Probing Questions from Employment Agencies

A question about : Probing Questions from Employment Agencies

Employment Agencies like to data harvest. They will push you and make you think that you must divulge information about yourself.

The truth is they don't need this information at all and it is against the law for them to force you into providing this information without sufficient reason.

A good reason sometimes to ask for your bank details, previous referees etc. is because an employer asks the agency to check the background of a candidate first, before putting them forward. This is a service that the agency offers.
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK THE AGENCY FOR A REASON WHY THEY NEED THIS INFORMATION FROM YOU.

Do not assume that this must be the reason. Ask them for a reason.

Also, it could be that the agency might have a large contract for say, a financial services call centre.

Call centres have a revolving door policy. They're always hiring and firing. So if the agency has you checked out already, they can push you in for an interview straight away when a call centre holds its next round of interviews.

Again, do not assume this. Always ask.

You should not put your DOB on a CV. Until you reach the interview and sit down, you do not need to disclose your DOB because otherwise they could discriminate you by age which is why you are within your rights to make it known that you do not wish your age to be disclosed.

Ask the agency -

I am very security conscious and therefore I have a few questions Im hoping you can help answer please.

How long will you be holding my information for?
When can I ask for my information to be removed from your systems?
Do you pass any of my information onto 3rd party's?
How about My CV?

You might find that the person on the other end may become impatient and/or try to make you feel silly. Some recruitment agency's do this. They like to play games. Theyre always testing people on the phones. They like to see if you buckle under pressure or if you can keep your cool.
Most are just ****************

This sometimes helps them determine whether they should put you forward for a call centre role, for example.

Always remain calm no matter what and if they do make a snide remark, make it known that you do not appreciate their tone/their comments and if it continues that you would like to speak to their manager.

You wont be making any enemies. Do not think that you need to tread lightly with these people. You don't have to be an idiot but at the same time, do not be a push over.

Questions that they might ask you.

What places have you worked previously or where are you working now?
Ive worked for a large financial/tech company/food company/retail etc etc

What company name?
Unfortunately I cannot disclose that as I don't feel my employer would appreciate this. I am happy to absolve any information once I am certain that my prospects look hopeful and/or references are required.

(They ask the above questions because to them every company is a potential new client. So you risk divulging information which could be used against you. If they have your name and the company you work for, some recruiters have been known to use your name when they fire out an email for example, to your company to ask for business.)

Whats your DOB?
Id rather this information is not kept on the system. Thanks.

Can I have your bank details etc etc.
Im happy to provide this information but I would like to ask why you need this now, even before I have been given the opportunity to interview.

Its part of our registration process.
It may be part of your registration process, but you should be able to register me with just my basic information and my CV. If I am put forward for a role and you require my bank details and referees I will gladly provide this. It is my understanding that I cannot be refused a registration on the grounds of not providing my bank details, to be held on a system.

We need them to carry out credit/crb checks.
Ok that's not a problem. Can you confirm to me that once I check out and pass these security checks, that you as a company will not hold onto my bank or referee details?

Please add some more questions you are being asked these days which you think are a little probing and too early in the registration process? Been out of the game a while so not sure what tricks they like to employ now.

Best answers:

• Do agencies need to know which companies I have applied to or the names of other agencies I am in contact with?
• Hi wapow,
  Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge on this matter.
  Many of our job hunters are eager to get a job, and I was truly believed that the agency did have a job for me yesterday when I went to their office, that was why in the end I gave up and handed over all the information they "need" and signed the authorisation form, as they would not discuss any other things until they had what they want first. Sadly, in the end, it turns out it was mainly one of their tricks to get information out from us and there was never a job existed in the first place. I really hope this post can help people to deal better with those unethical recruitment agencies as it is really a bad practice for the agencies to gather information from jobseekers this way in order to boost their sales/incomes.
• To add to my main post, the reason you should think about the information you are providing to various agencies is because:
  a. They are data mining for no good reason.
  b. Some share information to 3rd Party's
  c. Agency systems are absolutely ripe for hacking purposes.
  Monster was hacked some time ago, along with a few others if you do a quick search. Their systems are not secure and if you have submitted your DOB, name, personal bank details etc then imagine the repercussions.
  Its time candidates pushed back and took some control over their personal information.
• If you play to many games or become obstructive (whether rightly or not) you will soon end up at the bottom of the list or not even getting called.
• That is a generalisation, but it isn't wrong. The possibility of that happening is there most definitely.
  Even things like not succeeding at interviews they put you forward to, submitting the same CV over and over again, all this is noted against your account.
  If things are not working for some time, just shake things up.
• Not allowed. You can look though. Just like an art exhibit..