Job Agencies - rhetorical rant
Discussion
This thread will not contribute anything to Pistonheads whatsoever, but I want to get something off my chest, so here goes the rant:
I was contacted by a job agency three weeks ago about a job. They gave me details and asked if I wanted to be put forward for it, so I said yes. I got a call the next day saying that the company wanted to give me a telephone interview, so this was arranged and took place at the said time. No problems. I was keen and asked to proceed.
The company got back to the agency and were keen to interview me properly, and this is where the fun starts. During the telephone interview I learnt that the second interview involved an hour's presentation, so I told the agency that I needed about two weeks to prepare. The location of the job also demanded an interview after 5pm, as the earliest I can leave work is 4pm. Not bad criteria I didn't think - I stated it clearly, and awaited news.
Since then (a week and a half ago), this agent has called me twice a day, sometimes as late as half six in the evening, offering me interviews tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, 10am, 2pm all sorts. Every time I have calmly stated my requirements of after 5pm and two weeks ahead.
We now finally have an interview date sorted (a week's time, but I just wanted to get it over and done with so I agreed!), and I've been on the phone trying to get him to forward details through to me on this presentation. I got a paragraph from him (not the company) describing what I need to do. I said it was fine, and expected that to be the end of it until the interview. Now he's leaving messages on my voicemail again!! arghhhh!!! leave me alone!!
I feel like just calling this company directly and sorting everything out myself! This chap is driving me mad as he won't leave me alone!!
In half the time it's taken to just book this interview I made contact with another agency, booked an interview and had an interview with another company.
thank you, rant over
I was contacted by a job agency three weeks ago about a job. They gave me details and asked if I wanted to be put forward for it, so I said yes. I got a call the next day saying that the company wanted to give me a telephone interview, so this was arranged and took place at the said time. No problems. I was keen and asked to proceed.
The company got back to the agency and were keen to interview me properly, and this is where the fun starts. During the telephone interview I learnt that the second interview involved an hour's presentation, so I told the agency that I needed about two weeks to prepare. The location of the job also demanded an interview after 5pm, as the earliest I can leave work is 4pm. Not bad criteria I didn't think - I stated it clearly, and awaited news.
Since then (a week and a half ago), this agent has called me twice a day, sometimes as late as half six in the evening, offering me interviews tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, 10am, 2pm all sorts. Every time I have calmly stated my requirements of after 5pm and two weeks ahead.
We now finally have an interview date sorted (a week's time, but I just wanted to get it over and done with so I agreed!), and I've been on the phone trying to get him to forward details through to me on this presentation. I got a paragraph from him (not the company) describing what I need to do. I said it was fine, and expected that to be the end of it until the interview. Now he's leaving messages on my voicemail again!! arghhhh!!! leave me alone!!
I feel like just calling this company directly and sorting everything out myself! This chap is driving me mad as he won't leave me alone!!
In half the time it's taken to just book this interview I made contact with another agency, booked an interview and had an interview with another company.
thank you, rant over
maxf said:
Just wait until you turn a job down (despite it being totally wrong for you/your skills) - toys exit pram.
that is so true.... FFS what is the problem with these people. I know they're on commission but I am not going to be pushed into the wrong move to make some feckers monthly commission. They never seem to be able to either fathom or accept that a potential employee may reject an employers offer. And as you say.... every time.... toys exit pram.
Recruitment Agents are nothing more than salesmen and you are the product they're selling. The sooner they get you in and out of the interview, the sooner they get their ridiculous fee (presuming you get hired, of course).
From past experience, most of them don't listen to a word you say anyhow
From past experience, most of them don't listen to a word you say anyhow
Oh god, cause I may turn this job down.. It is what I was doing 4 years ago. My current company don't give pay rises (even with promotion), so I actually get a small pay rise by going backwards and working for this new place. I've got the toys out of the pram to deal with then have I?...
I had a call a few months ago about a job in Reading. The guy wouldn't give me the postcode until the day before the interview. It was SL1 (Slough). He said that Slough was a part of Reading... I told him I wasn't going as Slough was too far for me and he absolutely flipped it! I ended up putting the phone down on him.
I had a call a few months ago about a job in Reading. The guy wouldn't give me the postcode until the day before the interview. It was SL1 (Slough). He said that Slough was a part of Reading... I told him I wasn't going as Slough was too far for me and he absolutely flipped it! I ended up putting the phone down on him.
Some agencies are awful ..... I had one who virtually insisted I cancel / delay a holiday for an interview later that week ( I was not working at the time )
With great reluctance I deferred my flight at some cost ...... to be told the day before the interview the Company didn't need to see me !!
( The agent had not *actually* had an interview confirmation from the client when he told me about the interview , just his "expectation" ..... utter tosser )
With great reluctance I deferred my flight at some cost ...... to be told the day before the interview the Company didn't need to see me !!
( The agent had not *actually* had an interview confirmation from the client when he told me about the interview , just his "expectation" ..... utter tosser )
Not offending here, but am an agent and have been for a good few years.
Rob, If you don't want the job, and you say its a step backwards,why are you even talking to the agent?! And as for the rest of you, shame on you!! I know there are agents who are complete tossers, I know, I've worked with them, just be firm and say you don't want the job and/or you've found something.
At the end of the day, you don't have to deal with us, you can find jobs of your own accord, and we're not all complete t
ts.
