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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Recruiters making you go in

99 replies

TheMythicalChicken · 10/04/2018 06:22

So I’m job hunting at the moment. I have applied for a few things and got calls back from recruitment consultants. They all seemed keen and said that I had a good CV and should go in and meet them and register.

So I get dressed up and shlep into town, paying money for travel and wasting a day, to find that the job I applied for isn’t available or they’re looking for different experience, etc.

So why do they get you to go in? It really pisses me off. I just got another call from a recruiter asking me to come in and register. She said they didn’t have anything at the moment but roles come up all the time. My response: “Why the fuck would I waste time and money coming in to see you if you don’t have jobs?”

AIBU?

OP posts:

Bodicea · 10/04/2018 07:28

My dh is a recruitment consultant. He wouldn’t do any of this stuff you mention. He does get frustrated by the industry and most recruitment agencies giving recruitment a bad name although on the other hand they do make him look good. If he wanted to meet someone he would meet them for a coffee at a place that’s convenient for both of them. He never makes up a job. He may meet a candidate that there are no jobs for but that’s just to get to know them for future reference. However he works at a reasonably high level so maybe it’s different for lower level jobs.

Slartybartfast · 10/04/2018 07:30

Can you claim your expenses op?

CheekyRedhead · 10/04/2018 07:32

Because they need to check your suitability to do the job; people lie on. Cvs (often encouraged on here), clients want a skill fit plus personality fit, check your right to work in the UK (heavy fines even jail now for breaches) they aren't the job centre, they don't have to work with every person they meet. As they charge a fee to the end client they want the best people who won't show them up.

Speak out- don't know where you worked but all jobs are real, we don't do 'hook job's and its against the law to advertise false roles. There are of course unscrupulous agencies out there
Bekaberch- if your husband is in a senior role recruitment is different for professional services, he can demand a higher salary, hes more likely to work with specialists. Roles at 17-25k are different, more demand, more people to let you down
Holly- spot on

treaclesoda · 10/04/2018 07:38

I got my current job through a recruitment agency and I never met the recruitment consultant. All our interaction was by phone and email. She was amazing, she persuaded me to go to the interview even though I wasn't sure, she knew better than I did what was right for me and right for her client. And she was 100% right. My employer is happy, I'm delighted, recruiter got her fee. She didn't need to meet me in person to do that. Although all the dozens of other agencies I've registered with over the years did insist on a face to face meeting and then kept 'tweaking' my cv and sending me for interviews for jobs in areas that I wasn't experienced in.

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 10/04/2018 07:43

Pengggwn that’s interesting because I’ve had 2 roles where I haven’t met the consultant and they’ve asked me to pretend they have because they’re supposed to it’s not going to stop them putting forward a great candidate is it? Or shouldn’t at least. They’d only be harming themselves

BangingOn · 10/04/2018 07:45

It does depend on the industry. ‘High street’ recruitment firms filling admin, customer services or generic office roles will almost always need to meet you. If it’s a more specialist firm for senior levels roles then it’s more likely to be phone or Skype.

Pengggwn · 10/04/2018 07:50

Sprinklesinmyelbow

Do you think I am lying?

I wouldn't have risked my reputation like that. If my client wants me to meet candidates, it's because they don't want to spend their valuable time meeting people who are [add as appropriate] odd, aggressive, not interested in the role, too expensive/inappropriate salary expectations, invented CV.

I met all my candidates.

AgentProvocateur · 10/04/2018 07:55

I’ve built a relationship with two different recruiters through meeting them, keeping in touch, sending a thank you card when they’ve got me a role etc. I’ve had my last four long-term temp roles through these recruiters with a large pay increase each time. If you’re looking for a job, you need them more than they need you.

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 10/04/2018 07:56

I don’t think you’re lying! I just know not all recruiters do what their employers tell them to. My DH is one

EBearhug · 10/04/2018 07:57

I've only met one recruiter over the years, and that's because I had an interview for a job a couple of miles down the road from their offices - they didn't expect me to go out of my way to physically meet them. Most of them I have only dealt with by phone, which seems to be normal for IT.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 10/04/2018 07:57

They are lying about the jobs and just trying to get you into their books so when a genuine job comes in they have your details and CV ready to go.

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 10/04/2018 08:01

It’s really depends on your role. In my job recruiters always approach me, like
Light weight head hunting, and that’s how DH runs his business. They wouldn’t be interested in taking your details (or they might pretend to but wouldn’t really do much with them) if you have a junior job or one with lots of available candidates you’ll have a different experience and recruiters are dismissive of you (been there too)

I hold a grudge though- one refused to put me forward for a role early in my career and was really rude- I’ve banned her agency from all my recruitment and refuse to go for any jobs they contact me about. And that was 10 years ago 🤣

Pengggwn · 10/04/2018 08:02

Sprinklesinmyelbow

Well, yes, I imagine that's true. But in the case of the OP, it's likely the recruiter is just doing what the client has asked.

