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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think recruitment consultants are shit and wonder why companies use them

52 replies

MassDebate · 02/03/2016 17:04

Currently looking for a new job. I've seen a few advertised that look interesting and tried to get more info from the named "exclusive" recruitment consultants handling them. However, they are never available over the phone and don't respond to emails. I can't go directly to the companies who the roles are with as they're all advertised anonymously. How are they supposed to recruit for roles when the recruitment consultants ignore potential applicants? So bloody frustrating!

Also, why are consultants so crap at getting back to you after interview? I had an interview recently and it was indicated I'd hear today. Low and behold, I've heard nothing and the RC hasn't responded to my email (I assume it's a no and he can't be bothered to tell me).

So, AIBU as per thread title?

OP posts:
BillBrysonsBeard · 02/03/2016 19:14

They have been useless in our experience... They just seem to want as many people on the books as possible so they look good. We've had loads call my DP with the promise of interviews and jobs, then after that they add him on linkedin, and then he never hears anything else.

BlueJug · 02/03/2016 19:22

I have never had a job via an agency - nothing ever materializes - it is just hoop after hoop.

I have also fallen foul of the competency-based interview which seems to be idiotic. I apparently didn't score enough points in an interview in spite of having done the job before!

wasonthelist · 02/03/2016 19:26

then after that they add him on linkedin, and then he never hears anything else

This is more contact harvesting - they are hoping that his linkedin settings will give them access to all his contacts. I get this all the time from recruiters.

RortyCrankle · 02/03/2016 19:30

I agree, most are crap. I once placed a secretarial vacancy with an agency, specifically asking for someone with excellent English as the Manager's was not good.

At the interview two girls turned up. Confused I asked why they were together to be told by one that it was her cousin who wanted the job and she was there to translate as the cousin could barely speak English Shock

Needless to say the agency got a bollocking.

Naty1 · 02/03/2016 19:32

exactly this

She prefers the used car salesman types over the quieter ones with actual skills.

competencies, load of crap

Angeladelight · 02/03/2016 19:37

It's very frustrating. I'm with an agency at the moment and they won't put me forward for jobs I'm interested in and have relevant experience for because they cornered me into telling them what my dream job would be. Now they won't put me forward for anything but random temp jobs when I want a job I can enjoy.

That being said my previous agency was fantastic and great at getting in touch.

SheDoneAlreadyDoneHadHerses · 02/03/2016 21:18

I've got an interview lined up through a RA which I can't even be bothered with. I'm going for the experience.

However, my CV has been "reworked" into their format and there's shit in there that's not from my ACTUAL CV and even though I've explicitly said I don't want a stressful job as I have a heart condition that made worse by stress, they've put my reason for leaving as "wanting more responsibility"

I've half a mind to tell them to fuck off and take me off their books.

Kennington · 02/03/2016 21:23

Some are good. Some not so much. One put me forward for a totally unsuitable role and I had to cringe through an interview.
It saves companies of bothering sifting through CVs I suppose.

TonySopranosVest · 02/03/2016 21:39

BITD you'd sign up with an agency, go and meet a consultant and they would then match you to any jobs in their books/incoming work. Nowadays that doesn't seem to happen - you apply for a specific role (or a pretend role it seems to me, I've applied for literally hundreds of jobs on various job sites, some of which I am perfect for...never heard a peep and then see the same job advertised forever more) and if you're not suitable or not what they're looking for then forget it!

And woe betide you if you turn down a job offer for whatever reason, you will never hear from that RC again.

I have been temping for a while and have been bullied by my agency (by women half my age!) into taking lower rates and crappier jobs than I should be doing.

I've now secured a new job but only after lots of smoke being blown up my arse and I do feel totally burned out by the whole experience TBH.

CrazyBoo · 03/03/2016 04:43

Some RA are certainly better than others. One thing to look out for - and this is something you can research to a degree - is the cut they take from your wage if you do get a job. Some take more than others. Some take lots more than others. The bigger agencies have consultants that work to monthly commissions, KPIs, you name it - you'd be little more than a number to them. I am generalising...but do your research.

CrazyBoo · 03/03/2016 04:43

Some RA are certainly better than others. One thing to look out for - and this is something you can research to a degree - is the cut they take from your wage if you do get a job. Some take more than others. Some take lots more than others. The bigger agencies have consultants that work to monthly commissions, KPIs, you name it - you'd be little more than a number to them. I am generalising...but do your research.

