Like there are good and bad practices in Estate Agency, there are good and bad practices in recruitment. One practice that can be bad is when a recruiter sends your CV “to all” without your consent.
Property Industry candidates enlisting the help of a recruiter should be very clear about the recruiters use of their CV.
Let me explain why.
I was recently sent a CV, I telephone interviewed the candidate and we agreed the companies he would like me to contact for him in addition to putting him forward for a few positions. I asked the candidate to update his CV before I would send it out because there were some errors in it, it didn’t read well or sell himself in the best light.
After receiving a new well written CV which included his latest promotion with the same company, I then proceeded to contact the chosen companies, but several companies had already got his CV and had rejected the candidate as lacking in experience. Even the roles I had on exclusively had been sent the persons CV. They has rejected the candidate.
I called my candidate who was shocked and said he didn’t understand, he had never given consent for his CV to be sent to all these companies, some of whom he wouldn’t want to work for, but he had not been asked or given this choice.
This other recruiter had taken the candidates CV and sent the poorly written and poorly presented CV to all agents in the area seeing if there were any roles. (In industry we call this specking out a CV). They had made no attempt to disguise the CV and remove personal data.
However this CV had errors and was not up to date with his most recent job role, it did not point out his skills or what he wanted as a next step. This poor CV had then been “sent to all” and as a result scuppered him the one chance to make that great first impression. As much as I wanted to “sell him in” I wouldn’t be given that chance because they were now in possession of the CV from another recruiter.
This recruiter had acted with their greed in mind and not in the candidates best interest at all. In fact, what they had now done was potentially ruin that candidates chances of getting the role they deserved.
This went from bad to worse for the candidate.
A week had passed since I advised the candidate there was little I could do. The candidate was not in a desperate rush, and was just putting the feelers out anyway. He wanted more in his career, but wanted to be selective and get his next job move right.
I took the candidates call who said “We need to ramp up the job hunt, I was pulled in a 121 with my boss today. That recruiter didn’t realise X agency was part of the same corporate group and the RD got sent my CV making it clear I was “keen to move out of Corporate Agency” so whatever I now say, I doubt I will be first in line for the promotion”
My heart sank. Its not the first time I have seen this happen and I am sure it will not be the last.
Not all recruiters will work to the same ethics. This desire to find a job for the candidate can be just too hap-hazard. Far better working with the candidate to ensure they are presented at their best and that there is an air of exclusivity around them and agree which clients you will contact – or agree to send to all your client’s- but your recruiter should always have your consent before sending out your CV. Even better – DO NOT SEND THE CV! Send out a full biography of the individuals success, what they are looking for and what they wish to earn – leaving off their name and where they work to see if there is interest initially. Any follow up from a prospective employer/client can then be followed up with the candidate to discuss any potential opening.
Here at Rayner Personnel I take pride in working with candidates to help them secure their next job move. We will register your details and your CV, but we will only send your CV out with your prior approval and consent.
If I can help you with your Property Job search then please reach out in confidence to me, Sally Asling.
Mobile: 07760 787026