It would be more transparent to say 'We don't think you're a good fit for the role because X' but, from the sounds of it (given the fruity language and aggression) the candidate wouldn't be put forward for other jobs anyway, so the recruiter probably just opted for the easy switch-off.

SarfE4sticated · 10/04/2018 08:02

I know it is annoying to spend out the money on getting in to see them, but I think it's really important to make a good impression and start off a good relationship with the recruiter. That way they'll remember you! Also they need to know whether you will fit in with the company. If, say, you are a sharp city slicker, you might not be happy working for their hippyish publishing firm.

I like dealing with RCs because they can give you an inside info on the company, but they are less likely to put you forward for a job that you don't 100% fit. I think it's good to use a mix of agencies and your own research. LinkedIn are ok for jobs, and I like Glassdoors too.

Good luck though OP, I'm in the same boat as you and it is demoralising.

TattyCat · 10/04/2018 08:05

Well, by swearing at them over the phone, you've at least saved them the trouble of bothering to meet you face to face, I suppose!

Paleblue · 10/04/2018 08:09

I spent hours at a recruitment agency last summer. They made me fill out lots of forms and speak to two different people. They promised me training courses and temporary jobs. I never heard from them again except for a few text messages about jobs with hours I can't do.

Years ago I found recruitment agencies very helpful. No so sure now. I have managed to find a job without them.

Good luck op, I hope you find a job soon.

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 10/04/2018 08:11

Recently I have been helping one of my clients to recruit. We have just dropped one of our preferred agencies because it had become obvious they weren't meeting the candidates themselves before putting their CVs forward to us.

This resulted in people being called for interview who were outright liars, others with appalling personal presentation and one guy who was seriously rude to reception and carpark staff. Everyone's time was wasted.

If all we needed was a CV search, we could have bought access to a jobs site and run a search ourselves. The point of the agency is to weed out the liars, blaggers and loons. A lot of that only becomes apparent if you meet the person.

We are recruting for technical roles that pay well. Maybe it is different for others.

fallinggreenleaves · 10/04/2018 08:13

If they are placing you in a job they need to meet you to gauge if you are the right fit for that company and the team you'd be working with, somthing they can't tell from your cv. Just make all your appointments on one day or apply for jobs direct if it bothers you that much

mogonfoxnight · 10/04/2018 08:22

I wanted to move from the north to the south when I qualified and was asked to go down to London to meet a recruiter, and in my line of work it is an interview because whether they have a role then and there or not they will not back your corner unless they are confident in you, because otherwise their clients will lose confidence in them. They will also be able to judge whether you'd be a fit for the various roles they may have open. It depends on your line of work though, possibly.

I moved job 5 years later and recruiters came to meet me usually, but I went to one recruiter's office and by coincidence it was her who ended finding me the most amazing role.

If any of this sounds familiar, see it as an interview and an ongoing relationship, to help them get you a job.

Cat12321 · 10/04/2018 08:28

I also worked in recruitment for 4 years and I can tell you that PPs have been right in saying that recruiters needing to meet you is largely target based.

They'll have a set amount of candidates that they'll have to meet every week/month.

It is also about justifying their 15-20% fee to the client. Things such as cultural fit are easier to gauge in person than on the phone.

The only industry where it is pretty much imperative that you meet candidates is if you're working in the public sector. As for auditing purposes, they'll need to verify that your passport etc, really is you before they represent you as a business.

Unfortunately, most recruiters won't submit your CV unless they've met you personally as their clients will refuse to see you. As a PP said, the best thing to do would be to register with a few in a day.

Remember that recruiters are sales people, them securing you a new role is mutually beneficial

Best of luck x

Pengggwn · 10/04/2018 08:33

Cat12321

You're directly contradicting what other recruiters and former recruiters have said on the thread.

Geoff1969 · 10/04/2018 09:06

apply for jobs direct if it bothers you that much

If only it were that simple. No-one seems to recruit directly any more and the agencies have taken over. There are hundreds of agencies now, how do they all survive with so much competition?

I also agree that I think they only get you into register to meet their own targets. It's not necessary as I've applied for jobs where eg the recruiter was based in Bristol and the role was in Nottingham so no need to meet, all screening was done via phone and email.

It's soul-destroying dealing with agencies.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 10/04/2018 09:11

What industry you looking in @Geoff1969 ? We only use agencies as a last resort in my company- they charge high fees so it wouldn't make sense to use them as the default for us.

Geoff1969 · 10/04/2018 09:16

In general manufacturing, engineering and service Accidentally. What sector are you in?

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 10/04/2018 09:34

I work for one of the utility companies but have covered many areas within that from corporate roles (legal, finance etc) to facilities, procurement, customer service and Meter installers. Agency has been the last port of call for all of those, no idea why a company would pay out for something they can do themselves

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