How would you deal with this situation?

[D3K]

Hello OCUKers,

I recently applied for a job via jobsite and ended up trading what I consider to be vast swathes of my own personal information with an agent from a lesser known and local recruitment agency.

I exchanged my CV (as always, embellished) and over subsequent mails/calls, information regarding prejudices towards my current job, my dislike of co-worker's attitude towards theirs, my dreams and ambitions for the future, and past critical areas of my life that I'd rather not tell anyone unless they are keen-eyed enough to spot the gap in my employment history (a long time ago and not criminal nor drug related) was divulged.

The prospective job started to be of less interest the more the agent divulged info to me, but his lack of certainty over the role and the reputation of the company itself kept me piqued. I decided to push for an interview to get more of an understanding of the job and to determine whether or not it would be worth the transition.

Queue mid May when the agent told me that the hiring company had put all interviews on hold until mid June. He asked if I would wait. I said no problem as I wasn't going anywhere.

A few days later I noticed that agent's name was in my bosses diary on the same day I was due for a development review. I thought nothing of it - he's an agent and we need more staff.

On the day of my review, my boss cut it short so he could go conduct an interview. I politely enquired as to the nature of the interview.
"We have a guy interviewing for an internal sales position with us"

No swearing, not even disguised swearing - Davey :S

I kept my ears open and he got through to the second interview. I then heard of a 'package' being offered. I obviously couldn't say anything.

On Friday I got an email from him asking for me to get in touch for feedback from the prospective company. He's young and doesn't have a clue about subtlety. I knew there was no feedback, and if I didn't, 'feedback' is not the word to use if you haven't had an interview.

I was busy over the weekend then straight into a site visit on Monday. On the drive home my phone rang and I missed it. He mailed me after to once again let me know that he's received 'feedback' and wanted to explain over the phone, but unfortunately they wouldn't be interviewing me for the role. The end to the email went along the lines of: 'I just got a job at your company and will probably see you in the office soon'.

That's it to date.

I have no idea how to react in this situation. I understand that business is business. You screw someone over and then walk away (never done it myself but it's accepted). In this situation, the walking is being done towards me.

I can't expose him for being a mercenary - someone who looks after himself before the customer (as he has done in my case) - because it would raise questions about me looking for jobs.

I can't sit comfortably knowing that he is coming to us as a potential info-bomb. I would imagine he is bound not to say anything, but is he? I don't know if he is constrained by any regulations, or data protection acts. I'm not in the office full-time whereas he will be - and who knows what bonds he forms with staff and then divulges secrets.

I haven't replied to his messages. I was intending to on friday before getting tied up for the weekend, then he beat me to the punch of me telling him I wasn't interested in the job with his mail on Monday.

How would you act in this situation?
I have to at least be courteous, but I cannot imagine assisting him with anything that will aid his position.

Massive congrats if you've read this far

 

[D3K]

The embellishment was mostly a bunch of superlatives/comparatives which while not untrue in their entirety, can't be substantiated and if my peers were to read it they may take offense. For example, I mentioned a higher and faster rate of problem solving than average (actually this can be substantiated if I trawl through company records, but who would?). I also mentioned that I study more in my private time than I do - a fair bit of my time is spent learning new stuff but not so much revising old uni topics which was what he was after.

I'm a bit confused, let me see if I got this...
You applied for a job through an agency, didn't like the job but kept talking to the agent about your current job, all the while divulging info about your current situation, said agent then used the information he gleaned off you to land himself a job at your place? That pretty much it?

Not quite the correct sequence - all of the info from me to him came early in the beginning. CV, covering letter, etc. Then more info came back from the employer having read my details, recommending that there wouldn't be as much to one aspect of the job that I thought, and that I should take under consideration before continuing. Given that the agent wasn't able to convey that in the beginning, and still unable to give an accurate portrayal of exactly what the job would entail, I thought it best to go in and see for myself at an interview.

It was very much a casual application. I found my current job the same way. I took a trip for an interview not expecting to be wowed but in the end I was. I also had an interview a few months ago (longest ever, 4 hours of face to face chatting) and while I was quite interested to an extent, there had to be more money in it for me to make the move and that is where we couldn't come to an agreement.

I don't for a second believe that the message he sent back from the employer after a month is true. His 'feedback' was pretty much my concerns in reverse - "not gonna have as much of this aspect in it for you, so not a best fit" kind of thing. I have the feeling that either
a) the message came back a month ago and he didn't want to give me bad news in case I caught wind of his application with us and tried to put a spanner in the works
or
b) he left it til after his offer from us and is throwing me nonsense because he doesn't want to be seen poaching a member of staff from his new company just before starting. I suppose this could be cleared up by talking to the prospective employer directly, but that could cause more harm than it's worth - it would only be an exercise in determining his honesty and I don't see how that would help matters.

I suppose I would just like to know the legal standpoint here. Is he breaking any data protection / confidentiality agreements if he informs people in my company? Is it down to the agency's policy?

 

[D3K]

Yeah... the OP is very difficult to read - had to go over it about 4 times and still not entirely sure what's happened - any chance of a TLDR?

