Data Protection - so much for your rights !
I applied for a job via AMS who were acting on behalf of a globalist British Engineering manufacturer client in the defence sector. After 4 weeks a senior AMS consultant contacted me to arrange an interview with their client.
Overall when the rejection came through it was via email and offered me the chance to have my data removed from their system which I felt was in my better interest given I would not want to go through such a drawn out process where communication was not what one should expect from a company (& their client) who pride themselves on professionalism and clarity of communication, notwithstanding the consultant changed and client had staff on holiday. I certainly wouldn't recommend AMS or their client due to their inability to keep me informed of my application progress. They are not alone, in my 30 yrs of dealing with recruitment "consultants" the majority have given me the impression that "we do as little as possible for our fee". The recruitment sector is badly in need of regulation and a customer charter particularly on Data Protection, AMS just happen to be part of that sector.
29 July 24: email from their senior consultant included:
"We would however, like to stay in touch – we’ll retain your details for 12-months from the date of your application or any subsequent contact to enable us to match you to any future suitable assignments.
After this 12-month period, your personal data will be removed from AMS’s system. HOWEVER, you may request the removal of your personal data from AMS’s system prior to this by emailing Resourcing Technologies Helpdesk with "Remove my Details" in the subject title". which I did:
29 July 24: I sent the "Remove my details" request and received the "We’re pleased to advise that the ticket you raised has now been resolved and the status of your ticket is now ‘Closed’ also on 29 July.
8 Aug 24: I receive via email
We are writing to you to provide you with an update to your request raised 02/08/2024:
We have completed our data discovery and in conclusion we are unable to delete the personal data that we hold at this time. We have marked your profile to restrict the processing of your data and after 12 months from the point of last activity on your profile your data will be automatically deleted.
Under article 17, section 3 (e) we are exempt from having to delete data in respect to your request made under article 17 (the right to erasure) for the establishment, exercise, or defence of legal claims.
Whilst we will do everything, we can ensure that you are not contacted, we do operate with other client services and our teams use different client databases, without record of you, AMS staff may still approach you in the future, particularly should your information be available publicly such as on job boards, or LinkedIn.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at (their email address here I have removed) should you have any questions.
So much for being able to get you data removed !
AMS, in my view at least justify their poor rating on Trustpilot which appears to give a true and fair view.
8. august 2024
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