Recruiter posing as market researcher

[El_Diablo]

I find this usually works:

- You don't need to see my CV

- This isn't the contractor you're looking for

- You can go about your business

- move along

Usually accompanied by a discreet wave of the hand...

Love it, I'm tempted to try it.

[BrianSnail]

I find this usually works:

- You don't need to see my CV

- This isn't the contractor you're looking for

- You can go about your business

- move along

Usually accompanied by a discreet wave of the hand...

Classic!

[ratewhore]

...which is designed to lead at the end to you doing something that he wants.

I find this usually works:

- You don't need to see my CV

- This isn't the contractor you're looking for

- You can go about your business

- move along

Usually accompanied by a discreet wave of the hand...

[DodgyAgent]

Agents lie, cheat and spiv their way through life? I am shocked.

So speaks the voice of "honest god"

[Bob Dalek]

Agents lie, cheat and spiv their way through life? I am shocked.

[DodgyAgent]

Ive noticed that in the past 4-6 weeks, alot of my calls have been " we are specialist head hunters" when they are not....any reason for this?

The word "headhunter" is the most abused word in the recruitment industry.
If they are after names they will not announce that they are headhunters. What makes me laugh is when I see advertisements and next to them I see

"so and so executive search consultancy". If they are a true headhunting/search organisation what on earth are they doing advertising?

[Kess]

Ive noticed that in the past 4-6 weeks, alot of my calls have been " we are specialist head hunters" when they are not....any reason for this?

Probably to massage your ego and make you feel special and important - and thus more likely to tell them whatever they want to know. Did these "specialist head hunters" then proceed to ask for 2 references, past manager's names etc.?

[Liability]

If you are pretending to be someone you are not (headhunting researchers especially) then the trick is to have a script/story and stick to it no matter if the person on the other end has worked out who you really are. If someone asks you an awkward question it is simply a case of "sorry I dont know the answer my job is to research"

Ive noticed that in the past 4-6 weeks, alot of my calls have been " we are specialist head hunters" when they are not....any reason for this?

[DodgyAgent]

Dodgy draws attention to an important point here, for those of you who haven't got it: an agent on the phone to you, in a contact that you didn't initiate, is likely to be going through a script which is designed to lead at the end to you doing something that he wants. If your wants are not exactly the same, break the script before it gets to the end (how I wish I could do that with Indian call centres too, but they are too stubborn).

If you are pretending to be someone you are not (headhunting researchers especially) then the trick is to have a script/story and stick to it no matter if the person on the other end has worked out who you really are. If someone asks you an awkward question it is simply a case of "sorry I dont know the answer my job is to research"

[expat]

He should have stayed with the script well done on out witting him.

Dodgy draws attention to an important point here, for those of you who haven't got it: an agent on the phone to you, in a contact that you didn't initiate, is likely to be going through a script which is designed to lead at the end to you doing something that he wants. If your wants are not exactly the same, break the script before it gets to the end (how I wish I could do that with Indian call centres too, but they are too stubborn).

[BrilloPad]

Some of you may have heard this one before, but it was a new one on me:

<answer phone>

"Hello, this is xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx from <name of wellknown recruitment firm>"

"Uh, huh"

"We are market researchers and have been tasked by a firm in <area not far away> to find out what kind of roles their industry are recruiting for at the moment. We were told that your firm has a vacancy for <list of skills we aren't recruiting for>."

"Errr, which firm did you say you are from?"

"<same name given again>. We do research and advise companies on these topics"

"Oh, because your name sounds just like a firm of recruitment agents I know"

"... err... well... you could call us recruitment agents as well, I guess, well ... actually, yes... we are recruitment agents"

"No, we can't help you, goodbye".

Outright lies from what I can tell.

name and shame.

[DodgyAgent]

Some of you may have heard this one before, but it was a new one on me:

<answer phone>

"Hello, this is xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx from <name of wellknown recruitment firm>"

"Uh, huh"

"We are market researchers and have been tasked by a firm in <area not far away> to find out what kind of roles their industry are recruiting for at the moment. We were told that your firm has a vacancy for <list of skills we aren't recruiting for>."

"Errr, which firm did you say you are from?"

"<same name given again>. We do research and advise companies on these topics"

"Oh, because your name sounds just like a firm of recruitment agents I know"

"... err... well... you could call us recruitment agents as well, I guess, well ... actually, yes... we are recruitment agents"

"No, we can't help you, goodbye".

Outright lies from what I can tell.

He should have stayed with the script well done on out witting him.

[super]

Some of you may have heard this one before, but it was a new one on me:

<answer phone>

"Hello, this is xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx from <name of wellknown recruitment firm>"

"Uh, huh"

"We are market researchers and have been tasked by a firm in <area not far away> to find out what kind of roles their industry are recruiting for at the moment. We were told that your firm has a vacancy for <list of skills we aren't recruiting for>."

"Errr, which firm did you say you are from?"

"<same name given again>. We do research and advise companies on these topics"

"Oh, because your name sounds just like a firm of recruitment agents I know"

"... err... well... you could call us recruitment agents as well, I guess, well ... actually, yes... we are recruitment agents"

"No, we can't help you, goodbye".

Outright lies from what I can tell.