Scam? Recruiter from a legit agency reached out to me

[Anonymous]

about a ‘confidential’ placement. They shared broad strokes of the type of co and comps but no company name, claiming they will be removing the current employee with a new hire and so need to keep it confidential. My background seems to be a good but not perfect fit.

We had one screening call, and I then submitted an updated CV. Then the recruiter texted and called me back to ‘ask a follow up question or two’ about my experience. I would have preferred some detail about ‘the question or two’, but ok, it went ok.

Today then the recruiter messaged again asking for yet another follow up ‘quick call’ (the last one took 30 mn). Instead of calling back I emailed and said ‘I’d love to continue talking but can you share the co name, and if there is a concern about an experience gap, can you let me know what it is?’

No response to my email. Instead recruiter called again ‘let’s have a ‘quick call’.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

It's not unusual to go all cloak & dagger when the person being replaced doesn't know they're being let go. They don't want anything in writing that could get leaked.

Is it a C-suite position?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not unusual to go all cloak & dagger when the person being replaced doesn't know they're being let go. They don't want anything in writing that could get leaked.

Is it a C-suite position?

No, not C suite.

I appreciated the confidentiality for the initial contact. But we’ve now been in touch for close to two weeks, and this would be my 4th call with the recruiting co. Why can’t they even tell me what their ‘quick questions’ are by email?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not unusual to go all cloak & dagger when the person being replaced doesn't know they're being let go. They don't want anything in writing that could get leaked.

Is it a C-suite position?

No, not C suite.

I appreciated the confidentiality for the initial contact. But we’ve now been in touch for close to two weeks, and this would be my 4th call with the recruiting co. Why can’t they even tell me what their ‘quick questions’ are by email?

Their client - the company they are recruiting for - has asked them not to because they don't want a paper trail. If you are interested, play along. If not, tell them so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not unusual to go all cloak & dagger when the person being replaced doesn't know they're being let go. They don't want anything in writing that could get leaked.

Is it a C-suite position?

No, not C suite.

I appreciated the confidentiality for the initial contact. But we’ve now been in touch for close to two weeks, and this would be my 4th call with the recruiting co. Why can’t they even tell me what their ‘quick questions’ are by email?

Their client - the company they are recruiting for - has asked them not to because they don't want a paper trail. If you are interested, play along. If not, tell them so.

Really? A paper trail? They seem to have the listing for this job. They emailed the spec to me, and to someone else who referred me. They surely have some sort of signed contract for this search.

Putting aside the name of the co, why can’t the recruiter tell me what questions he has for me? I’m just curious what it is about my resume that is requiring so many follow up questions.

[Anonymous]

Is the person real? Like, ok, the agency is real, but is the email address actually from the agency? If so, it's probably legit, but that doesn't mean it's not annoying or you have to play along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the person real? Like, ok, the agency is real, but is the email address actually from the agency? If so, it's probably legit, but that doesn't mean it's not annoying or you have to play along.

OP.
I think the recruiter is real (email is legit, things match up, etc) but odd. I’m trying to not let my feelings about how this recruiter acts color my opinion. On the other hand, I’ve also heard of recruiters finding out about a job search being handled internally and then trying to pretend it’s their listing, calling up candidates and trying to lock them in so they’re ’represented’ by them and get the fee. How do I know this? Because it happened with a job search I was doing at my company. Now that I think about it, it was a somewhat specialized area that is similar to the one this firm is calling me about.

Sigh. Probably a scam.

[Anonymous]

I've had similar things happen to me and it's led nowhere. But I would still say that you should play along. Probably it goes nowhere, but maybe it does.

As for the "quick questions," it's almost always easier to have a conversation rather than type the questions out, especially because the answer to one question might dictate what other questions get asked. And if they put the questions in writing, they'd probably expect written answers in response, which would almost certainly take more of your time than a phone call.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t the standard course if you make it past the screen then you’d be asked to sign an NDA of some sort?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had similar things happen to me and it's led nowhere. But I would still say that you should play along. Probably it goes nowhere, but maybe it does.

As for the "quick questions," it's almost always easier to have a conversation rather than type the questions out, especially because the answer to one question might dictate what other questions get asked. And if they put the questions in writing, they'd probably expect written answers in response, which would almost certainly take more of your time than a phone call.

I’m pretty sure it’s a semi scam. Maybe a real job and they are a real recruiter but it is not their listing.

I understand why they’re not putting a detailed question list in writing but even just a ‘want to know a little more about X area’ ?

Or ‘at A Co, do you do Z?’ Also I just noticed he posted the exact ‘quick question’ he had for me last week as a post on LinkedIn a few weeks ago. What a coincidence. I think he’s trying to build a stable of candidates for this work that he can then pitch to companies.

Just seems odd to me, especially because this is now the second time he’s swung back for more info after a brief intro call and then a longer screening call, plus seeing my updated CV and my LinkedIn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the standard course if you make it past the screen then you’d be asked to sign an NDA of some sort?

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had similar things happen to me and it's led nowhere. But I would still say that you should play along. Probably it goes nowhere, but maybe it does.

