Is this your CV?

Is this your CV?

In an age where we are rightly taught and warned to keep our personal data secure, I wonder how many people realise just where their CV can end up, without their knowledge.

For the third time in the last two weeks I’ve had the situation where a candidate that I have been speaking with has had their CV sent to a company without their knowledge or consent. I know for a fact that some companies, many I’d suggest, and I won’t name the culprits I know here, have a poor ethic and mentality. To them a candidate (that’s you) is a fee, nothing more, and when they receive your CV, their first concern is to get it in front of as many companies as they can. It’s a big ‘CV Race’, they ‘need’ to get in first, before any other agency. You aren’t a person, with specific requirements, wants and ambitions, you are ammunition for the CV machine gun.Rat-a-tat-tat, off you go, with a handful of others, to as many ‘contacts’ as they can muster. No matter if you don’t want to work there, or if you may know people there, or if you work in an ‘incestuous’ industry where everybody knows everybody. The only thing that counts is that your CV landed on the clients desk from them, first. Got to be first. Is that what you want for your CV, for your reputation (Think of the recipient. “I‘ve had this candidates CV from 4 agencies this week, he/she must be desperate.”). Not what you want I’m sure.

So, unless you are desperate for a job, any job, beware how and to whom you share your CV. Now, you may want to move, you have valid reason, and you are keen to do so, that is your right. Or maybe you’re pretty happy, but always open to outstanding opportunities. In either case you’ll need to have a CV ready and prepared. If you are actively looking you will need to send it to recruitment companies, or post it online, where recruiters will find it. BUT, be careful who you choose to work with, or to have working on your behalf.

How to work with recruiters, and choose the right one(s).

Speak to the consultant before sending your CV. Are they credible, do they know about your industry or job discipline? Do they speak the right language? Do you know some of the same people or companies? Are you speaking to a bona fide recruiter/search consultant, or some poor young guy/girl whose job it is to man the machine gun?

Depending on the urgency of your need you may want to speak to more than one consultant, maybe two or three, but I wouldn’t recommend speaking to more, unless you are desperate. Have them explain to you how they specifically work. What will they do with your CV, and more importantly what won’t they do with it? Do they truly listen to you, to understand your exact requirements, needs, aspirations and ambitions? Do they understand your niche or market sector, how it works and the order of ‘things’ in your sector? A good consultant can really add value to your job search, they can provide invaluable advice and inside knowledge to the industry and their clients.

We have to drive these shoddy practices out of the recruitment industry. Please, help us good guys and girls, and help yourself in the process. Use recruiters and search consultants, ones that can provide you with a genuine, valuable service, and avoid at all costs the machine gunners of this world.

Final Tip– Make a judgement call. Just because someone says “we don’t operate like that, we’re not that type of agency”, doesn’t make it so!