Quick bit of advice - declining interview

Sic · 23 Jan 2008 at 14:42

I've recently put my CV about and a recruitment consultant appears to have made it her life long dream to get me in a new job, ASAP even though I said to her that I was just seeing what was about and that it'd take a substantial payrise and the right opportunity for me to move. sufficed to say that I'm not terribly happy where I am right now and I want to know how hard it would be to move!

In less than a day, she's managed to get me an interview for a company, undisclosed salary, undisclosed job description (wtf?!) for a company with a horrible looking website in an unattractive-sounding industry. I'm obviously making this sound worse than it is, but I don't particularly want to go to this interview as it'll mean half a day's holiday for something that I don't really want! If I say to her that I've had a look at the company and the industry and it doesn't seem like what I'm after, is that going to really irritate her or do you reckon I'm safe doing this? I don't really want to burn any bridges! How would you go about doing this? I'm thinking:

Ask for job description - seem interested
If no job description, say I'm not interested
After job description, say it doesn't really seem like what I'm after

does that sound rude to anyone?

Haircut · 23 Jan 2008 at 14:46

No, not rude at all.
She's probably done the same thing to about 20 people on the assumption that only a few of them will turn actually want to go to the interview.

Don't worry about burning bridges with recruitment consultants - there are a million more of them out there desperately trying to get you into any job they can as they want their commission.

LiE · 23 Jan 2008 at 14:47

It's completely up to you what job interviews to go to. If she can't provide a decent level of information then I think she is doing a poor job. How can she expect you to be enthused by what she has told you? I don't thknk she would be irrate if you explained you would like more information, then tell her it's not what you're looking for. Perhaps then take the opportunity to give her guidelines for what you want?

Sic · 23 Jan 2008 at 14:49

that's the thing, I don't really know what I want - I guess I'm asking too much because it's really high pressure sales, effectively, but all I want is for people to call me with x job, ask if I'm interested and then put me forward if I am. She's put me forward then asked if I'm interested, which has put me on my back foot a bit!

Haircut · 23 Jan 2008 at 14:50

Sic said:
that's the thing, I don't really know what I want - I guess I'm asking too much because it's really high pressure sales, effectively, but all I want is for people to call me with x job, ask if I'm interested and then put me forward if I am. She's put me forward then asked if I'm interested, which has put me on my back foot a bit!

You need to tell her exactly what your situation is and make it clear you're not prepared to go for any interviews unless you have a full job spec first.
It's up to you to decide you want to go for an interview, not her.

Sic · 23 Jan 2008 at 14:52

Yeah, you're right. I've just asked her for a job spec, just don't want to seem like I'm messing her around - I guess that makes her a good salesperson!

melbourne720 · 23 Jan 2008 at 14:52

Just tell her straight, then she'll know what to look for. Some agents are bad for completely ignoring your specified requirements, and insist on trying to fit a round candidate into a square hole (so to speak

).

Recruitment consultants operate in a tough comission hungry business and won't cry if you tell them what's what

LiE · 23 Jan 2008 at 14:54

Based on your qualifications and work experience, I am sure you could come up with a short list of jobs you would be able to do? Atleast then you can point the recruiter in the right direction, otherwise you will have a lot of 'generic' jobs thrown your way, and waste your time.

Sic · 23 Jan 2008 at 15:13

msm722 said:
Based on your qualifications and work experience, I am sure you could come up with a short list of jobs you would be able to do? Atleast then you can point the recruiter in the right direction, otherwise you will have a lot of 'generic' jobs thrown your way, and waste your time.

you're right, but my qualifications and experience don't necessarily channel my career path, because my job could be done at any company, it's a fairly generic role in itself!