Recruitment Agents and Agencies

[OldAndSenile]

Is the recruiment industry one of the most under-regulated, lawless industries around, or have I just been very unlucky in the month or so I've had to deal with recruitment firms on a daily basis?

It might be an IT-only phenomenon, but I've been lied to regularly, told to break my contract with my new employer, stolen from and had my personal details used without my consent.

Firstly, I went to a couple of interviews for a job that I was later told was filled before I even attended the second interview - a waste of my time and it cost me another job I turned down becuase the agent told me they company were going to make me an offer that never came.(Can I name and shame the company who did this on here, or would that result in the thread being deleted, I'm fuming at them for costing me a job, and I'd like to cost them some comission in return!!).

Next, I apply directly to a company for a job and they tell me they can't interview me because they've been sent 2 other copies of my CV by agencies they've had problems with in the past - they'll try and claim comission and it's not worth the hassle. I never asked for my CV to be forwarded to the company, or even spoken to the agencies in question.

Finally, I've now received a job offer which I have accepted, and agents are now calling me telling me that as I don't start for another week, should go to their interviews as they could get me more money. They then have the audacity to ask me to use them in future when I'M recruiting in my new company!! Like hell I will!

Anyone else had problems with recruiters, or are there any recruiters on here who would care to explain why most of them seem to be a combination of the worst parts of lawyers, estate agents and used car salesmen?

[richard_t]

I'm in IT and I've only ever used an agency one, to get my current job and to be honest couldn't be happier.

Don't know what area you're in, but if it's Yorkshire then i can't recommend 4itrecruitment enough. They were fantastic and i'll definitely use them again should the need arise.

[Iccz]

First off, I believe you're allowed to name and shame companies as long as you're not saying directly not to use them, it's okay if you're sharing your experience. But i'm not 100% on that.

2nd, sounds like you've been very unlucky with the agency you were with, when I joined up with a small local agency around here they had forms to fill in which had tick boxes about sending CV / Contact Details out to potential employers, I never ticked it and told them that if they found a job for me to contact me first, which they did and it all worked out quite well.

I however had a couple of argument with members at staff at the agency because they kept messing me about with temporary jobs that were very temporary... 1 day work at a warehouse, which I was told was a possible full time position as a Network Engineer... But he didn't seem to last too long in that job and the agency was nothing but good to me for the time I used them (Queensway Personnel - Milton Keynes)

I'm not sure where you stand on personal details being handed out, it depends what you've signed/agreed to really, i'm sure you went to the agency and filled in some forms?

[OldAndSenile]

My CV is up on Monster, and I'm assuming some of these guys have downloaded it from there and sent it out without consulting me first. I've removed it all now I've found something (through an agency who were very good, incidentally!), but I'm still getting calls and emails from agencies who I have explicitly told not to contact me any more.

I used to have the opposite problem when I was running a department - unsolicited CVs sent by the dozen from 2 or 3 agencies - even my own once, with the name and current employer removed!!

[nitelife]

I've found the quality of agencies on JobServ are pretty good. Used them solely and never had a problem. Infact quite the opposite - quite professional.

[jassco]

I worked as one for a bit, and there are laws in place to protect you. If a recruitment company sends your CV to companies without your permission, then they are breaking recruitment laws and could be liable to losing the business.

it is however common practice for companies to strip a CV of any identifiable information and send it as a form of business development.

in your situation with the company saying they've already received your cv, I would find out which recruitment companies it was, and make a complaint asking for potential loss in earnings for not interviewing you (collaboration with the company that has bad experiences with the particular recruitment firms will certainly help). it's a long shot, but you would be entitled to it. furthermore, you could just put it in writing to the company that nobody is representing you, and there wouldn't be an issue at all.

also, do name and shame as there are loads of companies out there that should be avoided (by both employers and employees). One to avoid that send out CVs without permission has the initials of NFI

mods please remove if i'm not allowed to mention that

I feel I must say that there are also some recruitment companies out there that are extremely professional. These are usually the larger ones where you can actually go in and speak with the recruitment consultants face-to-face, e.g. Hays

[Zeromajor]

The worst experiences i've had in over 2 years of temping through agencies were with big names like Brook Street, Hays, Reeds etc.

Smaller independant places seem to provide a more personal service, treat you less like a number and talk sense instead of corporate-farmed bs.

The place that found me my new perm job were genuinely helpful and for once I can say they earned their cut - so there are some decent ones out there if you look hard enough!

[fencer90]

I used to run a branch of one of the big ones........Utter scum, lasted a year.

Trick after trick after trick to screw the clients and the punters they make estate agencies look almost ethical............Avoid

[mjn]

IT agencies are terrible. Only last week, one of them who i had been dealing with for a number of weeks regarding a potential role.....forgot to tell me i had an interview!

Utterly useless.

[chrisw]

Was just going to say that they are as bad as estate agents...

I've been contacted by many agencies over the years, and most of them will tell you fibs about this and that... but thankfully have not had any really bad experiences. You just need to take everything they say with a pinch of salt and hope for the best.

[Naqv]

When I was a graduate, I was unfortunately lied to day after day after day by these scum.
They will DO ANYTHING to get their cut.

However, some of the mid-sized ones were quite good in the sense that they didn't lie to me.

I don't understand employers, why don't they just sign up to monster and get the C.V's themselves, as that is all these glorified clerks do anyway.

[NewMan]

I'm getting a bit annoyed with agencies at the moment. Don't get me wrong, some of them are great, but I keep getting calls from agencies saying they've got possible roles for me, but then want to know where I've interviewed with so far - then they give me a name that's blatantly made up ("Oh, I know that company, did you see John Smith?"), just to see if I say "oh, no, I saw so-and-so" in order to bulk up their databases - at the expense of my time!!! I'm tempted to put on my CV "Will not disclose information regarding previous interviews.", but worried it will look bad to prospective employers.

[OldAndSenile]

Originally Posted by NewMan

I keep getting calls from agencies saying they've got possible roles for me, but then want to know where I've interviewed with so far

Yeah, I've had a few try this as well - tell you they need to know to make sure it's not the same company when you know damn well they're just on the lookout for potential new clients. I just make up random 3 letter acronyms as company names and pick one of the big local cities as where they're based...

I've had agencies phone my boss and tell him I'm leaving and that they've got some suitable replacements, too. If they hadn't already known I was gone, that could have caused me some serious issues!!!

[Naqv]

Originally Posted by OldAndSenile

Yeah, I've had a few try this as well - tell you they need to know to make sure it's not the same company when you know damn well they're just on the lookout for potential new clients. I just make up random 3 letter acronyms as company names and pick one of the big local cities as where they're based...

I've had agencies phone my boss and tell him I'm leaving and that they've got some suitable replacements, too. If they hadn't already known I was gone, that could have caused me some serious issues!!!

Highly illegal nd you can sue them for that, if you were still employed by the same agencies.

[Napoleon88]

I hate employment agencies with a passion. They have completely ruined my industry (HGV driving). They are constantly placing adverts for jobs that don't exist just to gather CVs in and they also tell an incredible amount of bare-faced lies for their own ends.

Come the revolution, these will be among the first up against the wall.