Competing headhunter question - obligations? should I feel guilty?

[NewJeffCT]

Sorry, this is a bit long.

A few months back, I was contacted by one agency regarding jobs at XYZ company in general, but never heard back from this agency despite my following up with the specific agent a few times. I had given them permission to contact XYZ on my behalf.

Maybe a month after my initial contact with the first agency, I heard from another headhunter about XYZ. I told him I had already been contacted by another agency regarding XYZ and was just waiting to hear back from them, so was not interested in his services. I did NOT give this guy, Sam, permission to contact XYZ, as I didn't think it was nice to do that to the first agency.

However, several weeks after I heard from Sam, he called me up out of the blue in mid-October and said that XYZ wanted to interview me and that – according to him – nobody had contacted XYZ on my behalf previously.

Since it was in the division which is my strength, I jumped at the chance and an interview was set up with XYZ. Before the interview was set up, I had told Sam that I had a very important meeting the next week and that I could not make the interview until after the meeting, and I would not know the official meeting date until Friday. So, I would contact him on Friday after I knew the meeting date - this was on a Tuesday. However, for some reason, I got a really rude message from him on Thursday saying I was making a mockery of his work and his phone calls (I still have the email saved) – even though I told him I wouldn't get back to him with a firm date until Friday.

I was a bit put off, but figured that maybe he was just having a bbad day. I found out the date for the quarterly meeting so, when I contacted Sam on Friday, he set up the interview for after my quarterly meeting.

However, something came up on their end and the interview had to be postponed. I told Sam that I would get back to him in two days with when I'd be available and he seemed fine with that. But, you guessed it, I got a nasty voice mail from Sam the following day where he was literally enraged that I was not ready to set up a new interview within seconds of the first one being postponed. Meanwhile, he had agreed the day before that I would get back to him in two days!

I then left a direct message for Lisa, the woman at XYZ in HR, and told her that while I was very interested in their company and the position, I could no longer work through this headhunter due to the rude actions of this person. I even left her my phone number & email address, but did not hear back from her.

So, I relayed this information on to a 3rd headhunter when he contacted me about a job at XYZ last week. He seemed fine with that and said he had good contacts inside XYZ and he'd get back to me.

But, I come home from work tonight and have an email from Sam saying that XYZ wants to interview me and to contact Lisa the woman in HR.

While I haven't signed anything with any headhunter, I still feel uneasy going through Sam. However, it's a good job with a good company, and I think I'm a good fit based on the job description. Should I tell the 3rd headhunter at all? Should I just blow this company off entirely?

Thanks

[LynzM]

1. To me, this sounds like

Sam is playing games with you. You called Lisa. He then tells you to call Lisa? Um, hello? You did that.

I guess if I were you, I would tell Sam that you're sorry, but due to his unprofessional actions, you won't be needing his services anymore. Try the third guy, see if that gets you anywhere, or try contacting Lisa again.

But then, I don't know how important this job is to you, nor do I have any experience in getting jobs that are being recruited by headhunters, so my advice probably isn't worth much in this ;)

[NewJeffCT]

4. it's been a few weeks

I called Lisa a few weeks back to say I wasn't working with Sam anymore. I heard nothing from them or from Sam in probably a month.

Then, I get contacted by headhunter #3 about the same job at the same company, and 2 days later, I hear from Sam again.

[sendero]

2. Most recruiters....

.... well I won't say. Most of them add very little value to the process IMHO. Sam basically is jumping your sh*t because you aren't busting your ass to make him a commission.

Since you have signed nothing, I doubt you have any legal liability should you bypass him. It is possible however, that the company has some kind of deal with him and he'll get paid even if you do go aroudn him. Which it too bad, but not really your problem.

In this environment, I certainly wouldn't jeopardize passing up a good job over this douchebag. Do what is good for you, you aren't obligated to dance to this guy's tune.

[NewJeffCT]

3. I'm guessing

that this guy Sam has some sort of "in" with this company.

Of course, about a year ago, I was turned off to a good job in Richmond, VA because the headhunter told me that my wife (with her 2 master's degrees & 2 undergrad degrees) should consider staying at home & being a housewife.

[NewJeffCT]

5. morning kick

thanks

[NewJeffCT]

6. afternoon kick

thanks

[ucmike]

7. do whatever you can to get the job

and let xyz settle with the headhunters. they get commission and its up to xyz to pay whoever they feel brought you in. you shouldn't walk away from a position you want because some unorganized jackass has inserted himself into the situation.

my mother-in-law works as a headhunter and these disputes pop up all the time. the hiring company deals with it, sometimes the headhunters freelance in hopes of grabbing a commission when they have no formal relationship with the hiring company.

[NewJeffCT]

8. that's what I figured

but, I'll probably feel guilty either way.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. ucmike is right -

screw the headhunters, do whatever it takes to get the job.

It's business, and it's all about how much YOU get out of it; they'll manbage to somehow get paid, and/or learn not to be such shits next time they have a client.

Don't feel guilty at all.