A new code of conduct to protect creative industry job candidates from
rogue recruiters has won the backing of hundreds of freelance
professionals.
The voluntary set of standards is being trialled by agencies, clients
and 700 candidates in the media, marketing and communications
industries, all keen to clean up the marketplace.
Its principles stem from best practice in the Code of Professional
Practice by the REC, a recruitment watchdog, but its authors have
tailored it to fit the mould of creative placements.
Since it launched in October, it has received an “encouraging” response
from industry, while the feedback from job candidates, including
freelancers, has been “overwhelmingly positive.”
Emma Brierley, chief executive of Xchangeteam, a creative recruiter,
and author of the code also said it has turned heads across the entire
creative industry, not just in three of its sectors.
The code is designed to optimise the business practices for all parties
in the freelancer’s contractual chain, so it provides “a win-win” for
clients and recruiters, but particularly for freelancers.
“Clients need to understand that just because someone is freelance
doesn’t mean that they are happy to have their CV sent out without
permission,” Ms Brierley told FreelanceUK.
“With clients requiring ever faster turnaround of CVs and with more
traditional ‘permanent-style’ recruiters entering the freelance jobs
market, CVs are too often sent out without the freelancer’s permission.
“We are hoping the codes will encourage clients to ask the right
questions of potential recruiters, ultimately leading to improved
standards and working practices.”
She hopes that only unscrupulous companies that fail to operate
ethically would oppose a wider uptake of the code, which has won
support from the UK’s leading creative recruiters.
Feb 20, 2008
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