Recruiter says they cannot disclose the company's name but want to forward CV

[LondonManc]

How can they get your exclusive permission for representation on that role without telling you who the client is? Sounds very much like standard fishing tactics. Explain that you’re not exactly going to tell other agents to reduce your own chances of getting the gig.

[northernladyuk]

Course you do.

Maybe billy is pimping out PC?

[SlipTheJab]

But not unheard of, NLUK. I was offered at a tobacco client earlier this year. £50 p.d. more than current, but I declined. My grandfather died of cancer and it just didn't sit right with me. Also, you end up with something like a baccy client on your resume and you get interviewed for your next gig. How to do you know that the interviewer didn't have something similar going on with their family/circle of friends, or has taken their own moral position on the commodity, and has unconsciously biased you out of the running? It's a variable you just can't control, so best to just stay clear and keep 'neutral' clients on the resume.

Yep for me gambling and defence contracts are a no-no, I'm not earning money off of the back of misery and burning children thanks...

[SimonMac]

When I am presented with this situation I usually say:

"No problem, but without knowing who the end client I can't guarantee you exclusivity if approached by someone else", sometimes they come back with "We are the client's only agent, you won't be approached by anyone else" in that case I say then there should be no problem disclosing the client.

9 times out of 10 you get the client, if not it's upto you if you are happy with the risk it could be a fishing exercise

[pauldee]

Gambling: Possibly, I had a friend who was a serious problem gambler but he worked for betting companies himself, so that would make me consider them.

Certain banks I would have an issue with.

"Defence": Absolutely not a chance would I want to be involved in this sector.

It says a lot about someone that they would find it odd that people refuse gigs on moral grounds.

[Whorty]

Is this a normal practise in contracting?

Apparently financial institutions has asked for candidates but cannot disclose the name of the bank/organisation.

I always say no. If the agent really thinks I'm suitable and have a chance at the role they won't want to risk losing me so will tell me the client. To be fair, I rarely get agents playing this game, but on the couple of occasions it has happened, one came up with the client name (I confirmed via email that I would keep the name confidential) and the other agent didn't so clearly didn't have a real job - the one who wouldn't disclose a name wanted to know who I had been put forward to "to just check that my CV hasn't gone to their client" .... this is a classic move where they don't really have a client and are fishing.

At the end of the day it's your call, and depends how keen you are to get a new role, but for me it's a red flag and no-no. If the agent can't give me the client name then they don't get to represent me.

[Whorty]

Well I've seen a lot of strange things on here over the years but someone refusing a gig on moral grounds isn't one of them that I can remember. Even if they don't tell you the name of the company it shouldn't be too hard to get them to tell you the nature of the business if the gig does exist.

I've refused an interview with a tobacco company on moral grounds. A perfect role for my skills, an easy commute and better than market rates money. They came back to me a number of times to ask me to reconsider but I declined. By all accounts I wasn't the only one who had refused to work with them.

[Whorty]

An unbiased viewpoint

Maybe, but still awful advice. As bad as some agents can be, if you build up a good relationship with a couple of decent ones they can look after you for years. Shaft a couple like this and you could find it very hard to get a decent gig.

[northernladyuk]

I've refused an interview with a tobacco company on moral grounds. A perfect role for my skills, an easy commute and better than market rates money. They came back to me a number of times to ask me to reconsider but I declined. By all accounts I wasn't the only one who had refused to work with them.

What rate would you have done it for?

[Whorty]

What rate would you have done it for?

There was no rate I would have worked for them. Could never work for a tobacco company. It was a shame as the role looked great but knowing how these companies push their products at youngsters in third world countries to build new markets, there is no way I could be a part of that.