Inept Temp Agency

So, I think the pandemic is exposing just how inept employment agencies are. Or maybe not and I just happened to experience it this time.

I called in to a temp agency I belong to, to mark myself available for work. I was told about a great opportunity and was promised by the recruiter she would forward my email to the client who wants to do Google Meet interview screens first tomorrow (Tuesday).

Well, she didn't. And, she forgot to delete the string of email communication she's had with the client since Friday after Thanksgiving. She mentions two other temp candidates by name and goes on about them in the email communication string.

As a result of her gaffe, I got a full view of my competition from this temp agency as a result of reading through her emails that she forgot to delete. That's really unprofessional on her part. She calls herself, Director of Communication" which is totally laughable considering she can't even delete confidential emails that she just forwards on to a random temp (me). What an idiot!

Anyway. I took it upon myself to carpe diem. I emailed the client directly, attached my resume (the job is direct hire anyway), and said that i was looking forward to the Google Meet interview screen with her tomorrow at the allotted time.

Now, I realize, my actions may mean that I burn a bridge with the temp agency. They may view my direct email (I didn't cc the inept recruiter or director) as a breech of protocol. But who cares if the client directly hires me on my own, and doesn't hire me through the temp agency. You have to seize opportunity where you can.

I need a full time job. I have no time for inept recruiters or so-called directors of communication who can't even delete their previous email communications, and who instead just forward on the ENTIRE communication thread. Talk about breech of confidentiality. Idiots!

Well, my move paid off! The client emailed me back to thank me for sending her my resume and I have an interview scheduled with her tomorrow after all. I'm going to ask her if she is interested in hiring me, to do it outside the protocol of the temp agency. Not sure if I'll lose out on a job opportunity, but I'm fed up with stupid temp agencies.

Hey you are smart and decided to check this out for yourself. The temp agency dropped the ball.

Hope you get the job. Good luck!!

Good luck on getting the job and yeah the temp agency does indeed sound inept.

Thanks! I must admit, I'm a little paranoid that they conveniently "dropped the ball" by not setting up my interview today like they promised they would via email to me, because they didn't want to include me in the pool of candidates. I tend to be very outspoken and blunt with recruiters (because of how much I abhor them in general). So, I probably exclude myself from getting assignments, based on my bad attitude towards recruiters. I mean, I take responsibility for the consequences that I set up with my snarky attitude towards recruiters, that I choose not to hide. I'm not helping myself in that way, I get it.

But today I was on my best behavior on the phone when I called to check in. No snarky attitude. I wasn't rude. But I could tell by the lack of care with the forwarded email string to me from the "director of communication," revealing the other two candidates I"m up against for this admin role, and the lack of follow through on their part in setting me up with the client for the Google Meets interview, that it was all intentional. They went through the motions with me today, I think, b/c I set up the circumstances for them to view me as a rude person on the phone (because I have been with them in the past).

But I took a chance anyway, contacting the client myself and got an interview set up that way. I am dreading the consequences tomorrow if I get offered the role. Will the recruiter even tell me, or pass me off as "not interested" to the client, and present one of the other two candidates instead? As retaliation against me. See how my mind works? This is my biggest fear with the temp agency and why I hate them so much, as middle men. They are so divisive and manipulative. And they are unapologetic about being divisive and manipulative. It's astounding to me sometimes, when I think about it. I will circumvent any bull they pull, by sending a follow up email after my Google Meet interview to reiterate my interest in the job, and will ask them to contact me directly with a job offer. Hopefully, that will work in my favor. I have the client's phone number too.

Agencies don't really care about the temps, they care about making money off the temps. So, if you happen to display an attitude, then they really don't care.

I know that when I worked with an agency I made it a point to get to know the person and we talked about business etc. I learned their name and always was nice and as a result they tended to call me first when they had a client. It's always important to remember, while people don't always remember exactly what you say, they never forget how you make them feel.

It's good that you are aware of how your attitude can make or brake an opportunity. You can work on changing that.

So the Google Meet interview with the two people at the company happened today. It lasted for about 18 minutes. This was their first time using a temp agency. When i asked the supervisor I'd be supporting, what his managerial style and communication style was? His answer informed my decision not to accept any job offer tomorrow if it happens. Because, he basically said he's a two-minute type of boss; he doesn't have time to hold anyone's hand, is go-go-go, and can't be bothered with updates and doesn't tolerate mistakes. There's also no training ramp-up time, he and his team would be remote as would I, and so we'd never work together face to face due to the pandemic. When the recruiter called me to get an update, she told me the other two candidates declined. Looks like I'll be the third candidate to decline any job offer as well! Eeek. He sounds like a super toxic boss to work for. I may be desperate for a job, but I'm not THAT desperate.

