A recruiter contacted me to see if I was interested in a position that they are recruiting for, and I said I was interested.

Anonymous

May 28,2021 at 6:36PM UTC

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A recruiter contacted me to see if I was interested in a position that they are recruiting for, and I said I was interested. They came back with the name of the company and some other info. At the same time, I applied for a job that was listed under a different recruiting agency. I received a phone call and got more information and said I was interested, so they told me they were submitting my resume that day. It turned out to be the same company as the first recruiter- but it is a different position.

When I spoke to the first recruiter I wanted to be upfront about it, so I told him I was already submitted to an different position there. He wants to make sure it's not the same and asked me if I had a req ID. I don't (even if I did, it would probably the recruiters internal #, I doubt they'd give out the company #).

I told him this, and I also told him the title of the position. It is completely different. Now he is asking me for the job description. I have compared the two, it is a different job.

I don't feel comfortable sending him the job description- but am I being paranoid? I feel like he could go to the company and ask about it and try to get them to let his agency fill the role (I know companies use more than one recruiting agency for the same role. I have seen the one he is trying to submit me for posted under various agencies). Or maybe it's all innocent and he just wants to be sure it isn't the same role.

What to do?

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AnonymousMay 28,2021 at 9:58PM UTC
Hello,
I used to work in recruiting and at least with the company I worked for, they practiced some very very sketchy business practices. That recruiter most likely wants the job description so he can go out and start finding candidates to fill that role and so that recruiter can receive more of a commission. If he is already recruiting for that particular company, that means he already has a relationship with their Hiring Authority so he most likely wants an in as to what else they are looking for. As someone who worked in recruiting, I will say now, it is probably not innocent where he wants to make sure it is not the same role, he is asking out of his own selfish needs to reach his goals. Hope this helps!
AnonymousMay 29,2021 at 12:37AM UTC
That helps so much, thank you! I thought it was a little shady but I was afraid I was reading too much into it.
TerryMay 29,2021 at 12:42AM UTC
It's not up to you to provide information that you don't have and why this recruiter keeps asking you for job descriptions and req. ID's is not professional. I would tell him that you don't have that information since another recruiter submitted your resume. I'm sure they hear that all the time. And look out for other recruiters who you feel more comfortable with--it may take some time but there are some wonderful recruiters out there that will have your back and get you the job of your dreams.
ShawnetteMay 30,2021 at 1:55PM UTC
I agree. He is the recruiter, if his company doesn't have the information, it is not your responsibility to be an ad-hoc team member and get it for them. Best wishes on your search!
FlossyMay 30,2021 at 2:58PM UTC
I work for a large agency. This could be above board or fishy. There are a ton of snakes in the recruiting industry. Sadly, more at the professional level that are commission only or heavy.
It is a practice with some agencies to list part of your information as a candidate number. Most common is part of your social or DOB. The offshore firms do this a ton. This wasn’t a weird question to ask.
Be transparent with both firms. Don’t share the job description(s) and be clear you will work with both of them with on the positions they called you on. You aren’t getting involved in their competition.
In this market, employers are using multiple sources. It’s common.
Set the stage on how they will represent you. Also, if you get into an interview process with the first recruiters position that is acting shady. Be proactive about owning the communication with the employer. While they called you on the role, think whether you want them controlling the negotiations on your behalf.
AnonymousMay 30,2021 at 3:56PM UTC
As a former recruiter, regardless of position descriptions it’s bad business to submit the same candidate to the same company. Honor your first recruiter. The 2nd recruiter should have backed off. I’ve recruited thousands amid other companies who were my competition. Be sure to work with recruiters with your best interest. I always set the stage and expectations. Outside of my style, recruiters can be shady. I wasn’t and am not. Expect honesty and be honest. Ask first recruiter to submit you for all positions with same company you may fit. Best of luck and drop your 2nd recruiter. ?
AnonymousMay 30,2021 at 5:16PM UTC
I honestly don’t see what the big deal is? If you’re already submitted but help get someone a lead on another opening to open the door for them with a new hiring manager, how does that harm you? I’ve had candidates double subbed, sometimes they didn’t know, sometimes they did and hoped it bettered their chances, and no client ever cared other then to just notify us. I’ve been both in-house and agency and I’ve had plenty of candidates help me out by sharing JDs and Hiring manager names with some of my biggest clients where there’s no way we already know every req and every hiring manager. Didn’t harm their candidacy and it was a huge help for me for FUTURE work. Odds are we’d be too late to the game for that req but I make a new connection. And yes we can submit candidate to the same company if it’s different reqs, why would we hold our candidates back from an opportunity that they are qualified for but their current recruiter doesn’t have access to? And I’d do the same for other recruiters no problem. It’s give and take out there and it’s just part of networking. None of my candidates thought I was shady, and now that I’m in house and can’t help them AS MUCH, I still have tons of former candidates and consultants that I keep in touch with....
Rosa GoesMay 30,2021 at 6:17PM UTC
Let them (company & recruiters) sort it out. You are interested in the company and the recruiters contacted you. That's all that matters. There is nothing for you to do. It seems like you might be destined to work for this company no matter the position! Good luck to you.
Angela MasonMay 30,2021 at 11:29PM UTC
I don't know...
It sounded like a scam to me.
AnonymousMay 31,2021 at 6:30PM UTC
Just go with that recruiter and apply for the position, at least you know what the company is. You have to understand HR people are not complicated people, they go through the path of least resistance.