How to damage your career with Huxley

[jsl1]

Dear NP members,



I need some advice on this case. I've been contacted by a headhunter from Huxley. I knew their reputation for having dealing with them 4 years ago, but foolishly found myself talking with him about my latest accomplishements. I explictely asked him keep my profile anonymous during the early stages of his search process and told him that I will not send any CV at this time.



He called me back the day after to announce that one of his client wanted to have an informal chat. Unfortunately, during the conversation I had with the client, it quickly appeared that:

- the headhunter re-enginneered a CV without my consent

- sent it to a few clients with my name explicitely written on it.



Obviously I will stop any contact with this guy. The only question that remains is the following: should I send my complaint to both the headhunter AND his manager ? Or should I be more clement, and only send it to the culprit ?



thanks very much in advance for you feedback.

[FDAXHunter]

Honestly... neither one of them will give a shit, so you might as well save your breath/time. It was your mistake to deal with them in the first place, so if you're going to send any complaints, make sure you send one to yourself.

[NS]

On the one hand I wonder why you even talk to or agree to deal with these people after you know their reputation - for that I have little sympathy for you. FDAX is 100% spot on, neither he nor his manager will care - they do this every single day.



Having said that it seems this recruiter has really taken this a step further than his firms usual shady behaviour (in the UK at least, it is illegal to send out someone's profile without their consent, you could sue these guys if this has happened in the UK) in that he has gone to the trouble of 'updating' your CV for you.



For you the damage has been done already - some of the firms they have sent your 'CV' to may not be able to consider you as a candidate from any other headhunter for the next 6 months.



Again, if you or they are in the UK, what you can do is get a record of every firm and person your CV has been sent to (under the Data Protection Act they are legally obliged to release your info to you) and also make sure they delete your details from their database.



I'm not sure what makes me more angry - the fact that the market allows this kind of thing to still go on after all these years (sadly I think it will never change), or that after this recruitment firm has totally dicked you around, gone behind your back and potentially damaged your career you are considering 'being clement' to them?! Angry

[JoeC]

Sending out a candidate's resume without their consent is really bad - you should be pissed - but focus on optimizing your exit strategy from the situation. See if you can get a list of where they sent your resume.



Call it a "misunderstanding" - get the list. Then sort out what damage control needs to be done to protect your reputation.



Your post is more damaging to the recruiter than sending him or his boss an angry email - focus on getting the list of what firm's they submitted you to.



As you establish new search firm relationships with search firms you should prepare a PDF version of your resume so nobody can alter it - put their logo on it etc...



If a recruiter has an opportunity you're interested in or a manager you want to speak with/meet, you can Word copy at that time.

[jsl1]

>"I wonder why you even talk to or agree to deal with these people after you know their reputation"

I thought that in 4 year time things could have evolved...



He did not respect his engagements, but I was the one who gave him the gun to shoot me in the first place.



Anyway apologies for the whining, and thanks for the slap Fdax, next time I'll be more lucid Hammertime



Rgds