InterExec - good or bad idea for us 'normal' people?

knowlton

One of my friends is (or was) a high flying senior executive who recently got made 'redundant'. Judging by her generous pay-off, it sounds like an unfair dismissal.

Anyway, long story cut short, she went to a company called InterExec. This is not from personal experience by any means (they're a bit out of my league as they're for people who earn over £200K!!!!!!!!!).. but anyway...

Now, I've used recruitment consultants before on both sides of the fence. As we all know, they represent a company with a vacancy. However, from what I can gather this doesn't happen with InterExec - instead they represent you like a footballer, actor, musician in finding a job. However, you do have to pay them and they don't promise you a job.

However, InterExec, (or so I'm told) say that they have access to a 'hidden jobs market' - which makes sense as a FTSE 100 company missing a marketing director isn't going to look so good to the stakeholders!

But my point is - surely this is a good idea for us 'normal' people? Having someone represent you in finding a job? At the end of the day, recruitment consultants' primary interest is the company (who pay them) - not you.. But then again, would you be prepared to pay money for someone to work on behalf of you?

I'm sure I'm missing something here as there doesn't seem to be any companies that serve us normal people...

sonyhamster

knowlton wrote: »

One of my friends is (or was) a high flying senior executive who recently got made 'redundant'. Judging by her generous pay-off, it sounds like an unfair dismissal.

Anyway, long story cut short, she went to a company called InterExec. This is not from personal experience by any means (they're a bit out of my league as they're for people who earn over £200K!!!!!!!!!).. but anyway...

Now, I've used recruitment consultants before on both sides of the fence. As we all know, they represent a company with a vacancy. However, from what I can gather this doesn't happen with InterExec - instead they represent you like a footballer, actor, musician in finding a job. However, you do have to pay them and they don't promise you a job.

However, InterExec, (or so I'm told) say that they have access to a 'hidden jobs market' - which makes sense as a FTSE 100 company missing a marketing director isn't going to look so good to the stakeholders!

But my point is - surely this is a good idea for us 'normal' people? Having someone represent you in finding a job? At the end of the day, recruitment consultants' primary interest is the company (who pay them) - not you.. But then again, would you be prepared to pay money for someone to work on behalf of you?

I'm sure I'm missing something here as there doesn't seem to be any companies that serve us normal people...

I think you've said it yourself and missed the point.

To explain, you first have to spell out what's happening here.

InterExec exists because there are positions which are not advertised. This is normally the case, as you say, if your board is about to lose a senior executive - you therefore contact executive-level head hunters. InterExec would represent you and speak to these head hunters. It's effectively a dating agency for business executives to meet relevant head hunters.

But for people like you and I, the jobs that we would be seeking are advertised anyway - whether it's through a recruitment consultant (yes, I know - often annoying but good on the other hand) or directly on the company's website. So there's no need to get someone to represent you as you're better off actually better off applying for the job yourself.

So all in all, whilst it's great for minted business executives to find a job in their league - the model isn't appropriate for you and I.

philkirby

I can completely understand why Interexec exists - they look after top earners who jobs aren't typically advertised on the general job market. As a guide, they have set it for senior executives earning over £200k+ (which in today's job market, is just gob-smacking!).

However I've noticed that on the TV, some yank company has now started advertising for a similar sort of service, but for people earning £50k+ - which is way lower! So how does that work!? I guess this goes back to the OP's original point.. can Interexec's model work for you and I?

sonyhamster

philkirby wrote: »

I can completely understand why Interexec exists - they look after top earners who jobs aren't typically advertised on the general job market. As a guide, they have set it for senior executives earning over £200k+ (which in today's job market, is just gob-smacking!).

However I've noticed that on the TV, some yank company has now started advertising for a similar sort of service, but for people earning £50k+ - which is way lower! So how does that work!? I guess this goes back to the OP's original point.. can Interexec's model work for you and I?

I think you're thinking of theladders.co.uk? They've started advertising on the tube as well.

Theladders is slightly different - whilst they charge you, they don't become your agent like InterExec does. They are in fact, no different to a jobs listing site - if you look at their website and look on 'how it works', it's no different to other free websites like Monster, where you post your CV up.

I suspect their selling point is that they will only show jobs that are going for over £50k. But this goes back to the whole point of why companies like InterExec exist.

At £50k+, theladders exist because there are a load of advertised positions that they can aggregate - and you don't need an agent.

At £200k+, InterExec exists because the positions aren't advertised and you would need an agent to find them for you. Anything under that figure, you'd be wasting your money.

As for the original question - is it good for us normal people? I suspect not. You'd be wasting your money on finding jobs you could find yourself!

knowlton

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

Found an article on InterExec's legal position which you might all find interesting... http://www.richarddonkin.com/x_ideal_job.htm

The Employment Agencies Act does not allow agencies to charge candidates for finding a job although it does have a few exceptions. It looks like InterExec is one of those exceptions (don't ask how or why!).

Also, I don't know if you've looked into TheLadders?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=the+ladders+scam&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

...But it looks like people aren't too happy with them!

hkphooey_2

It looks like Interexec is still having trouble from their competitors hijacking any mention of them - there was an infamous case where there were several defamatory posts made about them on the Bview review site. It got to the extent where they sent in a letter from the lawyers!!

Sadly Bview didn't see the funny side of this (not that it was) and put the letter up online on their blog and refused to take any of the posts down!! My guess is that the spammer was Con (How apt!)-naught Exec-utive judging by what they wrote earlier.

I do feel sorry for companies that like that, who are targeted by malicious competitors. There was an episode of BBC Click where they interviewed this photographer who was on the receiving end of false, negative reviews from a competitor - which was posted on Google Map's review section. Despite having evidence, Google still wouldn't remove the reviews (being the corporates that they are). He's currently in court suing the person behind the posts.

My friend had a similar problem with his restaurant where blatant lies were posted on the internet. It's so sad that some companies resort to this.

Grenada

I have used Interexec and the experience was a nightmare. They are very expensive and have no access to a hidden jobs market and have no great talent of their own. They are not well regarded by other recruiters either.

I was forced to conduct my own search at the same time having wasted 6 months. They never found me a job and very few leads. They seem to have a special exemption from the law on charging for recruitment which is totally undeserved. Using them was a very expensive mistake and I would urge others not to follow.

haj2008_uk

Grenada wrote: »

I have used Interexec and the experience was a nightmare. They are very expensive and have no access to a hidden jobs market and have no great talent of their own. They are not well regarded by other recruiters either.

I was forced to conduct my own search at the same time having wasted 6 months. They never found me a job and very few leads. They seem to have a special exemption from the law on charging for recruitment which is totally undeserved. Using them was a very expensive mistake and I would urge others not to follow.

hi, i am in exactly same position. waste of money with inter exec. do anyone know other companies who offer same service like inter exec?

sj-hh

I am also looking for a new position and would appreciate your experience with other companies offering a similar or same service like Interexec.
Thanks

Nothanks

Old threads die hard it seems.

Isn't a major flaw with this kind of service that at Exec level your professional network and reputation mean an awful lot, so effectively faking it by paying some herberts with a website is unlikely to cut the mustard?

Seems to me if you're REALISTICALLY in the market for a 200k a year job you'd be better dedicating your resources to chatting up your LinkedIn contacts.

PlutoinCapricorn

Nothanks' voice is the voice of common sense.

I have never had much faith in a 'hidden jobs market' myself, and agree that 'normal' people should avoid any company that promotes it.

As for the real high-flyers, positions they are suitable for may indeed not be advertised but they may be head-hunted or hear about them on the grapevine.