To expect a job description before handing my cv to a recruitment consultant?

[definitelysentient]

I'm occasionally approached by recruitment agencies on LinkedIn. Typically, they give me a few words of description of the role and the un-named company, and ask for my cv and phone number. I assume they send the same message to everyone who meets their search criteria. I don't like handing over personal details to strangers without more information, and if I was to apply I would want to tailor my cv to the role, so I always ask them for the full job description. Is it a reasonable ask? Usually I get it, but sometimes I hear nothing more. I assume if they really did think I was a good fit (rather than just casting their net wide) they would be happy to oblige!

Definitely not unreasonable. They're unlikely to be legitimate if they can't send a JD.

I wouldn't send a cv without a job description as an absolute minimum. I actually won't let a recruiter put me forward for a position without a call about the job and finding out what company its with. I understand some recruiters don't like that but I've personally never had issues. But I did have one who out me forward without asking first, I got an interview and declined it. I've refused to deal with that company again. Its very much a 2 way street and if you have in demand skills you might have more leverage than you think.

Often a job spec will take some time to be agreed and signed off by a client even though they have informally briefed an agency, so recruitment agencies will try and get the jump on sourcing good candidates. Bear in mind that they are often looking for candidates in competition with other recruitment agencies and if they can show they contacted and engaged with a candidate first they are the ones the client will accept as representing them. That's why you won't always get an "official" job spec, it doesn't mean that there isn't a legit job there.

Depending on how badly you want a job you are of course entitled not to engage with these agencies and the higher your salary the less likely you are to see these practices, that's because once salaries are 100k plus the recruiters are much more likely to be working with a client exclusively so they can afford to take more time and have better candidate management practices. If you are on under 50k though, no chance, it's a dog-eat-dog industry and if you don't want to play their game they will just move on to another candidate who does.

As with all things your candidate experience will be better the more you earn

Good insight, thanks.