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Original poster

Is this acceptable behaviour from a recruitment consultant???

39 replies

CountessDracula · 28/11/2007 15:27

Dh has an interview at 5.30 today. He asked for a later one but they refused. He is a very busy City lawyer and his hours are til 6.30 minimum but of course they are flexible. However something has come up so he called the recruitment bloke at lunchtime to ask if he could put back or reschedule

He got a total earful about how unprofessional this was and how he thought that they wouldn't do it - now do you not think one firm of City lawyers might just understand the pressure that one is under and just agree to re-schedule? This bloke was very aggressive towards dh who is now tempted to blow the whole thing out and inform them why.

OP posts:
Twiglett · 28/11/2007 15:28

he got an earful from the recruitment consultant? guess who's bothered about their commission.. think I'd call the company directly and apologise and write to the MD of the recruitment consultant and demand an apology

what is he? a schoolboy to be told off?

Original poster
CountessDracula · 28/11/2007 15:29

EXACTLY what I said

I told him to call the RC and tell him where to get off

OP posts:
karen999 · 28/11/2007 15:30

Very unprofessional IMO but you have to remember that recruitment consultants get commission and I would imagine that might be quite a lot in this case....however it is totally unacceptable and I would call him back and let him know that I was not happy and that I was going to register with another agency (if he hasn't already) Depends on how much your dh wants the job....

Original poster
CountessDracula · 28/11/2007 15:31

Well that is the prob
A bit cutting off nose to spite face

still makes me

OP posts:
callmeovercautious · 28/11/2007 15:33

As an employer I totally understand if someone needs to reschedule - particularly at this level. It shows he is committed to his clients. See how the re-arranging pans out then write to them and let them know how unprofessional this Person was.

flowerybeanbag · 28/11/2007 15:39

Not good behaviour but he's probably in for a huge lump of commission if one of his candidates gets the job so understandable that he's got the hump.

But not dealt with well as everyone else said, of course, he should have just said 'I will contact my clients and see whether that's possible'.

ClaphamLauren · 28/11/2007 15:40

I am a RC and quite frankly I would be in such trouble if I ever spoke to a candidate like that. Also, I'm just grateful when people bother to call me to re arrange as opposed to just not bothering to turn up!

It is a stressful time of year business wise, December being without question the quietest month of the year and the one where everyone wants/needs as much commission as possible!

I would speak to his manager or a director and complain and request to deal with another consultant on this. If his commission and placement is that important to him he will do a late night or off site registration.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 28/11/2007 15:40

I have emailed him this thread

mwah mwah

OP posts:
Original poster
CountessDracula · 28/11/2007 15:41

Thanks Lauren
It was not an appt with the Recruitment Consultant but the employer

OP posts:
ClaphamLauren · 28/11/2007 15:43

Oh it was a client direct interview, even so, most clients will do out of hours interviews.

LOVEMYMUM · 28/11/2007 15:47

Was it the employer who wouldn't reschedule?

There's a possiblity that s/he had a later appointment but on the other hand, i would be a bit concerned that my prospective boss is very rigid re. time and personally, i can't work for someone like that (i left a job for that reason) - had to call in if i was 5 minutes late cos of tube - even if i was underground (WTF?!).

LOVEMYMUM · 28/11/2007 15:47

Just read appt with employer. Sorry.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 28/11/2007 15:48

No the consultant wouldn't even call the client to reschedule ffs!

OP posts:
FioFio · 28/11/2007 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

legalalien · 28/11/2007 15:51

I'd tell the recruitment consultant that if he wasn't prepared to call, I'd call the firm directly. Partners who do interviews have to reschedule them all the time - of course they'll understand. In fact, I'd call the firm directly AND tell them that the recruitment consultant had refused to do so.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 28/11/2007 15:52

FIO!
We have one on this thread

Lauren shut your ears

OP posts:
FioFio · 28/11/2007 15:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LOVEMYMUM · 28/11/2007 15:54

Could be a case of the consultant wanting to put people forward for interview (to show s/he had suitable candidates).

On the other hand, if employer is so rigid, what would happen in the case of a family emergency (if DH had to leave early cos child had broken arm - sorry to be negative)?
My cousin once had to leave a family dinner at 10 pm to go back to work (big city law firm) - not compatible with family life.

If the employer wants the candidate, s/he will reschedule. If not, maybe this job will have to be 'the one that got away'.

(but still annoying for DH!)

legalalien · 28/11/2007 15:55

Fio - I'm sure there are some good ones, but many of them are beyond the pale IMHO. Had a weird experience once where a good friend of mine was using a consultant to try and recruit, with limited success. A different and completely unrelated friend turned out to have her CV with the same consultant. The things that the consultant was telling potential employees about the job were completely out of line with what the potential employer had told him - essentially "bigging up" the job, so that the salary would end up having to be higher because of lack of applicants willing to accept a lower salary. Less qualified applicants were simply not being put forward.

needless to say, the two of them ended up cutting out the middleman (to his disgust)and are now co-working happily ever after....

LOVEMYMUM · 28/11/2007 15:56

Fiofio - i'll remember that expression when i'm driving!!

V frustrating for you and DH. I was with one agency for 10 months and only got 5 days temping out of it.

flowerybeanbag · 28/11/2007 15:59

I had one contact me speculatively with a cv saying 'isn't this person marvellous don't you want them even though you don't have a vacancy and haven't asked for cvs?'
Details looked familiar and it turned out to be one of my own team! Fortunately we are friends and I knew she was looking but imagine if I had been the boss from hell and didn't know she was looking for a new job!

LOVEMYMUM · 28/11/2007 16:03

Hi flowery - we seem to keep meeting! . Didn't rec cons twigg that your company name and the company name on the cv are the same? That could have been v uncomfortable for all of you.

Countess Dracula - gotta go and do some housework - let us know how DH gets on.

flowerybeanbag · 28/11/2007 16:16

They'd cunningly removed the actual names of previous and current employers so as to conceal the candidate's identity . Used descriptions of company, size etc instead, and from that and job title/description of responsibilities (suitably exaggerated, which was funny ) I could easily tell it was my team member.

As you say, could have been extremely awkward if circumstances had been different. I made sure she gave the RC a good rollicking and told them I was very cross with her [evil]

LOVEMYMUM · 28/11/2007 18:03

Yes, but did the rec cons see the original cv with your company name on? (Sorry to be pedantic.)

flowerybeanbag · 28/11/2007 18:32

well yes, the girl went in and registered with the RC, discussing her previous employment and taking her cv which they then put into anonymous format for emailing out in that annoying random way they do.