Edited also to say, that you made contact with another agency etc. and had an interview in half the time. Surely it was your stipulation that you wanted two weeks to prepare for a presentation that the client requested on the first case. I don't see your point in mentioning the fact you had an interview in half the time TBH.
>> Edited by tiga84 on Wednesday 1st February 17:26
Rob, If you don't want the job, and you say its a step backwards,why are you even talking to the agent?! And as for the rest of you, shame on you!! I know there are agents who are complete tossers, I know, I've worked with them, just be firm and say you don't want the job and/or you've found something.
At the end of the day, you don't have to deal with us, you can find jobs of your own accord, and we're not all complete t
ts. Edited also to say, that you made contact with another agency etc. and had an interview in half the time. Surely it was your stipulation that you wanted two weeks to prepare for a presentation that the client requested on the first case. I don't see your point in mentioning the fact you had an interview in half the time TBH.
>> Edited by tiga84 on Wednesday 1st February 17:26
ts.tiga84 said:
Not offending here, but am an agent and have been for a good few years.
Rob, If you don't want the job, and you say its a step backwards,why are you even talking to the agent?! And as for the rest of you, shame on you!! I know there are agents who are complete tossers, I know, I've worked with them, just be firm and say you don't want the job and/or you've found something.
At the end of the day, you don't have to deal with us, you can find jobs of your own accord, and we're not all complete tts.
Nobody said you "all" were. However, there is something profoundly annoying about being given gip by some tw@t that won't accept that we have a choice too. Interviews are a two way street, something employers seem to miss all too often aswell. Not only do I have to sell myself, but they have to sell the position to me.
Timmy30 said:
Not offending here, but am an agent and have been for a good few years.
At the end of the day, you don't have to deal with us, you can find jobs of your own accord, and we're not all complete t
Says he in a huff
Only kidding fella, we are essentially pimps as you know. Just a huge amount of cowboys that ruin it for the good guys, and as candidates, you can be a pain in the arse just as much as us!!
But I won't go into that right now.................
>> Edited by tiga84 on Wednesday 1st February 17:31
tiga84 said:
Edited also to say, that you made contact with another agency etc. and had an interview in half the time. Surely it was your stipulation that you wanted two weeks to prepare for a presentation that the client requested on the first case. I don't see your point in mentioning the fact you had an interview in half the time TBH.
i read the addition of the two weeks was for the presentation required
tiga84 said:
Only kidding fella, we are essentially pimps as you know. Just a huge amount of cowboys that ruin it for the good guys, and as candidates, you can be a pain in the arse just as much as us!!
I know
Actually Iv'e become friends with some consultants, still see one whose a director now in a London firm, every so often we meet up for a curry/beer and just talk over the market etc.
What industry do you cover?
>> Edited by Timmy30 on Wednesday 1st February 17:38
Timmy30 said:
Only kidding fella, we are essentially pimps as you know. Just a huge amount of cowboys that ruin it for the good guys, and as candidates, you can be a pain in the arse just as much as us!!
I know
Actually Iv'e become friends with some consultants, still see one whose a director now in a London firm, every so often we meet up for a curry/beer and just talk over the market etc.
What industry do you cover?
>> Edited by Timmy30 on Wednesday 1st February 17:38
Was IT for several years (well since I left school 9 years ago, now a Rec2Rec IT manager. Thats punishment for you, recruiting IT recruitment consultants. Sounds complicated? You have no f
ing idea............tiga84 said:
At the end of the day, you don't have to deal with us, you can find jobs of your own accord, and we're not all complete t ts.
I know you aren't - I'm sure there are some very good agents around.
I make a point of being completely honest with them - I tell them I will only go for jobs that I actually want to get and consiquently want to know a lot about a position before I let them send my CV/make an approach - I get the feeling that my approach simply makes them think of me as a tosser though as they'd sooner mailbomb employers in the hope of getting me 'something'.
Why must they always (sorry, generalising) lie about wages too? You end up going to an interview on the promise of getting £x, instead to find out they are offering half of £x/2!
maxf said:
At the end of the day, you don't have to deal with us, you can find jobs of your own accord, and we're not all complete t
I know you aren't - I'm sure there are some very good agents around.
Why must they always (sorry, generalising) lie about wages too? You end up going to an interview on the promise of getting £x, instead to find out they are offering half of £x/2!
I have no idea. I can't see how anyone makes any money anymore by winging it with rates etc. There are so many Service Level Agreements with clients nowadays, I find it hard to see what they gain with this kind of practice, maybe they have targets for interviews that they have to be shown to be hitting. Other than that, I'm in the dark. Sorry.
maxf said:
I know you aren't - I'm sure there are some very good agents around.
I've yet to find a good one. I've had extensive experience with agencies over the last 5 years, and can honestly say that EVERY single one I've dealt with has been absolutely shite.
They take no notice of the job you WANT to do and have the skills to do.
When I say I want a MINIMUM salary, it doesn't mean I want to earn £7K salary LESS than I'm earning now to work more hours.
When I say I don't want to travel more than 10 miles, why offer me an interview for a job 30 miles away?
Yes, I am a fussy cow, I can afford to be! I will now not apply for any job that means I have to deal with a recruitment agent.
>> Edited by Mrs Trackside on Wednesday 1st February 21:38
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