4 ms·

What I am missing from this analysis is the underhanded methods used by many recruiters. I've had recruiters publishing our job postings via various job boards

by rickmb 15y ago

What I am missing from this analysis is the underhanded methods used by many recruiters. I've had recruiters publishing our job postings via various job boards in order to intercept potential candidates. I've had a candidate who was told the recruiters posting he responded to was no match for him, when in reality we had simply told the recruiter we had no need for their services. Luckily the candidate managed to Google us. I've had my own CV offered to other companies without my permission. Many a LinkedIn group is set up by recruiters as their own private fishing pool. What actually surprises me most is the apparent naivety of these recruiters: a lot of these job postings and CVs are easily traced back to the source. Some are very recognizable (it's a small world), most are easily googled.

Peroni 15y ago
Good point. There are a few more I could add to that list that are a bit more controversial which I'll address in a week or two with a new blog post. As for the ones you've mentioned, let me at least try and explain the method behind the madness. I've had recruiters publishing our job postings via various job boards in order to intercept potential candidates This happens all the time and I bet the recruiters version has a slightly higher salary too right? The bottom line is that this is actually an illegal practice, at least in the UK but it isn't policed. It's against the law to advertise a vacancy that doesn't exist or duplicate a vacancy that you are not recruiting directly for. Why do they do it? Like you said, they want the candidates to come to them first so they can then claim them and introduce them to you for a fee. I had a candidate who was told the recruiters posting he responded to was no match for him, when in reality we had simply told the recruiter we had no need for their services. This is just pure laziness. Most recruiters hardly bother to give negative feedback in the first place as there is nothing they can personally gain from it. I think all feedback is useful personally. I've had my own CV offered to other companies without my permission. Another ridiculously common tactic. The idea is to test out the CV, generate interest and if they get any bites they will then call you and try and get you on board. Lazy recruitment again.
- ig1 15y ago
  The last is also illegal in the UK.
- rjd 15y ago
  Oh one more story for you, about fake listings. My same dodgy recruiter friend I mentioned in my other story created fake nicely tailored CVs and got an 900 number. He applied to every big job he could find, even some in his own company. Ones he knew other recruiters would jump at. I think he made around £500 before someone dobbed him in and they shut his account down LOL
Swannie 15y ago
Indeed, as such I've made a point to always try and identify the company from the advert, prior to contacting the agent. I'd say in about 10% of cases this has allowed me to go direct to the company, via their own job listing. In about 30% it has allowed me to see other recruiters advertising for the role, and choose which one to give my CV to. 57% of the cases, I get nowhere. The remaining 3%, every now and again, you find the same job description has been advertised for 9months +. The agency gets a mental black mark, as it looks like a fishing expedition.

by rickmb 15y ago

Peroni 15y ago

Good point. There are a few more I could add to that list that are a bit more controversial which I'll address in a week or two with a new blog post. As for the ones you've mentioned, let me at least try and explain the method behind the madness. I've had recruiters publishing our job postings via various job boards in order to intercept potential candidates This happens all the time and I bet the recruiters version has a slightly higher salary too right? The bottom line is that this is actually an illegal practice, at least in the UK but it isn't policed. It's against the law to advertise a vacancy that doesn't exist or duplicate a vacancy that you are not recruiting directly for. Why do they do it? Like you said, they want the candidates to come to them first so they can then claim them and introduce them to you for a fee. I had a candidate who was told the recruiters posting he responded to was no match for him, when in reality we had simply told the recruiter we had no need for their services. This is just pure laziness. Most recruiters hardly bother to give negative feedback in the first place as there is nothing they can personally gain from it. I think all feedback is useful personally. I've had my own CV offered to other companies without my permission. Another ridiculously common tactic. The idea is to test out the CV, generate interest and if they get any bites they will then call you and try and get you on board. Lazy recruitment again.

ig1 15y ago
The last is also illegal in the UK.
rjd 15y ago
Oh one more story for you, about fake listings. My same dodgy recruiter friend I mentioned in my other story created fake nicely tailored CVs and got an 900 number. He applied to every big job he could find, even some in his own company. Ones he knew other recruiters would jump at. I think he made around £500 before someone dobbed him in and they shut his account down LOL

Swannie 15y ago

Indeed, as such I've made a point to always try and identify the company from the advert, prior to contacting the agent. I'd say in about 10% of cases this has allowed me to go direct to the company, via their own job listing. In about 30% it has allowed me to see other recruiters advertising for the role, and choose which one to give my CV to. 57% of the cases, I get nowhere. The remaining 3%, every now and again, you find the same job description has been advertised for 9months +. The agency gets a mental black mark, as it looks like a fishing expedition.