Hmm it depends on the nature of the work. If it’s something that’s pretty much self explanatory then a person doesn’t need hand holding. And some people prefer not having to update and have to interface with their boss constantly.

And as far as expecting the work to be accurate? That’s not an unreasonable request for some types of work. Especially if following a self explanatory program that can be done on a self correcting computer program.

It's good that you know yourself and know that it's a managerial style that you wouldn't like. I myself would love that style because I like to be left the hell alone lol. I'm sorry the job didn't work out. Good luck in the future

I've taken enough self-assessments about my organizational style, my work style, etc. to know what my strengths and weaknesses are regarding different processes.

This would have been a remote admin role, 50% supporting the company owner (reading his emails, deciphering which ones are top priority, which ones are less priority to respond to; which emails to answer, which emails to forward to which team member and which emails to respond to myself). Then managing his schedule of appointments, etc.,. and then the other 50% of the job is supporting the other 10 team members as their admin support person.

Sorry, but I cannot be admin support for 10 people plus their boss without the proper training, a policies or procedures binder as a resource, and training on their different systems.

He basically presented the job as a baptism by fire with zero assistance from anyone. That's just not how I operate. It's not a glorified receptionist job either. Those are a piece of cake. He wants to pay me a measely $15/hr to be his entire office's admin assistant. Nope. Not the right fit for me. IF it was just his assistant, and the pay was higher like around $22/hr I'd say yes. They don't even have a receptionist b/c he closed his brick and mortar office space and his entire company is operating digitally from their homes.

There's limits to being a virtual assistant. And I think his expectations are delusional.

Thanks Raindropvampire. I just know which managerial style works best for me. Right away, I felt that icky feeling. I took that feeling as a red flag not to proceed with accepting any job offer, b/c it would turn into a disaster if I did. The right opportunity will present itself. I have to believe that.

Thanks for explaining the job better. That's a lot of responsibility for the pay level offered.

They are out of their minds, do they really think that someone would agree to work like this for $15 an hour. They will never find anyone. Smart move not agreeing to such nonsense

Yes, they are definitely delusional if they think they can pay that for the amount of work involved. Had they offered me $30/hr I would have considered it.

Sadly, that’s what they often pay admin assistants, at least the ones I know. Fast pace jobs with ton of demands and expectations and tons of various technology use and they don’t even get paid livable wages. It’s ridiculous, to say the least. Shameful

It's completely shameful. This real estate agency owner is only interested in dollar signs. I mean, look at their interview process: 15 minutes to determine who should basically be their indentured admin asst to support him and his entire staff of real estate agents remotely, for $15/hr with no healthcare benefits.

Sadly, his behavior is the norm, as you astutely pointed out. Admin assts are treated like garbage, and the hourly payrate is garbage. The only ones who make less are certified personal care assistants. pca's. Or aides who work in nursing homes. They only make $12/hr.

I know, it’s terrible. CNAs and nurses techs are usually working obscene amount of overtime or work several jobs just to make ends meet. It’s not livable wage. People just can’t live on this

If it benefits you i do not see a problem with that.

What do you mean?

How does it benefit her when she just explained that it’s a low paid job with unrealistic expectations?

Oh my god.

I received a thank you for applying rejection email today from that delusional real estate company today. They decided to go another direction. LOL

When I called the temp agency to update my availability, I mentioned the rejection email to the recruiter, and her response was "we don't have anything for you at this time."

What fresh hell is this. Seriously.

I'd read that as you went outside of us to apply so now we can't find you work. I mean I could be reading more into it than there is but....

Is there another temp agency you can try that won't be so petty and inept? I don't know if it's something you have already tried or if they don't have them in your area but here we have a couple places that do vocational rehab. They let you brush up on your skills, help with resumes and help find work with contacts that they have. It doesn't sound like you need resume help or skills help but it could be a helpful resource for finding employment. I apologize if it's something you've already tried just spitballing here

Well, I agree with you that the temp agency recruiter's response to me was petty because I interpreted it that way too, "since you went around my ineptness exploiting me to our client as being incompetent with confidential information, I will not make an effort to find you any temp work as retaliation." Of course there are retaliation laws at the county and federal level, but why bother pursuing that.

I already am in the county system with those vocational job agencies. For two years. Hasn't helped connect with employers outside of their job fairs. It's ok. I appreciate the suggestion though. I give off the attitude that i don't like to work. It's not far from the truth. I don't. But I need to find my vocation and have had decades to do that; where I tried many career paths that led nowhere. So, I have no one to blame but myself for my past job history. But current employers don't like to see those employment gaps, which even a combination resume doesn't hide that well.

I'll figure it out eventually. Or, I won't. Meh.