Harrassed by Recruitment Agencies

rach108 · 07-04-2009, 09:38

As Business Support Manager, I am called daily by recruitment agencies. If I were to speak to recruitment agencies when they wanted me too, I would have to allocate an amount of time to do so every day. As such, we have a preferred supplier list. I will speak to agencies on our list. I will accept contact my email by agencies not on this list. I will not accept contact from agencies that are on my NO list.
Agencies are pushy when on the phone and difficult to get rid of, so my question is, when we ask them not to contact us again, they get all snotty and start making noises about complaining etc etc. How dare they? Are they allowed to call once, be told no then call back immediately and refuse to get off the phone, then get annoyed when they are told by me, not to contact us again?

Does anyone have any sure fire ways of dealing with these people?

heavenlyarts · 07-04-2009, 09:40

Waste their time.

When they ask for you just say "I'll go get him" and put ther phone on hold for 30 mins then hang up.

THey soon get the message

Rich · 07-04-2009, 09:45

Just do what I do with pushy telesales people, tell 'em to sod off!

rach108 · 07-04-2009, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Just do what I do with pushy telesales people, tell 'em to sod off!

Which is what I'd do if it were my company.

Clare85 · 07-04-2009, 09:48

Well its good to know they are doing their job and trying to find work. Do they have your direct line? When I temped on a reception there was a no name policy and we were not supposed to forward agency calls at all.

DaFoot · 07-04-2009, 09:51

Thankfully I'm not in a position to be recruiting right now.

My online CV is always published without a phone number, if they don't email me a job spec I am interested in they ain't gonna be given my number!

Any emails with "we have a job you'd love" get binned.

Spec first, then I will decide if it would be good for me thankyou.

rach108 · 07-04-2009, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clare85

Well its good to know they are doing their job and trying to find work. Do they have your direct line? When I temped on a reception there was a no name policy and we were not supposed to forward agency calls at all.

No they don't have the direct line.

I don't mind them making contact but to be pushy and persistent is not on.

Cyclone · 07-04-2009, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by rach108

As Business Support Manager, I am called daily by recruitment agencies. If I were to speak to recruitment agencies when they wanted me too, I would have to allocate an amount of time to do so every day. As such, we have a preferred supplier list. I will speak to agencies on our list. I will accept contact my email by agencies not on this list. I will not accept contact from agencies that are on my NO list.
Agencies are pushy when on the phone and difficult to get rid of, so my question is, when we ask them not to contact us again, they get all snotty and start making noises about complaining etc etc. How dare they? Are they allowed to call once, be told no then call back immediately and refuse to get off the phone, then get annoyed when they are told by me, not to contact us again?

Does anyone have any sure fire ways of dealing with these people?

Get a secretary who knows that you are always in a meeting if an agency calls.
Or just put the phone down.

Agents are sales people, give them an inch and they'll keep talking in the hope that they will sell you something (a candidate in this case).

quisquose · 07-04-2009, 10:00

I too get daily calls. A very annoying waste of my time ... when I could be posting to SF instead.

Anyway, isn't Recruitment Agencies just a polite term for People Trafficking?

PrincessKate · 07-04-2009, 10:01

Hang up on them and keep doing it eventually they will get the picture, they want to keep you on the phone talking dont let them!

rach108 · 07-04-2009, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclone

Get a secretary who knows that you are always in a meeting if an agency calls.
Or just put the phone down.

Agents are sales people, give them an inch and they'll keep talking in the hope that they will sell you something (a candidate in this case).

Which is my view too. I'm just gobsmacked that I've had 2 actually threaten to make complaints about us. The first one I can kind of understand as she has harassed us so we put her through to our 'new recruitment manager ' Stuart Pam (email address s.pam@.......com) But this guy, phoned, spoke to first line, then phoned back immediately, was told no and still emailed me so i emailed back saying we don't wish to be contacted by him again and he's threatening to complain to the director. Ridiculous.

medusa · 07-04-2009, 10:31

One answer would be to get a prepared response from the director that you can email or send to them to answer any threats to complain.

I'm sure that your bosses would prefer you to be doing real work than fielding what are effectively sales calls throughout the day.

