Facing Threats from a Recruitment Consultant After Declining a Job Offer: What Are My Rights?

I recently attended an interview (Nov '16) with a global MNC and got selected. The whole process took nearly a month, and I received the offer letter in Dec '16. It is important to mention here that the entire recruitment took place through a consultancy with which the company had a tie-up. This included scheduling interviews, negotiating salary, and releasing the offer letter. From the date of the interview until I received the offer letter, I was keen to join this company and expressed my intent to join immediately.

Now, here comes the hard part... Due to my family commitments and personal reasons, I dropped the idea of joining this company at the last minute and communicated the same to the consultant and the company. The consultant became infuriated and gave me a piece of his mind. He literally abused and harassed me over the phone, saying that he would end my career and ensure that no one offers me a job. Additionally, he mentioned that he would tarnish my reputation by writing to the HR of other companies where I recently worked. I am facing the repercussions just because I did not join the company due to certain personal issues. I am feeling a bit insecure because of him, even though I have not signed the offer letter so far.

As a consultant, is he entitled to do that? Will it have an impact on me? Am I at serious fault for not joining the company after showing intent and giving up at the last minute due to genuine personal reasons? Please advise.

Best Regards

Understanding Harassment and Professional Relationships

When people get harassed by others, the general tendency is to imagine them to be "all-powerful," expecting and imagining the worst that can happen. However, we live in a country where there is a "rule of law," so there is no reason to feel insecure.

There is a valid reason for the consultant to be infuriated (abuse, however, cannot be justified) — your indecision has cost him time and money. However, there is absolutely no reason to believe that he can end your career. He may not work with you in the future, which may impact your chances of getting a good job. The best way to resolve this would be to apologize to the consultant for wasting his time and to explain your personal reasons for not joining. That is how relationships are formed and maintained.

Regards, CHR

Just ignore and continue with your life and career. It shows the consultant's frustration. Do not retaliate or respond; just ignore and keep concentrating on your work. The world is big, and so are opportunities, and there is no time for the consultant to do all the things he said. Relax; neither HR has the time to respond, debate, and track all these pain points of a career.

Newton's Third Law in Professional Conduct

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction," says Newton's third law of motion. Your unprofessional behavior was declining the offer after engaging with the prospective company following a month-long selection process. If a consultant repays you in the same coin, then why be frustrated now?

During a recruitment process that lasted for a month, you did not have family commitments, and these sprung up upon receipt of the offer letter, which is incomprehensible. This blowing hot and cold is hardly expected from a career-conscious professional. Gentlemen, do not be self-centered, and as the previous members have pointed out, think of the time and money that the recruitment consultant invested in your candidature. For them, their business is their bread and butter. Only a cynic and irresponsible person would snatch bread from someone's mouth!

Yes, threats from a recruitment consultant are vacuous. It could be the consultant's way to change your decision. Nevertheless, life is a far more serious business, and not every threat needs to be hollow. Few people, when they react, do so without any threats. They keep their tongue oily and pull the rug from under the feet of their opponent. Please beware of such vindictive persons as well!

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar