Company plagiarised my CV

jobseeker999

Hi all. I was asked to go for an interview for a role that wasn't advertised about 6 weeks ago, they called me, I sent them my CV and then the Interview. The interview could have gone better, I have all the skills for the job but I just got the feeling they took a dislike to me. They promised to call me by the end of the week, this didn't happen however on the following Monday I had a call from them requesting my referees, I gave these and that was the last that I heard from them even though I've emailed a couple of times and left 2 messages for them to call me to give me feedback. (My referees were never contacted) Anyway, as the weeks went on I just assumed they had taken a dislike to me and were not going to offer me the role, I'm big enough to accept that ( to be told however would have been nice!). Anyway I was looking at Irish Jobs this morning and the role has appeared, I could barely believe it when I read the ad., they had basically copied my personal statement from my CV word for word! My CV was obviously good enough for them but I wasn't!
Should I just let it go?

MidlandsM

nowt you can do....move on

Mr. Loverman

Yes, let it go. Pursuing the matter further will just cause you stress.

steve_r

sorry to hear that OP, bad form by the company.

How does data protection impact on job applications - hopefully one of the legal minds on here will be able to let you know one way or annother.

Mrs OBumble

There are several legal avenues: Data protection (though I'm not sure how the publication of "opinion" rather than fact, and in a non-identifying way would impact on that). And anything you write is copyright, so you could pursue that, too.

However we cannot give legal advice here, so you'll need to approach a lawyer if you want more info on those options.

From the pragmatic school-of-life perspective, I think that Mr Loverman is right on the money.

Thoie

Depending on the company, I'd send a registered letter to the MD simply saying that you were disappointed that not only did you not receive any feedback following your interview for position X, but that they had used verbatim extracts from your CV in their subsequent advertising. Tell them you'd appreciate a response explaining why they had done this.

If it's a small family run business you can probably go whistle, but if it's a larger company where the head of HR isn't sleeping with the MD, something may be done about it.

tatli_lokma

Thoie wrote: »

Depending on the company, I'd send a registered letter to the MD simply saying that you were disappointed that not only did you not receive any feedback following your interview for position X, but that they had used verbatim extracts from your CV in their subsequent advertising. Tell them you'd appreciate a response explaining why they had done this.

If it's a small family run business you can probably go whistle, but if it's a larger company where the head of HR isn't sleeping with the MD, something may be done about it.

Risky strategy....with Ireland being a village you just don't know if doing something like this might blackball you later on. I suppose it depends on the industry.

I agree with Mr Loverman - move on, and at least take comfort and confidence in knowing that your CV is of a really good quality.

walshc54

Something very similar to this happened to me recently! I was made redundent by a somewhat large financial services company, but before I left I applied for a role in their sister company. This was already up on Irish Jobs etc, with a very brief Job description. I never got called for an interview but I noticed that after a week or two they had amended the job spec on Irish Jobs and blatantly stole lines word for word from my CV . They even included specific qualifications I had as being "advantageous" and certain modules I took for my degree, some of which probably weren't even that relevant to the role! They also put in all the skills from my CV and identical descriptions of them. I didn't really mind at the time because I ended up finding a far better job, but you'd wonder why employers do it. Is it just laziness?!! They were basically saying my CV was the perfect CV for the job, but I wasn't even worth an interview!

Solair

Same thing happened to a friend of my me while applying for jobs in Belgium.

Even worse, they put her CV extract up as a description for an internship!!

gozunda

Thoie wrote: »

Depending on the company, I'd send a registered letter to the MD simply saying that you were disappointed that not only did you not receive any feedback following your interview for position X, but that they had used verbatim extracts from your CV in their subsequent advertising. Tell them you'd appreciate a response explaining why they had done this.

If it's a small family run business you can probably go whistle, but if it's a larger company where the head of HR isn't sleeping with the MD, something may be done about it.

OP - this sounds like a reasonable approach.

As for those that suggest you move on / ignore - it is likley that this is more from an employer bias.It may be addressed otherwise ....

ABajaninCork

I was astonished to read this. I know that some employers and employment agencies are less than professional in their approach, but this is taking the p1ss! I've never seen anything like this in my life...

Surely, there must be copyright issues at the very least. And NO I don't agree with letting it lie either. The attitude of 'Ireland is a village, let it lie' is outrageous. In some ways I agree, but why should people allow others to do what they like without fear of comeback? here ??

Perhaps, as I'm not Irish, I find this very hard to take...

Thoie

Thoie wrote: »

Depending on the company, I'd send a registered letter to the MD simply saying that you were disappointed ...

