Licensing – The 10 Commandments

.

The recruitment agency sector is a broad church facing unprecedented challenges on all sides. Now is the time for every Recruitment Consultant who cares about the industry to step forward and help shape change from within.

In order to achieve change I believe the current representative bodies (IOR, REC, APSCo and others) plus the government agencies (GLA, EAS and others) plus the growing number of networks (IRG and others) should harmonise their individual policies around a set of broadly accepted, fundamental principles and in line with current legislation.

The “stick” would be provided by the above mentioned bodies issuing revocable licenses to Recruitment Consultants and promoting the benefits of Employers of using licensed Consultants only. The “carrot” would be the raising of standards, strengthening of value proposition and the improvement of the industry’s reputation.

If you wanted to effect change, what would your 10 Commandments be?
Here are mine. 

1.      All Recruitment Consultants (you) must pass a common entrance exam covering law, best practice and compliance before receiving a license.

2.      All Recruitment Agencies (firms) should self-certify that they and their Consultants comply with the relevant licensing obligations for that year (they may change from year to year) and make themselves available for inspection

3.      You will send a summary of “Expectations and Rights” to every candidate you represent.

4.      You will not send a CV unless you have written authorisation from the candidate regarding both that client and that job.

5.      You will provide timely and honest feedback to all candidates you choose to represent.

6.      You will send a summary of “Expectations and Rights” to every Client you work with.

7.      You will agree and sign Terms of Business with all clients prior to submitting CVs to them.

8.      You will not advertise a job unless you have written authorisation to do so from the client regarding that job.

9.      You will represent all jobs in writing accurately.

10.  You will not call anyone for at least 1 year if they have expressly asked you in writing not to call them.