This blog is a bit of a rant - but it's an important message so please read and share the message with your recruitment buddies. 

A couple of weeks ago I was speaking to a recruiter in Brighton and mentioned one of my best clients. He said he thought another rec2rec had already put him forward… but it was a couple of weeks prior and he hadn’t had any feedback.

I checked with my client. He had been submitted, it had just been missed or ignored.

Because I flagged it, the process got picked back up… and he ended up getting the job through the other rec2rec, at one of the best agencies in Brighton.

Great outcome for him.

But it highlights a bigger issue.

This same rec2rec seems to send recruiters absolutely everywhere.

Companies that aren’t hiring.

Companies they’ve already been told not to send to.

Even when they’ve been told a candidate has already been submitted, they do it anyway.

That’s not being proactive. It’s just poor practice. And no wonder their applications get ignored!

Don’t let your CV become cannon fodder in the wild west of poor recruitment practice.

When your CV gets sprayed across the market like that, it’s your reputation on the line.

Responsible recruitment isn’t just about how you treat candidates. It’s about how you represent them.

A good rec-to-rec should:

• Know their clients properly - not just names on a list, but who’s hiring, what they need, and what “good” looks like

• Work on real, live opportunities -  not just sending CVs out in the hope something sticks

• Be selective about where they introduce you, and why

• Give you proper insight and prep so you’re set up to succeed

Because in recruitment, your profile compounds. Every introduction matters.

There’s also a responsibility on you.

Don’t just say yes to everything.

• Research the companies that are presented to you

• Make sure the companies are actually hiring

• Agree on exactly where your CV is going

• Expect follow-up and feedback

• Get proper support for interviews

If your rec2rec gets it wrong, it’s not a small mistake. It can impact how you’re perceived across multiple businesses.

Not every rec-to-rec operates with the same level of care.

Some will prioritise volume over doing things properly. Over representing you properly.

Partner with someone who treats your move like it matters.

Be careful who you trust with your CV.

Rant over.