I just need to get two references ... and £200

[local oaf]

Well this is a new one for me:

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for applying to the role advertised by xxxxxxxxxxx.

Your CV looks like an excellent match for this and numerous other roles we are currently working on.

Before we proceed, you must join xxxxxxxxxxx as an “official member”. Attached is our member form which must be completed, we will then designate you a Professional Recruitment Consultant and get your search underway.

Best Regards

xxxxxxxxxxx

The attachment explains that "Official Membership" is a bargain £200, which can be deposited direct into a Lloyds account. For this I get my own personal recruitment consultant and access to their extensive database of live positions!

Apparently the irony was lost on them that I found their ad on Jobserve, a site that lists an infinite number of agencies that provide these services for free.

Of course the attached application form contains the usual crucial questions such as "Who is your current employer" and "What other interviews are imminent". Information that I'm sure they're required to gather as part of the watertight SLAs they have with their clients.

It was tempting, but I decided instead to slip the £200 to the hiring manager at my next interview.

[The Agents View]

I was under the impression that it was illegal to charge the candidate side for recruitement services?

I guess I could be wrong though - I often am

[DaveB]

I was under the impression that it was illegal to charge the candidate side for recruitement services?

I guess I could be wrong though - I often am

It is, which is why they are trying to pitch it as a "membership"

Name and shame OP.

[TykeMerc]

It is, which is why they are trying to pitch it as a "membership"

Name and shame OP.

Indeed, name and shame, they're sailing very close to the wind in legal terms and are quite possibly a cash collection scam dressed up as a recruitment agency.

[chris79]

I might setup a fancy domain which proxies the Jobcentre's website and charge people £500 for 'exclusive' access to jobs.. sounds like a great business plan.

[local oaf]

Optimus Search. Here is the original ad. The rate is astronomical for the requirements which instantly set off my suspicion alarm.

They claim to offer CV writing and interview prep advice to their members, which are legitimate services worth some kind of fee, but really for this role it's the skills and experience that get your foot in the door. And if you have the required skills then surely any agent worth their salt would happily tweak your CV and give you a few interview pointers before they put you forward?

And finally why would an agent severely restrict their market to those who are desperate enough to pay 200 quid to get in the door?

It smells of another Venn Group (pre-vetting contractors for non-existent roles), but this time they're charging you for their inconvenience

[local oaf]

I might setup a fancy domain which proxies the Jobcentre's website and charge people £500 for 'exclusive' access to jobs.. sounds like a great business plan.

Yes I think we've just exposed a CUKer's Plan B.

Cmon fess up who is it?

[Sockpuppet]

Jobserve will want to know and will remove the ads.

[Not So Wise]

Jobserve will want to know and will remove the ads.

^^ This

[tim123]

It is, which is why they are trying to pitch it as a "membership"

It's still illegal

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's still a duck, even if you call it a swan.

tim