TLDR:
Apply for job
Pass on details - reasons for wanting to leave, what im looking for, entire employment history including explanation of gaps etc
Get put on hold for a month
Agent interviews with us during that time. Gets job
Mails me after he accepts to say 'no job 4 u, but job 4 me with you'

There was no moaning about my current job. I gave reasons for wanting to leave, and part of my covering letter expressing what I'm looking for in a job mentioned working for a bigger company where the employees are enthusiastic about their job and take pride in their work. Nothing scathing about anyone nor wholly personal but it is obviously a worry if this got out to my colleagues.

It's a pretty messed up situation to have to worry about this because when does it ever happen? Definitely a lesson learned.

 

[D3K]

The likelihood of a recruiter mentioning to a potential employer of his, that he was trying to pull people from the company he seeks to work for is very slim I'd suggest.

I think that's his point. As soon as he started the application process with us he stopped working to find me a job. Covering his back for the future.
If he had helped me, I would have been able to tell my boss that it was his new start that got me a job elsewhere.

 

[D3K]

Should I respond to his e-mail to show no animosity? I worry that he may take my silence as a threat and decide to keep any written communication between us as backup. It's not something I would do myself, but I have to consider every eventuality.

I am not scared about the knowledge getting out threatening my position as much as I just don't need the hassle and gossip. The company has been in talks to sell up so that's as good an excuse as any to absolve myself of perceived loyalty issues. I just didn't use that as a reason in my application...

 

[D3K]

So you recommend not communicating with him until he starts with us?

 

[D3K]

I'm conflicted with the advice here.

Some are saying I'm naive and to get on with it
Some are saying to stab/hatchet his back, **** in his house/letterbox/coffee mug

I'm really torn, I think I should start a poll

 

[D3K]

Yeah, he interviewed for a job with us. He starts within the month.

 

[D3K]

Kol I have already learned a valuable lesson in discretion/candour through this, not making the same mistake again!

Well... I sent him a short and concise email expressing my agreement that the role was not for me, congratulating him on his new job, and asking for assurance that confidentiality would be preserved.

He replied to confirm. Slight weight off my shoulders, but I'll be keeping a beady eye on him.

 

[D3K]

I suppose we'll see what happens.

There is no fighting his arrival in the company, so I have done what I can to make it as smooth as possible for me in the short term. If he wants to use his knowledge against me, today's e-mail would not have made any difference.

 

[D3K]

Your all looking at this from a professional point of view. Sure it seems a little messy like that but maybe if you looked at this in a different way then things might start looking better?

tldr (from a different perspective):

-Unhappy with current job, things are feeling stale and could be affecting general happiness outside of work
-OP Seeks recruiter to change things up
-OP instantly hits it off with said recruiter and relationship starts to veer from what is considered professional, as OP pours his heart out to the recruiter
-A mediocre position turns up, Unsure whether to accept
-Position becomes less appealing as the recruiter starts leaking unflattering information, for the sake of OP! (and possibly their relationship which for the moment is business only)
-To prevent his potential soul-mate from accepting a position (thus ending their professional relationship) recruiter tells the business that the OP is no longer interested in the position
-Recruiter tells OP that interview is queued so as to not end their personal talks with each other, of which the recruiter has grown to love
-Months pass and the interview date approaches.
-Recruiter is desperate to find a way to keep in contact but does not want this façade known to the world so he seeks employment with OP. A more permanent position, that will never end...
-OP on his way to check out the place is told by the recruiter that there is no need and unfortunately are no longer recruiting, this is to prevent from being found and thus ruining the relationship built on many many lies.
-Recruiter gets the job and is ecstatic about working with OP, finally he has found love and in all places he has found it in the workplace. He messages OP that he will be working with him.
-OP all of the sudden feels that this is all a plan to destroy him and his reputation.

To be continued...

Will OP ever find out the recruiters true intentions?
Will the recruiter expose OP after he finds out that the OP is slowly planning his demise via 'merde de boîte aux lettres'?

I'm enlightened. I thought I had to go to Thailand for that kind of loving.

 

[D3K]

the difference it makes is that he now knows there is some level of fear that he can exploit. It may sound insignificant, but it's planted that small seed in his brain that he now knows your are already half way bent over a barrel.

Imagine a promotion opportunity comes up in 6 months time. You both want to go for it, he casually slips in the fact that he thinks he is more suited and that you should consider not going for it because he has "dirt" on you. His read on you now is that he can take you to the cleaners.

People are weird folk when it comes to self preservation and taking care of themselves first.

That's why the not playing your hand at all and keeping quiet in these situations is the best. First rule of business is never trust your colleagues for they will not bat an eyelid while they carve you up to get themselves ahead of the game. When it comes to getting a better paycheck there is not such thing as friends or trusted colleagues at work.

I've worked in a few large companies where that would be entirely true. We are a small company with a flat hierarchy (the boss and us) and each member is, to an extent, invaluable. We have a bit of dead wood that is recognised as such but we'd never remove them. He will be sales, I'm technical and there is nothing he can want from me that he could blackmail me over. If something ever arose then I don't see his ammunition as a big enough threat to succumb to it.

 

[D3K]

So yes then, otherwise a recruiter would be moving into a different line of work. They wouldn't go from recruiting into engineering, for example.

I'm sure it'll work out. There are plenty of recruitment companies looking for consultants, I'd just speak with another.

Well he's come from selling people/jobs to selling for us. His agency focuses on our industry, hence me applying via them. Sales is sales, but I do wonder why he chose us over all the other companies he dealt with.