Neil Wilson’s article on industry trends in Recruiter, 2 September, was excellent. In my humble opinion the industry has needed to change for far too long, though I’m not entirely convinced that we need more research to tell us this.

While we do need to build genuinely sustainable partnerships with our clients, contrary to Neil saying it’s solely the responsibility of recruiters, I do think that the clients have to take some responsibility here as well. They need to be open minded in continuing to discuss talent and new ways of identifying great employees outside of times they are recruiting, otherwise it only perpetuates the boom/bust scenario Neil refers to.

In doing so, we should educate not only on new methodologies and ways of working, but on some of the simple basics too. I’m often appalled (but sadly not surprised) at the number of recruiters who flagrantly breach both client and candidate trust but are often encouraged — or not discouraged — to keep going.

I’ve come across instances recently where candidates I have briefed fully and professionally on a specific role have then had their details forwarded without them even knowing or having even met the recruiter in question. The client responds that that they have already received the candidate’s CV. Thereby, the client unwittingly fuels the unethical way of working that they so often loathe.

They may not want to face up to it, but they need to take responsibility too. Good employers recognise the benefit of an excellent recruiter in the value chain and excellent recruiters recognise the role and added value they can bring to a business. They also know when to suggest to their client that there may be an alternative way — even when in the short term it means you don’t generate a fee! In a nutshell, poor or rather appalling standards continue to be brushed under the carpet and these methods are being unwittingly endorsed by the leadership of those recruitment organisations.

Clients and candidates alike can quite rightly point to the recruitment industry as being ‘estate agentesque’ but until more of them stand up to the particularly poor ‘bums on seats’ brigade, then they have to share the responsibility as to why this poor practice continues.

Andy Young, senior consultant, Stopgap