Ask the Expert: When two headhunters aren't better than one
"This happens all the time, especially with second rate agencies. Tell them to buzz off!" That was the unequivocal reaction of our recruitment expert Tony Tucker. It is your right to use whichever agency you want, and the fact that one agency may have sent you a CV before another does not automatically mean you have to use or pay the first agency.
Lawyer Makbool Javaid was rather more measured in his reaction, but the essence of his advice was similar. The only circumstances in which the first agency might, repeat might, have a leg to stand on, is if you had agreed in writing to its terms and conditions. From the way you describe the situation, however, this is not the case.
Quite apart from the legal side, professionally speaking the agency is behaving in a very foolish way. Sadly, there are a lot of cowboys in the recruitment business. But by trying to coerce you into paying a fee in these circumstances, it is destroying any chance of working with you in future.
It is not unusual for a candidate to be registered with several agencies. However, few candidates want multiple CVs landing on the same employer¹s desk. Any reputable agency should therefore seek permission from a candidate before sending their CV on to a particular client. You might like to ask the aggrieved agency (or indeed the candidate) whether they did this.
You might also like to know that an updated law covering recruitment agencies came into force this year. You can read the new law in full on: https://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20033319.htm#9
You can get further advice from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation: https://www.rec.uk.com/rec/home/index.aspx.
Next week's question: I started working at a large investment bank last December, and missed the cut off for the bonus awarded in January. I am looking to get my foot on the property ladder next year, and want to find out what I could expect as a pay rise or bonus. How can I approach the subject with my manager? I know there are no guarantees, but I have absolutely no idea what the pay structure is like at the company and I want to get some rough idea.
What would you advise? Send your answer to: expertadmin@efinancialcareers.com.
Look out for the Experts' answer to this dilemma and readers' comments on Ask the Expert next week!
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