ChickenandMushroomPie · 03/03/2016 06:37

I know a woman who runs her own RA - she's feckin useless!

Also, she works for other people as a 'Consultant', when in reality she's just temp casual labour herself, doing basic admin work!

She says she does the RA job because she likes being her own boss... Yep, that's why you're working for a two bit firm, stuffing letters in envelopes. So you can be your own boss... Hmm

SeventyNineBottlesOfWine · 03/03/2016 06:47

I was interviewed for a job by a recruitment agency.
The woman who interviewed me asked me a lot of personal questions about my private life.
After discovering I was a single parent she asked me if my children had the same father! I can't see why that would be relevant to the job!
Stupidly I answered her. I wish I'd told her to mind her own bloody business!

isitginoclock · 03/03/2016 06:48

YABU take your time to find a good one, take your time you get to know them, have a coffee, get them to know you and before you know it you'll be getting the best roles through first.
Yes there are Rubbish recruitment consultants out there but really, with the volume of applicants they have for each role do you expect them to hold your hand? If you want to hear about your interview, call them!

Ragwort · 03/03/2016 07:01

I temped once for a recruitment agency, my task was to check the CVs before the 'advisor's selected candidates for interviews, I had actually worked in HR myself but there was no specific training for the role & I really didn't have a clue what I was looking for - I felt so sorry for the candidates who had obviously spent a long time putting their applications together - only to be rejected by a 'temp' Sad.

Candycoco · 03/03/2016 07:25

Crazyboo- RA do not take a cut out of your salary, they charge their clients i.e. your employer a fee which is invoiced separately. You are paid regardless, the RA then has to wait often month later to be paid. If you then leave the post within a certain period of time they have to refund the fee. It has no baring on what you are paid whatsoever

Candycoco · 03/03/2016 07:26

Wait for months to be paid their fee that should have said

CrazyBoo · 03/03/2016 09:15

Candycoco of course it has a bearing on the rate you are paid. A company is willing to be out of pocket by only so much. We are only talking semantics here - the RA is taking part what I earn each week, regardless.

In addition, I can't accept a ongoing position with the same employer usually without them incurring massive fees from the RA - deterring them from ever offering. Pfft.

Vixxfacee · 03/03/2016 09:17

I went to a well known recruitment agency in the summer. They have called me ONCE to tell me about a job. Which was extremely low paid. Have not heard from them since.

UpWithPup · 03/03/2016 09:36

We recently worked with an excellent company to fill a role. They sent us 10 cvs that all matched our spec, we selected 4 to interview and would have happily offered the job to 3 of them. The candidate we choose in the end has been with us a while and is a great fit into our team.

I guess there are bad ones out there, but there are good ones too.

FinallyHere · 03/03/2016 09:39

I'm guessing that its different in different industries. Like ebearhug above, I'm in IT. The good jobs turn up through word of mouth, which is great so long as you are happy to stay in a similar role.

Likewise, we are always looking for good people. It's not unusual to offer jobs to people who have been introduced under the 'introduce your friends' scheme, only to discover that they have applied through the official channels and been turned down. Finding out what people will be like as colleagues is not easy in a couple of interviews, which is why we are always keen to hear about good people.

the advice when i started out was to work out what you want to do, then research through word of mouth or industry publications or whatever, where you could really be useful, then apply there directly. I suppose that means bypass the agents entirely. Good luck.

Whenwillwe3meetagain · 03/03/2016 09:57

I work part time in HR and I need agencies to filter applicants for me as if I did it myself I'd spend days going through CV's. I recruit support staff at typically around £40k (London professional services) and would expect my agencies to meet every candidate and write up a profile about them rather than just send the CV. If they behave badly I just don't use them any more. The RC that understand the business we are in think before sending a candidate over and so more often than not they are suitable and get at least to the next round of interviews. The good ones will take the time to meet candidates and advise them in my experience of the support industry in London at least.

maggiethemagpie · 03/03/2016 19:05

Recruitment consultants may be shit to their candidates but they are usually super schmoozy with the ones paying them, the employers.

splendide · 03/03/2016 19:12

I dealt with a brilliant one when I last job hunted 3 years ago, you just need to hunt around a bit. What industry are you looking in, if it's legal I can pm you a name.

RonaldMcDonald · 03/03/2016 19:24

There are sound reasons to use them and good ones are absolutely amazingly helpful. Lots of them are poorly educated wideboys/gals.

But....lots are brilliant