Addressing your questions
February 15, 2006 3:04 PM
Thanks to everyone that has commented on my blogs and for raising some intresting points. I think they're well worth addressing for you and everyone else involved, so here goes.
Fake Adverts: These were used at one time as a useful tool to bring in good candidates for our clients. However, there were changes in our industry regulations more recently which now prevent us from putting out these "pullers" (industry terminology for fake job advert). The REC (the industry watchdog) stipulates that members must treat candidates with respect, and the Conduct of Employment Agencies Act (the EAA regulations) lays down guidelines which make it difficult for people to do this (for instance, advertised jobs must carry a location and salary). While this probably won't stop the real sharks, it is now agreed within the industry that it's much harder for the dodgy operators to work (and rightly so!) and a much more even playing field for the honest, transparent recruitment companies with nothing to hide (and again, rightly so).
Regarding consultants ignoring you once their use for you has been exhausted: There are several reasons why this is a bad idea and why you'll find that that the opposite attitude is encouraged where I work (I promise).
1. It would be a pretty short-sighted consultant who treated any candidate badly (and yes, that includes ignoring them) when that candidate will most likely be someone they can place in the future.
2. Word of mouth is the single-most important form of marketing promotion for recruitment companies, as trust is such a major selling factor, for reasons I'm sure we all understand.
Trust and transparency is one of the key ways my company distinguishes itself, and we have the testimonials to prove that candidates find our approach refreshing. I'm sure that, historically, we haven't delighted absolutely everyone - you can't keep everyone happy - but we certainly aim to please.
As you probably know, it's particularly true of the industries that we both work in (Engineering, technical, I.T, high technology and so on) that professionals network strongly and a good reputation is priceless.
It is still a challenge for good recruitment companies to ensure that all their staff are as scrupulous as they would like, because at the end of the day, you can't sit with all your staff all the time. But you can encourage a culture of honesty, train people into your way of doing business, provide customer charters, be customer-oriented, and so on.
There was a point where the recruitment profession gave itself a bad name and it's only right that the good recruiters out there are trying to do something about this. Hey - there are around 10,000 recruitment companies in the UK - that's a lot of competition, so we need to impress our candidates and clients.
Thanks again for your comments.
Comments
I have been looking for a senior role in development for almost two months now and feel some recruitment agencies almost play a game...and yes they do ignore you and always try to negotiate a lower salary.
Dipa - February 16, 2006 11:13 PM
Hi Dipa,
I'm not sure why a consultant would try and negotiate a *lower* salary with you since usually the agency get a percentage of your first year's pay. They might be trying to adjust your expectations to the current market price for someone of your experience and qualifications. Hope this helps.
James Chatterley - February 17, 2006 10:19 AM
Do you need any specific skills/ qualifications to be come a recruitment consultant??
Jen - February 20, 2006 10:40 AM
James is right on that. The consultant may also be aware that his client will not go above a certain budget so will be saying "if you want this job you'll have to take a bit less".
Also he may just be trying to gauge your minimum salary. If he can get you your ideal he will but he doesn't want you complaining that he passed you over for a job because he didn't realise you would accept that level of salary. He is just trying to maximise your chances of getting a job
Adam Jones - February 20, 2006 10:42 AM
Hi Joanna, well done on all your hard work hope you go as far as you want to in life. We are normally as restricted as we make ourselves, yet I seem to be over or under qualified or too old at fifty my life in the UK is only starting. My confinence has taken a tumble in this last year, so I have stopped going to agencies and have already started to feel better, and get some light on my design. You may be able to shine some light my way.
George Ives - February 21, 2006 1:50 PM
Hi
It seems to be a growing trend with agencies that though you have the nessecary quilifications but not enough agency experience to be discounted as a potencial candidate, even if you can do the job spinning on your head. If agencies and companies are not willing to take on inexperienced people, then how the heck are we to gain employment if they insist on beng blinkered to us.
I have already experienced ageism and have often recieved "well your CV is ok, but thanks no thanks" e-mails. I have worked hard to go back to college and Uni to re-train at 40+ and have achieved much in the last 5 years, yet I am constantly banging my head against a brick wall to gain re-employment in the Design Industry. "Equal Opportunities my left foot".
lynton bolton - February 26, 2006 1:37 PM
I am 65+ and I had to give up my job although I feel that I still possess the energy and strong desire to continue working. Applying to return to employment even in part-time capacity has not been easy. At a time when employers claim they are looking for experience, one would have thought that people like me would not find it too tortuous to get back into employment. I wonder whether age is not becoming an overriding negative factor in my case. I am not sure how many over sixties are around who really want to continue working unless driven by genuine dedication to duty.
Dia
dia scott-emuakpor - February 27, 2006 9:19 PM
Why am I finding it difficult to get a job with my Disability is it because I am Deaf?
Ronald Joseph Little - February 28, 2006 9:39 AM
An issue came up with my specialist social care agency and they took drastic action without informing me in advance. Is there any ombudsman or body which regulates agencies etc and do they have a code of practice to operate by?
Jen - April 18, 2006 6:41 PM
I am leaving my role in a couple of weeks and my agency have recently advertised it at a much higher rate of pay per hour. When I questioned them on this their response was "Regarding the pay rate advertised, we put this in to attract candidates, it is not the exact pay rate for this role". My response to them was that I find it a bit unethical to advertise my job in this way. Is there a governing body I can report them too?
Kate - May 18, 2006 3:36 PM
Our governing body is the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation), who may be able to advise you in respect of this.
www.rec.co.uk
This practice is reminiscent of "pulling" (putting false adverts out for jobs that do not exist, in order to attract candidates) which is frowned upon and should not practiced by reputable agencies, although as I have mentioned in earlier entries, it is not always possible for organisations to ensure that no consultants ever do this.
There are industry guidelines for the proper use of recruitment advertising, which boil down, in the final analysis, to the fact that it must be accurate and representative. My feeling is that this is not ethical, but an agency's responsibility to a client is crucial and if they were asked to do this by your former employer then that may be why they have done so.
I think the REC would be the place to go.
Joanna - May 18, 2006 5:50 PM
As a Business development professional having worked for blue chip organisations I rate standards and professionalism below that of Estate Agents.
There is clear evidence of "fishing" where an agency will advertise roles they do not have to bolster their database. Added to this a lot of agencies fail to acknowledge applications and appear to seek the easiest candidate to place from their point of view as opposed to finding the right mix of skills, knowledge and attitude for the client.
It is also evident that skills levels and actual industry experience are lacking in many recruiters who clearly have little practical knowledge of the positions they seek to fill.
I am genuinely surprised that there is any kind of industry body and it clearly lacks "teeth" given the current standards.
I could provide you with a long list of FMCG and B2B agencies that fit the above description but what ould that achieve!
Job seeker - July 13, 2006 11:33 AM