As for the "quick questions," it's almost always easier to have a conversation rather than type the questions out, especially because the answer to one question might dictate what other questions get asked. And if they put the questions in writing, they'd probably expect written answers in response, which would almost certainly take more of your time than a phone call.[/quote]

This is for a legal job and recruiter is a lawyer. Lawyers can typically write 18 paragraphs in the blink of an eye. Sending an email that I can respond to later is much faster, especially bc I’m still working FT.

I think it’s BS. sucks

[Anonymous]

Why not just have a call if you are interested in the role? It may go nowhere but what's the harm except 20-30 minutes? He may be more willing to fill in the blanks orally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had similar things happen to me and it's led nowhere. But I would still say that you should play along. Probably it goes nowhere, but maybe it does.

As for the "quick questions," it's almost always easier to have a conversation rather than type the questions out, especially because the answer to one question might dictate what other questions get asked. And if they put the questions in writing, they'd probably expect written answers in response, which would almost certainly take more of your time than a phone call.

I’m pretty sure it’s a semi scam. Maybe a real job and they are a real recruiter but it is not their listing.

I understand why they’re not putting a detailed question list in writing but even just a ‘want to know a little more about X area’ ?

Or ‘at A Co, do you do Z?’ Also I just noticed he posted the exact ‘quick question’ he had for me last week as a post on LinkedIn a few weeks ago. What a coincidence. I think he’s trying to build a stable of candidates for this work that he can then pitch to companies.

Just seems odd to me, especially because this is now the second time he’s swung back for more info after a brief intro call and then a longer screening call, plus seeing my updated CV and my LinkedIn.

Recruiter here. It’s impossible to know from the information you have if it’s real or not. If you are that concerned, I’d either email the recruiter back and say you aren’t interested in proceeding or just schedule a call. If the recruiter is working on the role then of course they are expecting a fee. That’s how they get paid. In fairness it is reasonable if they are making you aware of the role and the client aware of you and you weren’t going to apply directly anyway. If indeed the story that someone is being replaced is true then the role is not publicly posted. That could be sussed out further on a call with the recruiter where you ask some direct questions about why the person is being replaced. They are unlikely to put this information in writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had similar things happen to me and it's led nowhere. But I would still say that you should play along. Probably it goes nowhere, but maybe it does.

As for the "quick questions," it's almost always easier to have a conversation rather than type the questions out, especially because the answer to one question might dictate what other questions get asked. And if they put the questions in writing, they'd probably expect written answers in response, which would almost certainly take more of your time than a phone call.

I’m pretty sure it’s a semi scam. Maybe a real job and they are a real recruiter but it is not their listing.

I understand why they’re not putting a detailed question list in writing but even just a ‘want to know a little more about X area’ ?

Or ‘at A Co, do you do Z?’ Also I just noticed he posted the exact ‘quick question’ he had for me last week as a post on LinkedIn a few weeks ago. What a coincidence. I think he’s trying to build a stable of candidates for this work that he can then pitch to companies.

Just seems odd to me, especially because this is now the second time he’s swung back for more info after a brief intro call and then a longer screening call, plus seeing my updated CV and my LinkedIn.

Recruiter here. It’s impossible to know from the information you have if it’s real or not. If you are that concerned, I’d either email the recruiter back and say you aren’t interested in proceeding or just schedule a call. If the recruiter is working on the role then of course they are expecting a fee. That’s how they get paid. In fairness it is reasonable if they are making you aware of the role and the client aware of you and you weren’t going to apply directly anyway. If indeed the story that someone is being replaced is true then the role is not publicly posted. That could be sussed out further on a call with the recruiter where you ask some direct questions about why the person is being replaced. They are unlikely to put this information in writing.

Op.
Yes of course they won’t put sensitive info in writing. And agree, a recruiter should get a fee for a placement for which they are hired. But what I suspect is that they don’t actually have this placement but they are scouring for candidates that they can lock down so they can get in the middle and try to collect a fee. I have had this happen with roles at my company. Do you think that’s legit? I’m not sure I think it is. I have no idea if I’ve separately applied to this role because I don’t know the company.

Not sure if you read my entire post with follow ups, but I’ve now spoken with this agency 3 times. First was very brief intro with one recruiter, then a longer call scheduled with her where another recruiter joined the call (I wasn’t even sure who it was at first as I had no prior info) that lasted 30+ minutes. Then I sent my CV (tailored to the role) with an email back and forth after that. Then another ‘quick call’ with recruiter with ‘a quick question’ (which was the same question posted on LinkedIn). That call lasted 30 mn. And then I received another email asking for this last ‘quick call’. I find it odd that after all this time spent, they aren’t trying to do something to advance or polish my resume if there are open questions. Like ‘client wants more of X, did you do X, if so, I think it could be highlighted better on your CV’. I also find it odd that the ‘quick question’ they had ‘from the client’ last week matched a question the recruiter posted on LinkedIn a few weeks ago. That’s a real coincidence, no?

Of course I want this job to be real. The market sucks and it could be a good job. But I also don’t like feeling like I’m being led on by a BS artist who may end up making me less marketable.