I am writing in response to the Soapbox by Bob Wicks in Recruiter (’CV ownership: an agency’s nightmare!’ 25 November 2009).

This has got to be the most frustrating article I have read in a long time. The techniques listed are idealisms that I think a lot of people strive for. However, it would be unrealistic to expect them to happen 100% of the time. It’s a wonderful feeling when you are able to persuade your client to agree to an interview before seeing the CV.

In a market full of recruiters who are inadequately trained and lack basic ethics, you can’t always blame the client for demanding a CV first.

I think what needs to be remembered here is the human factor. We are dealing with human beings who are fluid in their feelings and how they choose to interact with us. Therefore to have such a rigid set of techniques is just giving yourself rope to hang yourself with, especially in these hard times.

And to regurgitate a training manual that was written in the 90s about how I should be recruiting makes be feel frustrated and angered for someone who is managing to keep my head above water in the recession, while remaining ethical and professional in my practice.

We are never going to avoid the age-old argument about who sent the CV first, and really it doesn’t matter in the long run, as it is who the client chooses to interview through that makes the difference to who can claim the fee.
B Cantwell