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Original poster

Awful recruitment agency or am I just too sensitive 😢

81 replies

user1471867483 · 11/03/2026 22:59

I am currently unemployed and I registered with a particular recruitment agency just before Christmas. I either text or email this recruiter to 'check in' and let him know my availability about every week. He hasn't done much to find me work, but Monday he contacted me about a role for two months. I told him I can only work to 4pm each day (due to new personal commitments) and said I can start the role in a week's time. Like I said, I've waited 4 months for work from him! He told me he'd put me forward for that role and "I'll work my magic" regarding my leave time each day and start date, he said. Ten minutes later, I emailed asking for the job description (which I think they have to provide?) and reaffirmed my start date and 4pm finish time (I like we everything in writing). In the meantime he never emailed me the job description and I never heard back from him until yesterday. I signed on yesterday late afternoon and by the time I got home, he had left a voicemail at the time I was signing on, asking me to call him. It got a little late and I emailed to say I'd call him the next morning. I rang him this morning and was met with a very abrupt recruiter. He argued with me saying that when he rings me he expects me to pick up my phone right away and speak. I told him I'm a very busy woman with many interviews. I reminded him he told me he'd work his magic and he said jobs move quick and I need to work quick with him. He told me the job has now gone and I said, "Well, it wasn't to be". I told him I needed everything put in writing too including the job desc but he went on and on basically making me feel guilty and argued saying my name about four times like he was arguing with his gf or something. His voice rose and he wouldn't stop arguing. I can come and go as I please? I felt controlled. Am I wrong? There wasn't any respect for me at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
user1471867483 · 12/03/2026 00:22

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/03/2026 00:04

He was rude, but you aren’t exactly making it easy. You could have phoned him in the time it took to email. Considering you are unemployed and can only work until 4pm you need to be more proactive in replying

I couldn't call him as I was waiting to be interviewed for a job and it got too late.

OP posts:
7238SM · 12/03/2026 00:14

He was rude, but I'm also unsure why you want the JD for a job role that went to someone else and you were no longer being put forward for??? I too would have cut ties with them.

What degree/area/skills/experience do you have? We might have some suggestions of better agencies or other job ideas for you.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 12/03/2026 00:14

He sounds rather odd, but you sound like you don't really want the work that much either. Companies use temps at massively inflated costs because they want quick solutions. You knew that there was something in the pipeline, why didn't you just answer your phone or call back straight away?

You really need to think about how recruitment agencies make their money. The employers are the customer. You are effectively the product. As things stand, you're making yourself a product that is relatively hard to shift.

Unemployment is relatively high right now, so the agency won't have a shortage of temps on their books. If you make it difficult for them to place you, they will eventually decide to just focus on the people who are actually going to make them some money.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/03/2026 00:04

He was rude, but you aren’t exactly making it easy. You could have phoned him in the time it took to email. Considering you are unemployed and can only work until 4pm you need to be more proactive in replying

Original poster
user1471867483 · 11/03/2026 23:59

HoskinsChoice · 11/03/2026 23:51

I think you're probably both unreasonable. His attitude at the end was appalling. But, your comment about him doing not much to help you and that he hadn't found you anything don't put you in a good light. How do you know he hasn't done much? The fact you are still looking should tell you that you and other agencies also haven't found you anything. Have you not done much either?

The way he spoke to you was wrong but he kind of has a point about keeping your phone on you. If you're actively looking and are on benefits to support you in the meantime, you really should be doing everything in your power to get a job which includes being ready to answer the phone.

I've dropped this agency. Never experienced anything like it ever.

OP posts:
HoskinsChoice · 11/03/2026 23:51

I think you're probably both unreasonable. His attitude at the end was appalling. But, your comment about him doing not much to help you and that he hadn't found you anything don't put you in a good light. How do you know he hasn't done much? The fact you are still looking should tell you that you and other agencies also haven't found you anything. Have you not done much either?

The way he spoke to you was wrong but he kind of has a point about keeping your phone on you. If you're actively looking and are on benefits to support you in the meantime, you really should be doing everything in your power to get a job which includes being ready to answer the phone.