Agency Behaviour

**The Agents View** · 26 August 2010, 09:51

Originally posted by TheVoice View Post

Hi Folks!

Here's a funny one for you. I'm currently having a war of wills with an agent (working for Hays!) who has control & command "problems" in the head it seems. Just had to vent about it so bear with me...

Said woman calls up 3 weeks after I sent a CV over & asks if I'm happy to go ahead...why would I send the CV you silly mare? She then goes forward to pick holes in the CV, read off a list of acronyms which she has no clue about (normal!) & then tells me she'll call.

A further 3 weeks after this, I finally get a call - will I go in & meet her? Er, why? Company policy she says...bollards I say! Anyway, I fancied lunch in town with a mate on the day in question so I did it anyway & went in. After being kept waiting for 15 minutes in their "reception" the abrupt, arrogant cow emerges from her den & in the course of conversation she kept picking holes in my (100% blue chip, senior level!) CV...then let slip she had a degree in IT, instead of my nothing but 10 years experience - the response just had to come out & did "Yeah, look where it got you!"

Anyway, to cut a long story short, got in at the client a week or 2 ago, she promised to ring me next day to check I was OK for the meeting the day after - told her not to bother because nothing would change & I stick to promises. Meeting went well, but client wants to do a 2nd round because they had a load of people who were useless & want to sift. Fair enough, it's a 12 monther so I guess they want to be sure. I get details over, confirm the date to her, put it in my diary. Done.

Since this I have had 17 phone calls from the agent & 10 emails in the course of a week because she wants to "check I am going & have all I need" - needless to say this is utter bloody nonsense & in 10 years in this game I've never had to put up with such behaviour from an agent, so I am just ignoring her calls & going to see the client later.

Do these people not realise they are representing their clients as control freaks? Or, having taken a year out, is this the new "acceptable" behaviour by the scum?

Ahhhhh that feels better - frustration & ranting over!!! Feet up for a bit now before going to see these bores they call a client! (Its eyes shut work, crap rate, but its better than chair warming here!)

Agent in "wanting to make sure candidate has everything they need to get a job" shocker!

OK the agency in question has a reputation for being a little slap dash, but seriously, you're complaining about this woman wanting to make sure she can't do anything else to help you get a job! Why not just return the call, keep it short?

Ultimately, what she is checking here, is that you're not going to bail out on the interview and leave her client sitting like a lone plum!

I'd be interested in others views on this.....

**Zippy** · 26 August 2010, 13:27

Originally posted by The Agents View View Post

I'd be interested in others views on this.....

I do find it irritating when the agent seems to be treating me like an idiot (shut up at the back), and xonstantly checking up on me - particularly when s/he tells me to dress smartly for an interview

Haing said that I've got a couple of jobs because 'Mr Ideal Candidate' failed to turn up on his first day ...

**northernladuk** · 26 August 2010, 15:00

Originally posted by Zippy View Post

I do find it irritating when the agent seems to be treating me like an idiot (shut up at the back), and xonstantly checking up on me - particularly when s/he tells me to dress smartly for an interview

Haing said that I've got a couple of jobs because 'Mr Ideal Candidate' failed to turn up on his first day ...

I see nothing wrong with this at all. I went for a job suited and booted for a public sector gig in Leeds and both of the guys interviewing me turned up dressed down and I knew I was screwed straight off. The agent said 'oh yeah sorry, should have mentioned that'. I lost the gig on 'team fit' which would have been partly down to over dressing. I would rather they confirmed the dress code every interview now.

**The Agents View** · 26 August 2010, 15:31

Originally posted by Zippy View Post

I do find it irritating when the agent seems to be treating me like an idiot (shut up at the back), and xonstantly checking up on me - particularly when s/he tells me to dress smartly for an interview

Haing said that I've got a couple of jobs because 'Mr Ideal Candidate' failed to turn up on his first day ...

this post should probably be added to the "ask the agent" thread.

From my perspective, I am trained to confirm this. Now the other thing is that I've fallen foul of not doing it.

I once sent a guy for a QS job (construction, very dull) who arrived in cargo pants and a jumper - Technically he was brilliant, but his lack of smart dress really let him down.

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I got him another interview, somewhere else. I qualified pretty much everything with him, in a very paranoid way (have you got a suit, have you got a shirt, does the shirt and tie match, etc etc).

When he'd finished I took the clients feedback. His thoughts were again that the candidate was fantastic, but that he had turned up in a black suit, white shirt, matching tie, and WHITE PATENT SHOES........

So these days, I say "i'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but, suited and booted for the interview please". I've never yet had an angry response to wording it like that - people aren't stupid generally, but it is important for us to check sometimes - just incase the above ijit is still out there

**Wanderer** · 26 August 2010, 18:10

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

I see nothing wrong with this at all. I went for a job suited and booted for a public sector gig in Leeds and both of the guys interviewing me turned up dressed down and I knew I was screwed straight off. The agent said 'oh yeah sorry, should have mentioned that'. I lost the gig on 'team fit' which would have been partly down to over dressing. I would rather they confirmed the dress code every interview now.

I don't think you can be overdressed by turning up for an interview in a suit, I think it looks more professional. I wouldn't let it go without comment (from either side of the interviewing table) though. Something along the lines of "Oh, I see you have a casual dress policy. Sounds like a great place to work." Could be foot in mouth if they say, ahem, no, it's formal dress code.

**Jeebo72** · 31 August 2010, 10:00

My favourite is when the agent sends me a word doc about what colour tie to wear! Red aggressive, blue passive and all such other bollocks. I usually just tell them I'm wearing my South Park one that has my favourite Eric Cartman quotes on.

Another thread that ends all Agents are Tw*ts... let us never forget.

**117MilesToGo** · 31 August 2010, 10:35

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

I see nothing wrong with this at all. I went for a job suited and booted for a public sector gig in Leeds and both of the guys interviewing me turned up dressed down and I knew I was screwed straight off. The agent said 'oh yeah sorry, should have mentioned that'. I lost the gig on 'team fit' which would have been partly down to over dressing. I would rather they confirmed the dress code every interview now.

Are you sure thats the reason you lost the gig? Ive always turned up suited and booted even if I know its a 'dress down' place. It shows you have interest and want to make an effort. No expects that the suit you turn up for the interview is what you are going to turn up in every day for the next 12 months.

**TestMangler** · 1 September 2010, 09:08

Originally posted by TheVoice View Post

(working for Hays!)

That was just about all you had to say.

Agency Behaviour