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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 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.

Apr-13-2005 18:40

As a newly appointed director, and still just a babe in the game itself, I agree 100% with everything Sunny said!

Our agency is young and is a mish mash of newbies. A few of us have said we want the agency to go here, do this, etc. and we are doing it by communicating with each other. I, personally, would LOVE to have a more experienced player in our agency. But the people I see that have high experience and no agency, I figure are someones double and don't contact because they are probably in an agency somewhere. I never even thought of trying to recruit someone IN an agency. It isn't right. If you post for openings on the board for your agency, and these people are so unhappy where they are at, they are free to switch! Why headhunt? To me, that is like putting the moves on your best friends girl while his back is turned.

Apr-13-2005 19:46

Hopefully sleuth is fun, well that was Bens intention I think. Working as a team, meeting new people, making friends, solving cases winning and participating in hunts and the satisfaction of seeing the agency you are in grow. Anyone can move to where ever they feel happy however it is no fun if you do lose part of your team. It can realy lower the spirits of others so I would hope that people can be a little thoughtful when making decisions to get members the above mentioned ways. If any young agencys need help with the running of an agency or hunts ect, we have members at Sleuthin Angles that will come into help you.

Apr-14-2005 10:51

I am not saying that directors should be asked their permission as such but a quick pm saying that you are going to ask someone means that the exsisting director is aware and can beg, grovel, plead and beg the agent to stay if need be. As it was both angents said no. And in fact one was new, but the other was well established. I know that this is not real life, but if we are headhunted at work, we have to give notice. I just don't feel it is fair to spoil things for another agency.

Apr-14-2005 16:02

I too have never heard of this "headhunting" before this. And in the long run bribing in this way will not work long term and if you want to be a great agency you have to think long term.

Apr-14-2005 16:54

I agree with the majority here. Trying to recruit an agent who is already in another agency is poor form.

It gets fuzzy in the areas Jojo and JSTKDN mention, where you have chatted with folks for weeks or longer, and come know them - but you aren't in the same agency. I can see how someone might send a 'you would always be welcome here' to someone they feel is becoming a friend.

If someone had built that sort of relationship with one of our agents, and they decided they wanted to try something new, I wouldn't feel it was bad - although I'd hope our agent would feel like they could be honest about it.

But to do the cold calls just to get bodies into your agency is cheesy. Why not convince some of your real-life friends to subscribe and join you? that should be a win-win.