Updated: The recruiter called me this morning (I'm sure it took him a while to work up the nerve for that) and said that the recruiters had decided to take the firm's fee offer. How very generous of them. I'm sure it had absolutely nothing to do with the big ruckus I caused and the promise that I would let everyone know what a horrible experience I had. Or new employer letting them know they would never work with the recruiting firm again and would be happy to let every accounting contact they know what a fiasco this was. It was probably out of the goodness of their hearts. I don't really care either way - BECAUSE I HAVE A JOB! I start June 1. Thanks you guys, for listening to my craziness during the long haul.
As you all know, I've been looking for a job since March. (Oh, Hi! I've been away for awhile, it's not you, it's me.)(You don't want to listen to my tales of laundry woes, and I don't want to talk about it anymore.)
I had an interview with a local CPA firm a few weeks ago. It went great! They liked me. I liked them. They made me an offer. I accepted that offer. So why am I not getting my suit to the dry cleaners for my first day? Because of the recruiter who sent me over to that firm. He and the firm can't come to an agreement on the fee for finding me. There's an outstanding fee agreement from 2006 that the firm didn't remember before they interviewed me, and they are legally bound by that contract. Which means that they can't just tell the recruiter to go jump in a lake, they have to follow whatever the rules are that they previously agreed to in the contract in 2006. The firm told the recruiter what they were willing to pay me (which was fine) and what they were going to pay him. He was not happy with that.
The recruiter could, if he were a nice person, take himself out of the equation, build some goodwill with me and with the firm, and say, "Hey, I don't want to cost either one of you this great opportunity, let me just step out of this deal." But he won't do that*. I flat out asked him if he would, and he told me that he had worked for free for three weeks (He faxed over my resume and called me about the interview. The majority of the work he did was try and negotiate his fee, which has nothing to do with me.) He should have been up front with the firm about what the fees were going to be and reminded them of the 2006 (FOUR YEARS AGO) fee agreement that was in place before I ever stepped foot in the place.
So the job offer I was so excited about last week? Is not going to happen because of this. I have talked to another recruiter friend of mine, and she has never had a problem getting paid from this firm, so what is the problem this time? I have no idea. And the bad recruiter DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME ANY OF THIS UNTIL I EMAILED HIM YESTERDAY. He didn't even bother to let me know that I was not going to be packing my 10 key and my favorite .09 yellow pencil and getting my certificates hung anytime soon like I thought I was. Maybe next time I need to go to the grocery store, I'll give him a call and see if he can help me out. Maybe we can "negotiate" something to pay my mortgage.
Don't work with Snelling, people. They are not your friend.
The other job I was the top candidate for decided to let the assistant try out the job to see if she could do it.
How come I keep getting the top pick but no job actually materializes? I'm discouraged.
*Look, I get that he's in this to make money. I totally get that. But don't you think that the negative publicity from this -both with the firm and with me and my contacts - is going to cost him much more in the long run? Of course it is. But he worked very hard for me! For! Free! I've heard that pressing some buttons on a fax machine is very time consuming and strenuous. And expensive.
Oh God honey I'm so sorry! I'm just so sorry! Bryan's been out of work since July and he's always in the top three and he gets nothing. So I totally know your frustrations. But this? YOU HAD THE JOB! Talk about a rug being pulled out from under you.
Posted by: samantha jo campen | May 19, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Dude. That sux. 100%. Definitely a good cautionary tale though. I hope you have better luck with your next job prospects.
Posted by: Susan | May 19, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Man, what does his boss say? Go higher...Snelling is national...keep on making waves because this just is plain wrong. I've dealt with recruiters on both sides of the table and this is just wrong.
I wish I had a magic wand and we'd BOTH win the lottery right about now.
Posted by: Angela | May 19, 2009 at 10:48 AM
That completely sucks; I'm so sorry! I can't believe they won't work through this to give you the job. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they come to an agreement soon!
Posted by: Jessie | May 19, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I know how you feel. I have two weeks of unemployment left and then we are royally screwed. WTF???
Posted by: Bethany | May 19, 2009 at 06:25 PM
1) Welcome back! We missed you!
2) That sucks. Big Time. I'm sorry. I wish I had a CPA job up my sleeve to give you, but alas, all I have is a sinkful of dirty dishes and two cute kids. Here's hoping that the next job is the one that sticks.
Posted by: Erin | May 20, 2009 at 07:45 AM
That is wrong, so wrong. I have Tweeted about this as well so that others can avoid Smelly Snelling, too.
Posted by: cagey | May 20, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Ok, at the risk of having tomatoes thrown at me, and since I spent 9 years as a recruiter, I have to say the company that hired you has a responsibility to keep tabs on their outstanding contracts, too. Yes, the recruiter should have reminded them when he presented you as a candidate that there is a contract on file, upfront. But that company is just as legally obligated to that contract as the recruiter is, they should have been aware of it. And trying to negotiate down on recruiter contracts is a constant, especially in a down economy, companies don't want to pay as much for talent. And by allowing them to negotiate off-contract, you set a precedent that can be dangerous. However, its pretty rare than any company these days honors a contract that is over 1 year old, unless its with a recruiter they have regular and constant business with, in which case everyone is always very clear. If that company hadn't done business with him in 4 years, and he tried to claim contract on file? He got what he deserved.
Okay, I'm done. I'm glad you got the job!
Posted by: Jenny | May 20, 2009 at 02:34 PM
Yea for a job!
That's crap what you had to go through to get it though.
Posted by: Amy W | May 21, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Congrats!!! I'm thrilled for you and hope it turns out to be a great fit!
I asked my boss at the firm if I could take my calculator with me when I left, as I am attached to it after using it for 9 years. He agreed. I'm totally a 0.7 girl though, not 0.9. ;)
Posted by: Krista | May 22, 2009 at 10:36 AM
That stinks about all the turmoil you went through to get the job but YEA for a job! Hope your first day goes well.
Posted by: Jamie @ BlondeMomblog | May 24, 2009 at 07:28 PM