External recruiter wasted almost an hour of my time for a role they never intended to consider me for. Would I be wrong to apply directly to the company?

I was contacted by an external recruiter multiple times for a specific role that I wasn’t interested in. I politely responded and let them know that I wasn’t interested in that specific role, but there was another role I saw on their site that was a perfect fit for my background/interests. The recruiter responds saying they’re actually working on filling that role as well, and they asked if I could set up a call to go over it. So I sent them my resume and we scheduled a call.

The first 10-ish minutes of the call was them talking about their own background and how they got into recruiting. And then talking about the specific agency they worked for and the types of recruiting they do and so on. Then they asked me A LOT of questions about my resume/background/salary expectations etc, that was probably 25 minutes.

After all this, they then bring up the previous role (the one that I had already explicitly told them I wasn’t interested in before the call), and they continued to try to sell me on that role. And trying to give me more and more details and asking why I won’t consider it. I reiterated that I wasn’t interested in that role, and followed up on the specific role I had asked about. Which was the whole reason I agreed to schedule the call. The recruiter then says that they’re not going to submit me for that role, because “they just know” I’m not what the client wants. I responded that I literally meet every single qualification in every bullet point in the job posting. The recruiter blew me off and said yeah no, I just know they wouldn’t even consider you, so I’m not going to submit you for that role.

I was taken aback. I’ve worked at multiple of the top 10 firms in the world in my field. Recruiters always tell me I have an impressive background, and this recruiter was acting like I was chopped liver. After THEY contacted me lol.

I feel that my time was wasted. If they supposedly knew exactly what the client wanted, why did they even bother scheduling a call with me? They had my resume beforehand. It felt like they bait and switched me - they seemed so thirsty to fill this other role that they’ve been contacting me about. It seemed like they just wanted to get me on the phone and then try to sell me on that role again.

So that brings me to my question. The role that I was interested in is a role I had actually seen posted directly by the company a week before I even saw it on the external recruiting agency’s site. Would it be wrong of me to submit an application to the company directly? I mean, the recruiter chose not to submit me, so it’s not like I’m really going above their head.

Jobadvisor:

You are absolutely justified in applying directly to the company. Here's a breakdown of why, and how to approach it:

Why You're Justified:

• Wasted Time and Misrepresentation:
  • The recruiter clearly misrepresented the purpose of the call. They used the promise of discussing a relevant role as a pretext to push a role you'd explicitly declined.
  • Their behavior was unprofessional and disrespectful of your time.
• Lack of Fair Consideration:
  • The recruiter's arbitrary decision not to submit you, despite your qualifications, is unacceptable. They acted as a gatekeeper without valid reason.
  • You have the right to pursue a role you're qualified for.
• Pre-Existing Interest:
  • You saw the role posted directly by the company before the recruiter contacted you. This demonstrates your independent interest.
  • The recruiter does not own the role, or the right to apply to it.
• Their Actions:
  • The recruiter decided not to represent you. Therefore, they have removed themselves from the process.

How to Approach Applying Directly:

• Tailor Your Application:
  • Carefully review the job description on the company's website.
  • Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight the specific skills and experiences that align with the role.
  • Use keywords from the job description to ensure your application is noticed.
• Direct Application:
  • Apply through the company's official website or application portal.
  • If you have any contacts within the company, consider reaching out to them for informational interviews or to express your interest.
• Don't Mention the Recruiter:
  • There's no need to mention the recruiter or your interaction with them in your application or during any interviews.
  • Focus on your qualifications and your genuine interest in the company and the role.
• Professionalism:
  • Maintain a professional tone in all communications with the company.

In summary: The recruiter's actions were unprofessional and unfair. You have every right to pursue the opportunity directly. They have no standing to complain, as they chose not to represent you. Go for it!