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Apr-13-2005 10:06

Two of my agents have reported that they have been, I guess you could say "head-hunted" by another agency. I always assumed that you didn't try to recruit someone belonging to another agency. I have also seen other messages that point to this on the message board. Was I wrong? In my opinion it is an underhand thing to do without at least a cursory mention to a director at the agency concerned. Do any other directors have comments on this?

Apr-13-2005 11:08

Sorry - third paragraph should read "he or she was NOT completely happy at that agency" : o )

Apr-13-2005 11:26

Hey jojo227 does that mean there is an ethical way to do something unethical??I agree with what you said myself. I am sure there must be agents in an agency that think there is nothing wrong with just talking and that they have the right to talk. I don't mind it would be nice if the agent let their dir. know.I would say each agency could and probably should have their own policy.

Apr-13-2005 11:31

It may not be a big deal and we know that Agents aren't bound by any contracts to their agency and yes, they can tell the person who is trying to recruit them that they are happy where they are at but I think it's just a matter of respect to the Director ,who has worked hard him/herself to get Agents for their own Agency, to ask permission before trying to take their Agents. Just my humble opinion :)

Apr-13-2005 11:41

I agree with Blaise.
Its life. If companies don't please their detectives, they should go somewhere else. AND vise versa.
Sleuth is fun and the last thing we want is for someone to not get the most they feel they can out of it.
So I say go ahead and headhunt. But be aware you are probably making more enemies then friends (and as director the last thing you need is ticked off other directors-talking to their current director is smart so it doesn't cause as much hurt feelings).
Basicly: people will go where they want to go. If they don't want to be in your agency, it would be best for all involved if they weren't. I would hate to be in a situation where I wanted to leave but felt guilt or felt as if I would hurt friends for doing what I thought best for me.
Hey, we can all still be friends right?

Apr-13-2005 12:33

okay, i'll chime in too. first, i just want to point out the obvious, that this game isn't life. this is a game community that has built up a fun and ever-evolving game through resonable discussion (and pure addiction).

i do think it's disrespectful to actively recruit members of other agencies. if a detective is unhappy at a certain agency, then she is quite able to find another home. (or as i would do, organize your co-workers and make your agency into what you want it to be.)

we have a recruitment board for those agencies who are on the hunt for good detectives to shout out their values as good employers. so, i don't really see the need to headhunt/poach from other agencies.

but, as headhunting is not against any official rule, i guess folks can go at it at their own risk. just know that i will lie awake at night frowning at you.

Apr-13-2005 15:30

Well, I know which agencies to look out for in this thread. I'd like to say recruit in and offer tuns of cash. But I don't go there.

Personally, I have big issues with cold calls, inviting strangers out of other agencies. I could offer cash, directorships etc. Like being a headhunter. Difference unlike in real life, this is a community, not a business market. Even if I was running a small business, I would not start recruiting in my friends small business a few doors down either, behind his back.

Jojo, I don't think there is a need to defend yourself. In communities you make friends across the border. If this friend wants to join you, and tells her director. There is no harm done, I am sure the director would understand despite being disappointed. This is not head hunting in my opinion.

Head hunting is ASKING someone to join you behind a directors back, giving promises, or offering cash, convincing someone, manipulate someone to join etc.

Many friends in here have said to me "You know I like you, if you ever want to leave TAFKADD, you can join me." They were not trying to recruit me by any means, but just say....hey if you are ever homeless, I will take care of you. They know when they asked, I would not even consider leaving TAFKADD.

There are borders to what is appropriate or not. Thing is you are appropriately recruiting, then why hide it from the agents old director?????

Apr-13-2005 16:45

to new agencies hire your own people there are newbies coming on all the time don't hire people in other agencies. jstkdn has it right you can say if you ever think of leaving line but don't go around asking them to quit their agency to join you thats just not really cool. i've seen to many agencies bribing people to join them and offering perks. if you have are confident in your ability to run an agency why should you have to bribe people to join you. treat your agency members as you would like to be treated and you will find plenty of people to join you who will stick around. make it fun for them to be a member of your agency and don't make it a job. our agency has a lot of fun and we like to win to . we let the rookies learn at their own pace and help them in any way we can. the only thing we ask of them is to do their share of the cases. we joke around with each other and everything. so i don't understand the agencies who feel they have to bribe people and give them perks to be a member.

Apr-13-2005 16:59

I find it rather interesting. The top 5 agencies to my knowledge never practiced in recruiting agents in other agencies. At one point or another, I have spoken or seen directors post out of those agencies they are flat against it.

Skyler is moments away both being the number 1 player in Sleuth, and director of the number 1 agency. In my opinion both Skyler with Hutch and Bella with Swan, can stand in pride. The number 1 and 2 agencies AND they play by the book. So they can take honest pride for how far they have gotten.

There is another thing that the top 5 agencies have in common. At least half of their agencies, have been long term happy members. And they seem to be able to serious players for extended period of time.

Goes to show....it is not required to recruit elsewhere. Good things will come if you make sure people are happy, and help them enjoy and love this game. So they'll stay for a long time.

Some may even kick their 4 year old son out of their own bedroom, to have a complete stranger from across the world bunk there. :)

Apr-13-2005 17:43

Whatever the differing opinions on this subject are, it would seem from the replies that the concensus is against headhunting of the kind described ...

Anyone engaging in it should therefore be aware that their actions may tread on a few toes.

Apr-13-2005 18:18

For me it's always been a courtesy thing. No, there's no written rule against it, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it. As others have said, how would you like it if someone tried to recruit your members out from your agency? Not very well, methinks. Of course, if those people are willing to leave your agency for another on the promise of cash or other goodies, then you probably don't want them around anyway. When I was Director of The Underground other agencies tried to recuit some of our agents a few times. I'm happy to say that none of them left, but still, it is just not cool.