Recruitment agents calling your place of work

JaMarcusHustle

How common is this?

It happened to my GF a few weeks back - she received an unsolicited call from a recruitment agent at work. Not to her own desk number, but to reception in a medium size office (<50 employees). Wasnt discreet about the fact that he was a recruitment agent either. When she told me, I thought it was very unprofessional and could lead to her employer assuming she wanted to leave, and thus affect her standing within the company.

Same thing just happened me now. Reception received a call from a recruitment agent I've never even spoken to before and introduced himself as such.

Anybody who has worked as a recruitment agent before - is this normal? I would have thought it should be policy not to do so, or am I hoping for too much from a profession a lot of people take issue with?

Mrs OBumble

You're hoping too much.

When the market is really hot, they'll also do things like speak to someone, and during the conversation ask them for the names of any colleagues will similar skills. Then phone reception and ask to be put thru to the colleague.

Personally I recommend speaking to them occasionally, even if you don't do anythign about it. The same as having the occasional be-well-dressed day - leave the boss wondering whether you had a job-interview or a funeral to go to!

Laura_A

JaMarcusHustle wrote: »

How common is this?

It happened to my GF a few weeks back - she received an unsolicited call from a recruitment agent at work. Not to her own desk number, but to reception in a medium size office (<50 employees). Wasnt discreet about the fact that he was a recruitment agent either. When she told me, I thought it was very unprofessional and could lead to her employer assuming she wanted to leave, and thus affect her standing within the company.

Same thing just happened me now. Reception received a call from a recruitment agent I've never even spoken to before and introduced himself as such.

Anybody who has worked as a recruitment agent before - is this normal? I would have thought it should be policy not to do so, or am I hoping for too much from a profession a lot of people take issue with?

I worked in agency for two years and never once called someone at work to try to ask them were they interested in a new job but I'm not in the least bit surprised that you or your gf have gotten those calls (other people in my office did it too). I did have other agencies call me at work to ask if I wanted to leave and tell the receptionist where they were calling from etc. which I found really odd! Would never have done it myself but some recruiters have never heard of the word 'boundaries' which is the main reason I left agency....