Reply to: Do agencies lie in their contract postings?

[SueEllen]

However, IMHO, its the individual agent who is usually the ones who pull they're funny games.

I had real hassle a few years ago with some twat at an agency and ended up speaking to area manager about the issue. (Some agent swore at me - called me an unprofessional p@ick who thought I knew it all - because I insisted the contract get sorted before I turned up on client site).

I get the impression that they are mostly left alone to their own devices by management at the agencies as long as they are bringing in the wonga. The management then try to say that its not on and they would never do that blah blah blah but I think they know the score and turn a blind eye.

Deniability and all that. Tell agents not to do it, they do anyway, and they know it. If it all kicks off, blame individuals.

You are aware that you can easily record all your calls on your mobile phone if it's a smartphone?

That way if you talk to any individual or company who you may have or do have an issue with you have a record of their call. Obviously how you use the recording depends on the circumstances of the issue....

[Taita]

Not every agency is clean, but the agency bodies do have some decent codes of conduct which their members have to follow.





I am really sorry to hear this. Please PM names of consultants who you believe do this. As I have always stated, if I know about it we'll deal with it.

"We are members of APSCo and are bound by their code on the website. I am quite sure we'd be booted if we flouted it."

Not accusing you or your firm of anything but do your agency bodies publish lists of miscreants.....No. Not any I have easily seen. Yet candidates can still be 'reassured' by the logos of said 'professional' bodies appearing on (discredited) agency stationery.... Not very good policing, is it?

And I understand the burden Andy, but sorting out errant staff after you have been informed of their misdemeanours is not quite the same as preventing it in the first place. Please don't say it is difficult to maintain your high standards because of the large numbers of employees you have.

It is because of your assurance of the highest standards that we approach you. It is no consolation to you know you have slapped wrists after we have suffered worse.

That said, like everybody else here, I welcome your forthright input. Thanks.

[psychocandy]

Good to know there are a few agents out there that do know what they are doing...

'Almost' amusing NLUK

[northernladuk]

In the interests of fairness thought I would you know that computer people called me today with what would seem a genuine role. Well they gave me the clients name anyway.

I guess the CV harvesting they did last year using fake jobs may have been worth it after all.

Did you actually ask them where they got your details before jumping to the assumption this was a result of a CV harvest? You on LinkedIn, your CVS available on jobserve, you are already on their system from historical genuine engagement?

[No2politics]

This is also my experience with computer futures.

In the interests of fairness thought I would you know that computer people called me today with what would seem a genuine role. Well they gave me the clients name anyway.

I guess the CV harvesting they did last year using fake jobs may have been worth it after all.

[northernladuk]

(Some agent swore at me - called me an unprofessional p@ick

Good to know there are a few agents out there that do know what they are doing...

[BolshieBastard]

I know for a fact a contract for a 'greenfield build' with a well known north west university was first advertised before Christmas. The post was supposedly filled. Then the post was advertised again early in the New Year when the incumbent supposedly had to leave urgently due to a 'serious family illness.'

Interviews took place and suitable candidate selected as they could start the next day. 2 weeks later, the same role is advertised again. This time on permie terms.

Yesterday, I saw the same role is being advertised on jobswerve again on a contract basis, again.

All the adverts are placed by the same named agency contact.I'll avoid her in future. I just dont believe this sequence of events particularly the last advert. The agency must be lieing especially over the last advert and they've been economical with the truth at best about what has gone on from day 1.

[psychocandy]

Fair play for Andy coming on here like this.

However, IMHO, its the individual agent who is usually the ones who pull they're funny games.

I had real hassle a few years ago with some twat at an agency and ended up speaking to area manager about the issue. (Some agent swore at me - called me an unprofessional p@ick who thought I knew it all - because I insisted the contract get sorted before I turned up on client site).

I get the impression that they are mostly left alone to their own devices by management at the agencies as long as they are bringing in the wonga. The management then try to say that its not on and they would never do that blah blah blah but I think they know the score and turn a blind eye.

Deniability and all that. Tell agents not to do it, they do anyway, and they know it. If it all kicks off, blame individuals.

[No2politics]

Sadly, this is my experience with CF as well.

This is also my experience with computer futures.

[TheFaQQer]

<offtopic>Did you know that there's an Andy Hallett that works at Computer People? He keeps sending me irrelevant jobs</offtopic>

[Andy Hallett]

And Andy can you kindly lead us to at least two instances in the last 20 years that the toothless regulatory bodies have sanctioned companies or people for fictitious advertising or other breaches of employment agency regulations (excluding gang master offences)?

I doubt you can because, despite being hounded by government for all sorts of perceived 'crimes', particularly concerning tax, contractors are a singularly UNPROTECTED species. We cannot (through lack of funds usually but also because of lack moral support from our elected representatives-MPs) even hope to successfully sue agents or clients for frequent and rampant offences.

Not even do we hear of the agency bodies ejecting members.....Why? it can't be because they are all so clean ... can it?

Not every agency is clean, but the agency bodies do have some decent codes of conduct which their members have to follow. We are members of APSCo and are bound by their code on the website. I am quite sure we'd be booted if we flouted it.

Ah computer futures. apply for the role the agent will call you, pump you for info, insist you have been put forward, then refuse to answer your calls or reply to your emails. I just send all their email messages to the spam folder these days.

Sadly, this is my experience with CF as well.

I am really sorry to hear this. Please PM names of consultants who you believe do this. As I have always stated, if I know about it we'll deal with it.

[Bluenose]

Ah computer futures. apply for the role the agent will call you, pump you for info, insist you have been put forward, then refuse to answer your calls or reply to your emails. I just send all their email messages to the spam folder these days.

Sadly, this is my experience with CF as well.

[TheLordDave]

Ah computer futures. apply for the role the agent will call you, pump you for info, insist you have been put forward, then refuse to answer your calls or reply to your emails. I just send all their email messages to the spam folder these days.

[SpontaneousOrder]

I've been surprised recently with the number of agents who contact me and tell me who the client is straight up. And often when I check their website out and look at the careers age it looks like it;s probably legit.

[Taita]

Personally I don't, and never did see the value in posting fake jobs. Advertising generates a lot of incoming response on the phone and email which has to be dealt with, which generally distracts you from placing the actual roles you have. The other point to note is that it breaches all sorts of regulations and has a cost to post on job boards. Ironically one of the biggest challenges we have is getting all our jobs advertised.

In the UK we have 500+ recruitment consultants, I'd be a fool [insert your jokes here] to say it hasn't happened and won't happen. It is however very much frowned on corporately and we'll deal with it where we find it as it wrong on both regulatory and moral grounds.

And Andy can you kindly lead us to at least two instances in the last 20 years that the toothless regulatory bodies have sanctioned companies or people for fictitious advertising or other breaches of employment agency regulations (excluding gang master offences)?

I doubt you can because, despite being hounded by government for all sorts of perceived 'crimes', particularly concerning tax, contractors are a singularly UNPROTECTED species. We cannot (through lack of funds usually but also because of lack moral support from our elected representatives-MPs) even hope to successfully sue agents or clients for frequent and rampant offences.

Not even do we hear of the agency bodies ejecting members.....Why? it can't be because they are all so clean ... can it?