Recruitment Agency Etiquette

CAPM

Hi Everyone,

Recently my company was taken over and as a result alot of people are out job hunting (rats abandoning the sinking ship may be a good example of whats going on).

Anyway, I had the usual job search and ended up talking to a few agencies before xmas. Recently a colleague who also works here mentioned he was with the same agency and told me about an interview he had with a firm yesterday. Today I got a call from the same agency (the same recruitment agent too) asking did I want to interview for the same position! I didn't say it at the time that I knew they'd already sent my colleague for interview there but mentioned to him afterwards - lets just say he wasn't impressed and sent the agency a 'nice' mail.

Basically we're both pretty annoyed by this as it does seem like we're being played off each other and I wanted to ask if this is a regular thing - should agencies be sending colleagues from the same firm to the same interviews or is this bad practice?

Thanks

cold_filter

They were trying to get you a job. They were trying to get him a job. They are trying to get the best candidate for the company. I dont see the problem.

Tom Dunne

CAPM wrote: »

Basically we're both pretty annoyed by this as it does seem like we're being played off each other and I wanted to ask if this is a regular thing - should agencies be sending colleagues from the same firm to the same interviews or is this bad practice?

Thanks

Before this spirals into an anti-agency rant, use the search function to have a look for previous threads on agencies.

They are not held in high regard around these parts.

padser

Thats one of the most ridiculas things I have read on boards.

You think because they sent your friend for an interview that they shouldn't send anyone else to interview for the same position??

I think you are missing the point of a recruitment agency - their job is to match candidates and positions. Mostly the fit wouldn't be right so they would be pretty sh1t at their job if they only sent one candidate for every position.


It's moronic for your friend to send them an e mail complaining about it.

europerson

I don't see the point of complaint. You're both looking for a job; you're both going to have an interview; it's a competitive labour market; the best (wo)man wins.

Eoin

The hiring company is the customer, not the people applying. There's a lot of complaining about agencies here, most of it deserved - but not in this case.

Karoma

eoin_s wrote: »

The hiring company is the customer, not the people applying. There's a lot of complaining about agencies here, most of it deserved - but not in this case.

I would agree.
OP: It's only ethically dubious come for you, not the recruitment agency. They're doing their job by getting suitable candidates and trying to line up the best candidate. They have done their job (ethically).

Eoin

I didn't say it at the time that I knew they'd already sent my colleague for interview there but mentioned to him afterwards - lets just say he wasn't impressed and sent the agency a 'nice' mail.

Incidentally, that "nice" email could have screwed up both your chances of getting a job, and any others that the agency may have.

Raekwon

I cannot stand recruitment agencies but they actually seem to be doing their job here. They got you an interview OP, you should be really praising them!

churrusco

The hiring company is the customer, not the people applying.

Obviously, that is right. However, there is the other side of things that is when they chase you. If you are headhunted they virtually become your hiring company and customer (wow, this sounds really bad) and they should behave like that (something that I have only seen with a couple of good professionals).

Eoin

churrusco wrote: »

Obviously, that is right. However, there is the other side of things that is when they chase you. If you are headhunted they virtually become your hiring company and customer (wow, this sounds really bad) and they should behave like that (something that I have only seen with a couple of good professionals).

It's a pretty competitive industry from what I can tell, and all that seems to have happened in this case is that they have heard of a good source of applicants and asked to put them forward for an interview.

pclancy

To them you are two candidates for one job, the fact ye both work together now doesnt change anything and the hiring company would surely notice it from your CV and interview
so there's nothing disshonest happeneing here.