Judicious use of your voicemail system as a call screening facility should help too. At least it should buy you some peace to be able to get on with real work.

rach108 · 07-04-2009, 10:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by medusa

One answer would be to get a prepared response from the director that you can email or send to them to answer any threats to complain.

I'm sure that your bosses would prefer you to be doing real work than fielding what are effectively sales calls throughout the day.

Judicious use of your voicemail system as a call screening facility should help too. At least it should buy you some peace to be able to get on with real work.

Excellent. Our Director would be more than happy to prepare a stock response and the phone system idea too. Thank you.

Cyclone · 07-04-2009, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by rach108

Which is my view too. I'm just gobsmacked that I've had 2 actually threaten to make complaints about us. The first one I can kind of understand as she has harassed us so we put her through to our 'new recruitment manager ' Stuart Pam (email address s.pam@.......com) But this guy, phoned, spoke to first line, then phoned back immediately, was told no and still emailed me so i emailed back saying we don't wish to be contacted by him again and he's threatening to complain to the director. Ridiculous.

Tell him to get on with it, or tell him you are a director and you're going to complain to his head office.
They're getting desperate as the depressed recruitment market means no $$$ for them.

Hetty · 07-04-2009, 11:21

I am a receptionist for a large company, my golden rule is 'he/she is in a meeting, please leave your number, and if they are interested they will call you back'. OR put them in hold, and if the call comes back, 'sorry no reply in that office, thank you for calling (then don't stop to draw breath!!) bye!! it works for me!!!

Kaizabella · 07-04-2009, 11:25

I get the same but from the other end.

I've stopped answering numbers I don't know as I haven't had a single agency even attempt to send me for something I'd be interested in / have the skills for.

And when you tell them you don't think that suits you, they get really offended and slam the phone down on you, thus minimising their chances of ringing you when they ACTUALLY have something you would like to interview for!

Grrrrr

Stripe. · 07-04-2009, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaizabella

I get the same but from the other end.

I've stopped answering numbers I don't know as I haven't had a single agency even attempt to send me for something I'd be interested in / have the skills for.

And when you tell them you don't think that suits you, they get really offended and slam the phone down on you, thus minimising their chances of ringing you when they ACTUALLY have something you would like to interview for!

Grrrrr

Generalisation anyone???

I work in recruitment, and I appreciate the honesty when a candidate tells me straight away that they arent interested in a job, as opposed to pretending to be interested, then changing their mind when there is an offer. later down the line...

And, for all the talk of "recruiters are all pests".. its amazing how that changes when a manager you've been trying to speak to for 6 months and has constantly been "in meetings", is made redundant, and calls you for a job... I love it when that happens, as thats the time when I'm "unfortunately on my way to a meeting, leave me your number and I'll call you back if I'm interested".............

rach108 · 07-04-2009, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stripe.

Generalisation anyone???

I work in recruitment, and I appreciate the honesty when a candidate tells me straight away that they arent interested in a job, as opposed to pretending to be interested, then changing their mind when there is an offer. later down the line...

And, for all the talk of "recruiters are all pests".. its amazing how that changes when a manager you've been trying to speak to for 6 months and has constantly been "in meetings", is made redundant, and calls you for a job... I love it when that happens, as thats the time when I'm "unfortunately on my way to a meeting, leave me your number and I'll call you back if I'm interested".............

But if they are constantly 'in meetings' does reading between the lines not say they don't want to speak to you? So why try to get hold of them for 6 months? That's the annoyance I'm talking about.

rach108 · 07-04-2009, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stripe.

Generalisation anyone???

And, for all the talk of "recruiters are all pests"...

Not all, some of them are helpful and good at their job. Those are the ones I will deal with.

Cyclone · 07-04-2009, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stripe.

And, for all the talk of "recruiters are all pests".. its amazing how that changes when a manager you've been trying to speak to for 6 months and has constantly been "in meetings", is made redundant, and calls you for a job... I love it when that happens, as thats the time when I'm "unfortunately on my way to a meeting, leave me your number and I'll call you back if I'm interested".............

Pretty unprofessional really, about what I'd expect from an agent.