I can't believe they did this!

[ShadesOfGrey]

Ok, I am so appalled.  Tell me if I am over-reacting here.

Background - the job I currently have, I got through a placement agency.  After a month of working here, they called to see how it was (August).  After 3 months they called again to check (October).  Everything good.  I havent heard from them since.   I've been here about 1.5 years now. PS - My cellphone # hasnt changed since then.

Just now, the woman from the placement agency CALLED MY BOSS and asked for ME.  My boss told me to pick up his line (I didnt know who it was). After introducing herself, she then proceeded to ask me for an updated address and how things are going with this job and if I was interested in using their services again. 

There are so many things wrong with this, on so many levels, I am just in complete shock!

Hello? Discreet? Where are you?
Hello? Professional? Where are you?
Hello? Tacky? There you are!

[Minmom3]

I had a job doing that kind of cold calling at a very sleezy agency not long after high school.  That would be the job where they refused to use my name, gave me a different name, and was just generally an awful place to work.

That was the one and only job I have ever simply walked out the door with no warning.  I told the office manager, who told me it was a hideous thing to do to my 'job record' and didn't much like it when I said I'd never tell a soul I had worked at this place, (I was there 3 weeks) and that anyplace that couldn't be bothered to use my real name (a real white bread name, no funky stuff for my parents) and treated employees like that, AND and had me calling ex clients and work sites wasn't worth admitting to.  It took me days and days to get my paycheck, but it was very worth it to not be there any longer.

[kingsrings]

Not suprising. Some temp agencies are better than others. One time years ago I signed up with a temp agency that seemed very promising and had a lot of job leads. They guaranteed that they could find me many jobs, and I followed all of their procedures in getting placed at a job site, to zero avail. Two years later, long after I had found employment elsewhere, they called, asking me if I was interested in being placed at a job site! They got quite the tongue-lashing from me and I never heard from them again.

But my question to you is, why didn't you keep after your temp company to place you permanently there or find another position elsewhere? 1.5 years on a temp job is too long. Did you ever call them and ask what the deal was and what was going on?

[Lisbeth]

That's disgusting.

I left an internship position once when the boss decided he wanted me and the two other interns who worked for him to send spam E-mails.  We weren't comfortable with that.

We'd also had situations where we interns were supposed to brainstorm and implement marketing ideas, which he claimed he really liked one day and then axed the next.  So we never knew what was what.

Since it was a non-paying internship, I didn't have anything to lose.

I agree that companies that are not discreet and straightforward with you and about you shouldn't benefit from your work.

[housewife2k]

But my question to you is, why didn't you keep after your temp company to place you permanently there or find another position elsewhere? 1.5 years on a temp job is too long. Did you ever call them and ask what the deal was and what was going on?

It sounds like she is in a permanent possition that she recieved after working at the company through the agency. Most agencies will call and make sure you are doing well up until your "probationary" period is over, normally 90 days. After that, if you haven't contacted the agency for new work, they will contact you periodically. This is why calling her bos to update all of her information was so upsetting and rude. She is not looking for a new job, but the boss might make assumptions based on the agencies call.

[ShadesOfGrey]

But my question to you is, why didn't you keep after your temp company to place you permanently there or find another position elsewhere? 1.5 years on a temp job is too long. Did you ever call them and ask what the deal was and what was going on?

Sorry, I should have been more clear - it's actually a placement agency - not a temp agency.  They do temp placement as well, but I was a direct hire.  So, I was permanently hired by the company (not the agency) on day 1.

[ShadesOfGrey]

After that, if you haven't contacted the agency for new work, they will contact you periodically. This is why calling her bos to update all of her information was so upsetting and rude. She is not looking for a new job, but the boss might make assumptions based on the agencies call.

yes exactly.  Arrrrgh! He didnt sound to happy when I had gotten a call on HIS line, and these people should have known WAY better than to call someone at WORK for job discussions - I mean, what what I going to say? No, I am unhappy here. Let's start interviewing again (while I am on my bosses line, mind you!). 

[MadMadge43]

I get head hunters calling me all the time.  I think what happened was you got a new recruiter in the office that was given a list of phone numbers and names and told to start calling, since she doesn't have a client base yet. She probably had no idea it was your bosses phone. So I'm not sure I'm going to chalk this up to rudeness, but an actual mistake. 

I like headhunters calling me, gives me an inflated sense of ego and I always know what's going on in my industry (although I realize this doens't apply here) and what's available. So they're not all evil.  But this one was obviously new. 

[MadMadge43]

yes exactly.  Arrrrgh! He didnt sound to happy when I  had gotten a call on HIS line, and these people should have known WAY better than to call someone at WORK for job discussions - I mean, what what I going to say? No, I am unhappy here. Let's start interviewing again (while I am on my bosses line, mind you!).

By the way, that probably happens much more than you would expect.  Never on the bosses line, but in your cubicle while your neighbor is out to lunch, happens all the time.

[ShadesOfGrey]

I get head hunters calling me all the time.  I think what happened was you got a new recruiter in the office that was given a list of phone numbers and names and told to start calling, since she doesn't have a client base yet. She probably had no idea it was your bosses phone. So I'm not sure I'm going to chalk this up to rudeness, but an actual mistake. 

I wish I could chalk it up to a person being new because I have had that happen before too (that's a whole other story~almost got me fired!) but this time, she wasnt new, it was the same person that had placed me in the job (and I had given her my email and my cell phone back then because I didnt want to have job discussions at work).  And, when she called during her requisite 'follow up' period, she used my cell phone number (that hasnt changed). So she definitely new better.  she also could have looked up our general line (since she obviously knows where I work) and asked for me via the receptionist.  Plus, I hadnt heard from them during the first holiday after I was placed, but suddenly, they want my updated info to send me a card this season? Not to be a brat here, but this was definitely unprofessional behavior. 

Now, the other recruiter that almost got me fired - I wrote a letter to their corporate headquarters and the guy was let go (they had been having problems with him) soon after.  I got an apology from them, but I stopped using their service, and requested that they stop contacting me.  They complied willingly and quickly. 

Ahh, the joys of using placement agencies... Anybody else got a good story?

[supotco]

I have had people cold-call me at work (I'm in the find-a-CTA pages of my professional association). I have had agencies to whom I have repeatedly explained that I can't take cellphone calls at work call and leave messages with the department PA.

Mostly, I have had agencies who are determined to make commission. Some have a limited idea of British geography and have tried to place me for roles in locations three hours' drive from my home. Some have tried to entice me from my permanent full-time job into a temporary post or a part-time role, despite my pointing out that someone needs to pay the bills.

[artk2002]

It's amazing how people whose livelihood depends on paying attention to these things, can make such mistakes.  I had a recruiter call me every six months for three years for customer support jobs.  Each time I'd explain to her that I had done CS years earlier, but had left that for development because I hated it!  Each time she'd say "Oh, sorry.  I'll make a note of that" and then six months later: "Hi Art!  Are you still doing customer support?  I've got a great opportunity!"  Argh