Can you trust your recruiterI've been interviewing for a position that a recruiter found for me (she's external, does not work for the company), and I'm wondering if it's ok to tell her things that I wouldn't normally tell a potential employer. For example, she asked me who else I'm interviewing with, and my complete salary history and what my bottom line is. I know the last two are probably ok to tell her, but if I get an offer from another company is it ok to tell the recruiter what the other company's offer is? I know that it's in her best interest to get me the job at the company she's working with so I imagine she would not share that info with them, or at least share it wisely! Thoughts? I don't to lose the opportunity with this company if she should try to threaten them with my other offer (something I would never do on my own!) There' s no easy answer to your question. One thing you could have done, I suppose, was to ask the recruiter for some references before you signed up with her and ask others for whom she' s worked how things went. I think you have to use your intuition on this one. I would probably opt for being honest with her until you have some valid reason to no longer trust her with confidential information. Many recruiters are very good and sincerely work in the best interests of their clients on both sides of the equation - because it' s in their best interests to make both parties happy - if they want repeat business and good things to be said about them. I suppose you could ask her for some references still, unless it would be awkward or you' re too far into the process. Thanks so much for your answer. I guess what I didn' t clarify though in my question is that what I wonder is whether it' s OK if a headhunter tells these things to the company I' m interviewing with. I mean, I know you don' t ever want to play 2 offers against each other, but my recruiter asked if I have any other offers, and with who. I wasn' t sure what to tell her. Will a hiring manager be just as disgusted hearing about another offer from the recruiter as they would hearing it from the applicant? Why would my recruiter have asked me about it if she wasn' t going to use it to try to pressure the hiring mgr to make a decision? I know that it' s actually in my best interest for a hiring mgr to know that I have another offer as they' d likely offer more, but I know that I can' t be the one to tell them. So, should I expect that the recruiter told the hiring manager about my other offer and what it was? This is my first time working with a headhunter. I've been working with recruiters in Europe and the States for the last 10 years. Over that time my approach has become to form some kind of a partnership with the recruiter, call it a business relation if you want. As with all partnerships and/or business relations, there is a certain amount of trust involved. Trust needs to develop and to be earn over time. Until you have reached a certain level of trust in partner you'll just have to go by your instincts. As far as your original question is concerned, I would only provide relevant information: Availability (or possible changes in it), requested Pay rate, Work history, references. I never ever provide Pay rate history, not even with someone I trust. It's simply not relevant. If the company does not want to hire me because of that, then that's a shame, but from experience I know that I wouldn't enjoy working there anyway. Other concurrent job offers are relevant for your availability, so that you should share. How much the other jobs are paying is not. The choice is yours, you may choose for more money, but I would recommend other factors, like job duration, responsibilities, exposure, etc. first. If I were you, I think I' d disclose that I had another offer, but I don' t think I' d say what the offer included UNLESS I was fully prepared to accept it in the event that the company working with the headhunter decides to move on to someone else. I hope that makes sense. Let me put it another way: If you' ve got an offer you' d otherwise be happy to accept if it was the only offer on the table, I think you can disclose what it is to another prospective employer - if they withdrawn, you simply accept the other offer. If they want you badly enough they' ll counter with a more attractive offer. I think you have to assume that the recruiter has told the employer about the offer you have. They' ll either counter or they' ll withdraw. Frankly, in a scenario like that, one in which you' d be happy to accept the offer you already have if nothing better came along, why would you care what the reaction of the other prospective employer is? They' ll either up the ante or they won' t. Either way, you win, as I see it. | |
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