Because that’s exactly what you’re doing if you don’t take control of how your CV is handled.
Over the past two months, I’ve come across more recruiters cutting corners and treating
candidates like commodities than I’ve seen in 23 years of doing this work.
And it’s escalating.
Three senior professionals. One week. All blindsided because their CVs were sent out without
their knowledge.
This isn’t rare anymore. It’s becoming common. And candidates are getting burned — badly.
This is how it plays out:
A recruiter gets your CV — maybe from a job board, maybe from an old interaction, maybe from
somewhere you never even authorised.
Or — and this one is just as common — they already have your CV sitting in their database from
a conversation you had months or even years ago.
They don’t call.
They don’t check in.
They don’t ask if you’re still looking — or if the role is even right for you.
They just assume they’re entitled to represent you.
They reformat it in their template, and they send it.
They submit it to a company they think has a vacancy.
They hope for the best.
No permission.
No interview.
No conversation.
Just “send.”
And just like that — your CV is in circulation without your consent.
Later, you apply directly — or a reputable recruiter with the mandate wants to represent you.
But the company says:
“We already have this candidate’s CV.”
Here’s what most candidates don’t realise:
Even though that CV was completely unsolicited, the company wants nothing to do with the
drama.
They’re not going to referee a turf war between recruiters.
They don’t want legal letters flying in.
They don’t want to argue over who “owns” the candidate.
So they back off — and you lose the opportunity.
Not because you weren’t good enough.
Not because you weren’t right for the role.
But because someone else tainted the process — before you even got a chance to speak.
And the recruiter who caused the mess?
Still fishing.
Still sending.
Still playing roulette with people’s careers.
The recruitment industry is largely unregulated.
And that means you, the candidate, have to be more aware than ever.
If you are not in control of your own CV — someone else is.
And the consequences are real.