Oh God, I, I don't know what to do. I've got this client Casey and he keeps rejecting the CVs I sent him for dreadful reasons like like 'overqualified', which we all know is code for 'too old' or 'hasn't worked in the UK before,' 'so I'm worried about the culture shock' code for 'not British' or the latest, which is: 'not sure he'd get along with clients socialising' which is: 'not sure he'd get along with clients socialising' which is basically because that person had a Muslim sounding name- so he presumed that they wouldn't drink. And we all know clients socialising means taking their clients to Gordon's wine bar or any of the other bars in the city. I'm working on a role for him at the moment and I've shortlisted three CVs moment and I've shortlisted three CVs My boss says I need to arrange a client meeting with him and take him through them face-to-face, that way if he starts discriminating, then I can say we don't work that way because it's illegal. And apparently it's the best idea to have that conversation face-to-face according to my boss. I'm bricking it if I'm honest. I'm bricking it if I'm honest I've got to go and meet him this afternoon. Wish me luck. Bobby... nice to finally meet you face to face. nice to finally meet you face to face. Now, uh, you've got a few CVs for me? Now, uh, you've got a few CVs for me? I hope we're going to have better luck than last time, I hope we're going to have better luck than last time, It took ages to fill that role. I'm not even gonna go at you personally- it's just recruiters in general haven't been very good at getting my jobs filled very quickly. haven't been very good at getting my jobs filled very quickly. So, show me what you've got. So, show me what you've got. Yeah, we did have a few challenges last time, didn't we -but I'm pleased to didn't we -but I'm pleased to say, I'm confident that I've got three great candidates for you and they can all do the role. So you should definitely see all of them. Let me take you through the CVs Let me take you through the CVs and read some interviews Woah, hold your horses I think I'm the best one to decide whether they're good enough for me to spend my time interviewing. How old is this one? You can't ask that age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Yeah, I know Yeah, I know but I can work it out from their CV. Can't I? So, uh, if they left Uni in 1989 then clearly they are in their late fifties. A lot of the systems we use here are pretty high tech. Yeah, we use a lot of chat GPT and stuff and I find that even I struggle with some of it. So expecting somebody who started their working life before they were even computers in the office. Well, it's a bit of a stretch. Don't you think? You can't do that, you can't not interview someone based on their age on their age. It's illegal. If I allowed you to do that, I could end up in a tribunal, and so could you- Firstly, you don't allow me to do anything. You don't tell me how to run my business. I'm the customer and don't they say the customer's always right? And also I'm not being ageist. I'm just being real, people with less experience with tech just can't keep up experience with tech just can't keep up No, I am not seeing candidate one. Now, let's look at candidate two Now, let's look at candidate two. Ok. So they have experience with the tech we're using, that's good. But they're available straight away? Why did they leave their last company without having another job? Well, they were only there 11 months. Oh, they're not a bit flaky, are they? No, I don't want a person like that working for me. I asked them about it I asked them about it, they left their last job because their manager was bullying them due to their sexual orientation and when they raised it with a company, they didn't take it seriously. It sounds like they've had a terrible time, It sounds like they've had a terrible time, I was shocked. They've been very clear that I'm able to share that with you, they're very open and honest. They're actually taking that company to court for constructive dismissal. Ok. I see. Yeah. One of those, a troublemaker. Yeah, we had one of them a few years ago said they were being treated differently because they were gay. Kicked up a real stink- it wasn't because they were gay. It's because they were no good at their job. Well, they threatened to take us to court so I took a view, we paid them off, got him to sign an NDA best money I ever spent. Again, you can't refuse to interview someone because they're gay. it's illegal it's illegal I don't know about the other person, or the other situation, but you can't assume that because this person is gay, that it will be the same situation again. That's ridiculous. My boss says that when clients discriminate, we should report them to the equal rights and equality commission, equal rights and equality commission, but I don't want to do that. but I don't want to do that Look, this person is a great match, just meet them just meet them - that's all I'm asking. I make the decisions around here and my decision is not to see either of these candidates. And I'll tell you what, I'm not going to waste my time looking at the third CV, either there are other recruiters out there who clearly understand my business better than you do, and I'm sure they would be more than happy to supply me with some decent candidates since you won't. Now, if you'll excuse me I have another meeting to get to I'm afraid you'll have to go.
