Why Do Recruitment Companies...

dranzer01

Say 'I have this fantastic role. Could you come down to meet with me so we can discuss it in more detail?'

Why do they say/do this? We've been talking over the phone about the role for the last 10 mins and now you want me to come in... to talk about the role 'in more detail'? how much more detail?

What do they want to gain from asking someone to come see them? Do they want to see what race they are? If they have the right haircut?

It boggles the mind when this happens to me... I havent got time to be going on escapades to recruiters offices just for a '15 min chat' and at the end, you dont even know if they'll put your CV forward...

PenguinOfDeath

It's to pad their time out and to try and convince you that a different job 30 miles further away on half the money is a better prospect for you...

fairy_lights

It's all lies. That 'fantastic role' doesn't exist, if it did they would have filled it instantly and wouldn't have needed to fluff you up on the phone.
Then they offer you a job working the night shift in a call centre a 2 hour bus ride away instead, and expect you to be delighted.

InsideInsurance

Never had it said to me, at least not in the last decade.

Have had a couple that have asked to meet up but its always been at my convenience and in a pub or coffee shop etc with drinks on them, occasionally a snack too.

In those cases it hasnt been about "the role" but to have a broader discussion on what sort of work I want, if there are companies I dont want to work for etc etc.

Most the time I've said no but occasionally a free drink for 15 minutes of my time isnt too bad an exchange

Alex_NJ

My housemate is a recruitment consultant.

His job initially was to call up as many people as possible and describe their dream job, purely to get their CV database filled up with fresh CV's.

Then when the real job does come up available they can find the best candidates.

Also, never ever tell a recruiter you are interviewing somewhere else, because he will send more of his own candidates down to compete with you to increase his chances of commission.

CCFC_80

Alex_NJ wrote: »

My housemate is a recruitment consultant.

His job initially was to call up as many people as possible and describe their dream job, purely to get their CV database filled up with fresh CV's.

Then when the real job does come up available they can find the best candidates.

Also, never ever tell a recruiter you are interviewing somewhere else, because he will send more of his own candidates down to compete with you to increase his chances of commission.

Excellent point that as it has happened. As for them picking the best candidate, most of them wouldn't recognise a decent candidate if they come up from behind them and bit them on the back of the bum.

Fireflyaway

To get you to complete forms to add you to their database so they can try and convince you to apply for jobs that are not suited for you but will earn them commission.

[Deleted User]

It's merely an ID check... or pre-interview chat or groom depending how you look on it (excluding if you are unlucky to cop those typing tests which makes you 'fit' to go on the books) I found but then I'm junior in consideration


One large but independent recruitment firm had 3 branches once trying to forward my CV to very different companies, apparently... quite funny as none of them could find my most recent CV on their own system having taken the time to attend 1 appoinment - I refused to register more then once


OK if desperate

CCFC_80

Deleted%20User wrote: »

It's merely an ID check... or pre-interview chat or groom depending how you look on it (excluding if you are unlucky to cop those typing tests which makes you 'fit' to go on the books) I found but then I'm junior in consideration


One large but independent recruitment firm had 3 branches once trying to forward my CV to very different companies, apparently... quite funny as none of them could find my most recent CV on their own system having taken the time to attend 1 appoinment - I refused to register more then once


OK if desperate

Yes that's the main reason. Had a classic once when an agency wanted me to travel in 25 miles to register about a job enquiry.
When said why do I need to do that, he stated he wanted to see genuine ID documents and not scanned copies. I then said are you able to tell the difference between genuine Passports & forged ones and all of a sudden the conversation went quiet. Needless to say I ended up not registering.

bevanuk

It's more professional for them to meet you than to not bother, they work for the client not for a candidate.

You could be a great candidate in paper/on the phone but a nervous wreck face to face. They can't afford to be sending you to an interview with their client, who pays their bill and the client be disappointed.

Anyone who thinks that a recruitment agency owes them anything is misguided. It's your responsibility to find yourself a new job, they are just one tool in your search.

InsideInsurance

bevanuk wrote: »

It's more professional for them to meet you than to not bother, they work for the client not for a candidate.

Thats debatable in practice.

Anyone with "agent" in their title really only works for themselves and their loyalties will change through the process. The classic example is estate agents when they are selling a £300,000 house with a 2% commission. Initially they clearly work for the vendor but if an offer comes in thats £1-2k below probably what it could go for the estate agent will encourage the seller to accept as it only represents an extra £20-40 to them against their total c£6,000 fee and their time could be better spent selling a new property than trying to find a new buyer willing to pay that little extra.

Recruitment agents often oversell roles to candidates but they also oversell candidates to potential employers