Little Ted wrote: »

Risky strategy....with Ireland being a village you just don't know if doing something like this might blackball you later on. I suppose it depends on the industry.

gozunda wrote: »

OP - this sounds like a reasonable approach.

As for those that suggest you move on / ignore - it is likley that this is more from an employer bias.It may be addressed otherwise ....

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Surely, there must be copyright issues at the very least. And NO I don't agree with letting it lie either. The attitude of 'Ireland is a village, let it lie' is outrageous. In some ways I agree, but why should people allow others to do what they like without fear of comeback? here ??

There is a fine balance between "Ireland is small, let it lie" and "Stand up for yourself".

It is important in Ireland, particularly in more niche industries, not to burn bridges. At the same time, there is a difference between being a trouble maker, and standing up for yourself.

The approach I would take is to certainly bring it to their attention, but not to start making threats or demands. A polite letter noting that it has happened, and that you're disappointed is sufficient. If it's a decent company, they'll take the word to the wise, apologise (probably with a flimsy "oops, clerical error, thanks for bringing it to our attention"), edit the ad and everyone will move on.

A crappy company will either ignore your letter completely, or bluster and shout, in which case you're better off not working for them (for your sanity, maybe not financially).

For those who haven't been working in Ireland very long, always keep in mind how small the country is. The absolute wagon who has made your life misery could easily crop up again in a different company 10 years down the line. Don't roll over and take any crap, but don't be malicious in dealing with the bad people - stay professional, stay calm, and always work under the assumption that you'll end up working with this person again in the future.

ABajaninCork

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Surely, there must be copyright issues at the very least. And NO I don't agree with letting it lie either. The attitude of 'Ireland is a village, let it lie' is outrageous. In some ways I agree, but why should people allow others to do what they like without fear of comeback? here ??

Thoie wrote: »

There is a fine balance between "Ireland is small, let it lie" and "Stand up for yourself".

It is important in Ireland, particularly in more niche industries, not to burn bridges. At the same time, there is a difference between being a trouble maker, and standing up for yourself.

The approach I would take is to certainly bring it to their attention, but not to start making threats or demands. A polite letter noting that it has happened, and that you're disappointed is sufficient. If it's a decent company, they'll take the word to the wise, apologise (probably with a flimsy "oops, clerical error, thanks for bringing it to our attention"), edit the ad and everyone will move on.

A crappy company will either ignore your letter completely, or bluster and shout, in which case you're better off not working for them (for your sanity, maybe not financially).

For those who haven't been working in Ireland very long, always keep in mind how small the country is. The absolute wagon who has made your life misery could easily crop up again in a different company 10 years down the line. Don't roll over and take any crap, but don't be malicious in dealing with the bad people - stay professional, stay calm, and always work under the assumption that you'll end up working with this person again in the future.

There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. That I do agree with. Of course you don't go in shouting the odds. Vinegar never caught flies!

But I am a strong believer in not letting people use me to wipe their feet on.

gozunda

As an Irish citizen I am sick and tired of being told not to rock the boat and that employers will always have the upper hand.

I find this attitude both cynical and even dishonest and before anyone claims I am not living in the real world - I have expensive employment experience at many levels.

I really don't care if Ireland metaphysically is the size of a shoe box - it is at best a devisive argument against those who seek fair and correct treatment by their employers.

Employers do not exist outside the law - they are obliged to treat both job candidates and employees fairly.

Tbh the more employers that are taken to order because of poor, shoddy and sometimes even down right dishonest behaviour the better. It will mean a better, fairer work environment for all in the long term.

mikom

jobseeker999 wrote: »

Hi all. I was asked to go for an interview for a role that wasn't advertised about 6 weeks ago, they called me, I sent them my CV and then the Interview. The interview could have gone better, I have all the skills for the job but I just got the feeling they took a dislike to me. They promised to call me by the end of the week, this didn't happen however on the following Monday I had a call from them requesting my referees, I gave these and that was the last that I heard from them even though I've emailed a couple of times and left 2 messages for them to call me to give me feedback. (My referees were never contacted) Anyway, as the weeks went on I just assumed they had taken a dislike to me and were not going to offer me the role, I'm big enough to accept that ( to be told however would have been nice!). Anyway I was looking at Irish Jobs this morning and the role has appeared, I could barely believe it when I read the ad., they had basically copied my personal statement from my CV word for word! My CV was obviously good enough for them but I wasn't!
Should I just let it go?

Name and shame.
I like to know when I am dealing with turds.

tatli_lokma

gozunda wrote: »

OP - this sounds like a reasonable approach.

