Reply to: Phone Calls from agents

[Sockpuppet]

My agency don't hide thier phone numbers and are really really good.

Sockpuppet in "they know I post here" mode.

[Spacecadet]

Some German recruitment agency emailed me details of a mechanical engineering role designing a bridge. Despite lacking any experience in that area, I reckon I could have done it - The trick would be to have ten times the number of supports as necessary, using 50 ton basalt blocks throughout, and no steel struts or cables or any other newfangled gimmicks.

It would end up like the fortress of Sebastapol, and last a couple of thousand years. Come to think of it, I may apply for the job after all. Should be a doddle. (The Rhine isn't that wide is it?)

any bugs problems can be fixed on the contract extension aswell

What do you mean you wanted 2 way traffic?? its not in MY specs doc!!

[OwlHoot]

Yes.

A CF droid sent me details of a CAD role using IDEAS and Autocad the other day.

Not only have I never used IDEAS or Autocad, they are both mechanical cad & I'm an electronics engineer...

Some German recruitment agency emailed me details of a mechanical engineering role designing a bridge. Despite lacking any experience in that area, I reckon I could have done it - The trick would be to have ten times the number of supports as necessary, using 50 ton basalt blocks throughout, and no steel struts or cables or any other newfangled gimmicks.

It would end up like the fortress of Sebastapol, and last a couple of thousand years. Come to think of it, I may apply for the job after all. Should be a doddle. (The Rhine isn't that wide is it?)

[Not So Wise]

I keep a separate Pay as you go mobile just to give to agents, only keep it with me when I am "on the market" and as only agents have it know every call on it is from an agent.

When I am off market I keep it at home so I don't get those annoying calls from agencies that got my CV 2 years ago trying to interest me in a permie position with a totally different skill set

[DodgyAgent]

Feck this sounds like work, do all agents do that?

No, agents are lazy and prefer to get one CV and tout it around. Mapping employee diagrams is very time consuming and is only done by proper headhunters who are paid part of their fees up front. You get to hear a lot of bull being talked about headhunting but all that most agencies who boast of doing this do is get referrals from other people. Likewise the number of people who say they have been "headhunted" when actually all that has happened is that a colleague/manager has given their name to an agent in order to get rid of them is astonishing.

[Diestl]

mapping a personnel structure pretending to be a student, or training organiser or publication then the last thing you want is to be identified.

Feck this sounds like work, do all agents do that?

[DodgyAgent]

Agents peddle flesh for cash. In a just society there would be a mass burning, but alas under New Labour they thrive like other vermin.

It does not say much for you lot if you have to rely on us so much.

As for the lies part, I am saying this tongue in cheek. However it is very important that we as agents get to speak to people wherever we can. Now most people we wish to talk to have no desire to talk to us and would instantly block a call if they saw it was from a recruitment agency. From a candidate point of view I am sure someone who is in the job market does not want to be seen applying for jobs, so by witholding phone numbers agents can be quite discreet.
If you are a headhunter and you are mapping a personnel structure pretending to be a student, or training organiser or publication then the last thing you want is to be identified.

This may seem dodgy, subversive and dishonest even, but compared to the sales tactics of the banks, insurance companies (you know the ones who you are all so happy to work for and take money from) we are amateurs.

[Spacecadet]

Nothing sinister?

It's probably no more than the agent calling via an office switchboard which will almost certainly cause the number to be withheld

Not always, generally the switchboard has to be configured to hide the number.
I get plenty of calls from people who i know are behind switchboards, it either shows their number or the general office number

[Jawz .]

Agents peddle flesh for cash. In a just society there would be a mass burning, but alas under New Labour they thrive like other vermin.

[ZZZZ Snoozer]

every single time i get a call from an agent its a withheld number.

I have never worked out why they do this, especially as I'm not alone in screening all unrecognised numbers.

Nothing sinister?

It's probably no more than the agent calling via an office switchboard which will almost certainly cause the number to be withheld

[TheOmegaMan]

Agents peddle flesh for cash. In a just society there would be a mass burning, but alas under New Labour they thrive like other vermin.

[Jawz .]

Is that true?

I've been contracting for almost 10 years and have never been lied to once by a recruitment agency. I find it to be an honest and wholly ethical industry and the individual agents to be of a high moral standing.

[PRC1964]

I used to get calls from a "Dave" who's real name was Nigel but he called himself Dave "so that your client won't now you're talking to an agent".

Maybe they think that it is more discreet to use a withheld number?

[churkus]

Is that true?

no its a lie, obviously!.

[Euro-commuter]

It is because we tell lies

Is that true?