RA's fault that the candidate has changed his mind, and it happens all the time regardless of whether they are direct applicants or via an Agency. if the RC is sending through candidates that are a "good fit" for what you requested then you would carry on using them.WonkeyDonkey said:
John can also pass on bad feedback to all his work colleagues about this certain recruiter. Very naive from the recruiter.
John's circle is a lot smaller than the recruiter and the recruiter could do more damage. But the recruiter wont as its bad for them and they will lose out in the end.John may also find that the reasons for wanting to move are still there, and he will leave soon enough, also johns employer will now know john was looking to leave and they wont like that, they will be ensuring that they have a succession plan in place.... and maybe even recruit someone better than John and look to move John on.....
Scummy recruiter in the wrong? Never!
There are some good recruiters out there, who've figured out that losing the odd match is worth it if the candidate has a good experience as they'll come back again and again. They're pretty few and far between, but once you've found one you probably won't use any other.
Perhaps the recruiter should've also tried to seek a better offer - and a larger cut with it - first?
There are some good recruiters out there, who've figured out that losing the odd match is worth it if the candidate has a good experience as they'll come back again and again. They're pretty few and far between, but once you've found one you probably won't use any other.
Perhaps the recruiter should've also tried to seek a better offer - and a larger cut with it - first?
sgtBerbatov said:
Brads67 said:
No
They are just in the huff about loss of finders fee.
This.They are just in the huff about loss of finders fee.
Plus if the company who was interviewing wanted John that badly they'd have upped their offer.
If Johns only motivation to leave his old firm was money, then he may stay, but if he was leaving in the first place because he didn’t like the people, then the money is kind of irrelevant.
I think around 60% of people accepting counter offers to stay, leave within the next two years anyway.
wiggy001 said:
Never forget that during an interview, you are interviewing the prospective new employer as much as they are interviewing you.
Indeed. I had a fairly high level interview (with a head of sales) about 10 years ago. The feedback was "I couldn't work out at the end who was interviewing who..."Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff