Not happy

stormin

I'm jobhunting at the moment and went for a fairly big job which I am very qualified for. Had the initial screening and phone interviews. All going well. Then I got a rejection which surprised me because the reason for the rejection had been well explained in my CV and cover note.

Further investigation led me to the fact that the recruitment agency had..............wait for it.....it's a good one:

CHANGED MY CV, DELETED MY COVER LETTER AND WROTE ONE OF THEIR OWN.

What the f***? This is peoples lives their dealing with. Who the hell do they think they are to believe that they can describe someones experiences and work history better than the person who lived it? This was a 60K job well within my capabilities and matching perfectly my experience.

Anyone else suffered at the hands of these imbeciles in a similar fashion? I am livid.

seamus

Altering the CV is a common one. It's particularly frustrating when you're dealing with a recruitment monkey who knows little about IT except the buzzwords.
I had one email me saying that he saw my CV but found that it didn't say much, and asked me a few questions of the "Do you have any experience with.." type. Half of the questions were clearly answered on my CV, and for the other half the information wasn't on the CV because, surprise surprise, I didn't have that particular experience/qualification.

Recruitment companies have apparently sent my CV into plenty of companies, and I've heard nothing back - in fact only once have I gotten an interview through an agency, every other time where I've actually gotten an interview (and consequently the job), it's because I applied directly, with my own cover letter.

For the record, I did get a job through an agency once, but there was no actual interview or application involved

stormin

This is a good point. I have never in 13 years of working in IT got a job through an agency. They just seem to lie and lie and lie and do bugger all else.

Khannie

Absolute bunch of muppets. Can't believe they're altering CV's though. Would have thought that was fraud tbh.

seamus

Khannie wrote:

Absolute bunch of muppets. Can't believe they're altering CV's though. Would have thought that was fraud tbh.

Not really. It's the reason why the ask you to submit in a .doc format and nothing else. They stick their own agency logo/details onto it, and add/remove information they think is necessary.

Muppets TBH.

mountainyman

All agencies remove the contact details and add their own branding.

Computer Futures and Hays will add in skills to the CV and alter it without permission. They will both submit you for jobs without telling you (illegal so far as I am aware).

Whem you are talking to them stress that you want all submission cleared with yourself and that you don't give permission to alter the CV.

You should say it with all agencies but especially those 2.

Also ask the agency where the job is; say 'oh dear I sent my CV in there already' and then bang it in directly.

MM

TempestSabre

I'd have thought you'd have covered it in the initial screening and phone interviews? No offence intended but you'd think on a high level job they wouldn't be put off by a cover letter after interviewing you. You'd think they'd call you in for another interview to clarify. Surprised you didn't know about the agencies, their tricks are well known. You need to triple check everything they are doing. Good to check what the company gets compared to what you send AT the interview. So you can correct it. I used to bring a spare couple of crisp CV's with me. usually the agencies ones are badly re-formatted, and edited, as you know.

stormin

Is this legal though? Can they legally change the manner in which you represent yourself?

mountainyman

I don't think it is legal without your express permission.

But what are yoi going to do? How do you show damage?

MM

Berkel

Send it to them in PDF form or will they get snotty about it?

mountainyman

Surely the CV has to be rewritten to have their name and number.
That is understood.

Therefore they alter the CV.

The real issue is sending your CV out without permission.

Regards

MM

stormin

I'm getting the impression that people are Ok with having their details changed in this manner. I think we're becoming far too tolerant of this sort of bull and I'm not having it.

I'm going straight to the owner of the agency and am checking with my solicitor on this. I have also recorded the conversation that I had with the agency.

At which point when we approach an agency do they decide that we lose all rights to have control over the application process? There is never anything signed, they never provide any information on how they intend to act. These agencies are earning millions net profit and should be professional.

galwaydude

i dont think you can record the conversation without informing them first, not sure if its legal.But i agree its very unfair if you lost the job on the account of them rewriting your cv and cover letter.If that is correct you may have grounds.

mountainyman

I would be very interested to hear what your solicitor says. I wonder if you have grounds for damages.

Love to hear how it goes.

stormin

I've got to at least give it a try and see what if any legislation exists. I know they would have to be informed of the conversation recording but at least I have a transcript of the conversation for the solicitor. He can't use it officially but it's helpful.