Deciding on changing a job can be quite a challenging process and we need to appreciate that those looking for a job, more often than not, feel vulnerable, especially when circumstances force them to move on from their current workplace. This is when candidates need to find a partner whom they can trust with their future for them to find a stable and reliable new job.

We are very concerned. Over the past few months we have come across a number of cases of unethical behaviour and we find this worrying because not only can it damage the prospective job seeker but such incidents undermine the reputation of our sector at large.

Two weeks ago The Business Observer carried an article about a number of cases of unethical behaviour by some recruitment companies who fail to adhere to basic ethical principles such as protection of their candidates’ personal data.

Misco has built a very strong reputation in the field of recruitment and HR consultancy. We abide by a very strong work ethic and our processes are based on over 30 years of experience in best practice.

We are highly trusted because we have always adhered to the highest levels of operations especially when it comes to safeguarding the privacy of our candidates seeking employment and how we handle the personal information that they give us.

Reckless action could betray the trust that job seekers have in the recruiters like us who have been upholding the highest levels of best practice for over 30 years

This is a very fragile field of operations because we are dealing with people and their careers. Candidates are first and foremost people, not just a transaction, so the human element is very central in the way we work. People come to us with hopes for their future and we tackle each and every case according to its merits, as our relation may determine a person’s career path and his or her future. A false step could jeopardise everything.

This is why we are seriously concerned. Reckless action could betray the trust that job seekers have in the recruiters like us who have been upholding the highest levels of best practice for over 30 years.

Misco has been notified of a number of serious cases that sometimes go against the very basic principles of data protection and confidentiality.

We have come across individuals who have had their CV sent out to other companies without their consent.

We came across situations where a recruitment company interviewed a candidate and later disclosed the candidate’s identity to the present employer leading to loss of his job. We have also come across cases of discrimination based on gender, age and marital status.

People are being treated like products when in actual fact, we are speaking of careers and the future of hard-working individuals who are after a stable future for themselves and for their families. Everyone comes with a past and everyone carries a baggage. But prospective candidates have to be chosen on the merit of their qualifications, their aptitudes and their personal capabilities.

This is extremely serious because it is crucial for candidates to trust us. Only if they trust recruitment agencies can they build a sound relationship with them which will help them find the best placement for a successful and long-term career.

Joanne Bondin is the head of selection and recruitment at Misco.