As for those that suggest you move on / ignore - it is likley that this is more from an employer bias.It may be addressed otherwise ....

as opposed to what? an entirely employee biased approach?
I've told you before gozunda, I am an employee. But I am also a manager. And I also have quite a bit of life experience which tells me that some things are better to let go, and others are worth fighting for. And the industry in which you work is crucial to which choice you make.

My advice to move on is not because I am a biased employer - it is because from experience I know that when job hunting, dwelling on past applications and focusing on such matters is not beneficial to your mindset and may actually prevent you from being successful at the next interview.

I also know that often, revenge is a dish best served cold. For example, I applied for a job via a recruitment agency. Was told I was not qualified and they wouldn't even send my CV on. I later found out that this was because she wanted me to take an 11 mth role which was getting her higher commission. Rather than kick up a fuss while I was looking for a job and therefore at a disadvantage, I instead decided to apply directly to the company for the role. Here I am now, got the job, loving it. One month into the job what did I have to do? contact the agency to get a temp! And boy did I enjoy making that phone call! Still didn't burn any bridges though.

gozunda

Little Ted wrote: »

as opposed to what? an entirely employee biased approach?
I've told you before gozunda, I am an employee. But I am also a manager. And I also have quite a bit of life experience which tells me that some things are better to let go, and others are worth fighting for. And the industry in which you work is crucial to which choice you make.

My advice to move on is not because I am a biased employer - it is because from experience I know that when job hunting, dwelling on past applications and focusing on such matters is not beneficial to your mindset and may actually prevent you from being successful at the next interview.

I also know that often, revenge is a dish best served cold. For example, I applied for a job via a rectuitment agency. Was told I was not qualified and they wouldn't even send my CV on. I later found out that this was because she wanted me to take an 11 mth role which was getting her higher commission. Rather than kick up a fuss while I was looking for a job and therefore at a disadvantage, I instead decided to apply directly to the company for the role. Here I am now, got the job, loving it. What was one of the first things I had to do in my job? contact the agency to get a temp. And boy did I enjoy making that phone call! Still didn't burn any bridges though.

The OP is seeking advice regarding a specific employment issue.

Employers are not always the best group to ask about such issues as there is an inherent vested interest in keeping the status quo

Employers do not constitute a group that will necessarily give a fair and balanced opinion on such issues. That is why there is employee representation and why there is employment laws.

You told me before..????


Are you my manager? I don't think so. You do not 'tell' me anything thank you. Your direction in this matter is quite clear tbh.

Your own experience while laudable appears to cone from a managerial mindset and imo is of no relevance to the individual circumstances in this case

The argument of 'do nothing' or else 'they will get you' is as I have said both cynical and dishonest.


We need to get rid of this attitude of toadying and grovelling that appears to be advocated in clear contradiction of an individuals rights. The sooner this is done the better for all.

tatli_lokma

:rolleyes: here we go again.

Best of luck OP. I can add nothing further to the thread and don't want to have the thread dragged down as others have been by a crusade of unite the workers.

I now bow out.

gozunda

Little Ted wrote: »

:rolleyes: here we go again.

Best of luck OP. I can add nothing further to the thread and don't want to have the thread dragged down as others have been by a crusade of unite the workers.

I now bow out.

I am sorry you feel that way however the rolling of eyes and implied sarcasm helps nothing.

Do bye...

gozunda

ABajaninCork wrote: »

There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. That I do agree with. Of course you don't go in shouting the odds. Vinegar never caught flies!

Respectfully I will have to disagree but only on a technicality....

http://insects.about.com/od/insectssociety/qt/Make-A-Vinegar-Trap-For-Fruit-Flies.htm

But I am a strong believer in not letting people use me to wipe their feet on.

I agree wholeheartedly

beaner88

gozunda wrote: »

As an Irish citizen I am sick and tired of being told not to rock the boat and that employers will always have the upper hand.

I find this attitude both cynical and even dishonest and before anyone claims I am not living in the real world - I have expensive employment experience at many levels.

I really don't care if Ireland metaphysically is the size of a shoe box - it is at best a devisive argument against those who seek fair and correct treatment by their employers.

Employers do not exist outside the law - they are obliged to treat both job candidates and employees fairly.

Tbh the more employers that are taken to order because of poor, shoddy and sometimes even down right dishonest behaviour the better. It will mean a better, fairer work environment for all in the long term.

Very well said. This place is full of doormats that live in fear. Stand up for yourself and have some personal pride and you will go far. People tend to recognise you as a person not to mess around.