A recruiter asked me to sign a document authorizing them to represent my candidacy with the Clients. He told me that Canadian Privacy Act prevents them from sharing any personal information with the Clients on behalf of their candidates.

In order to represent me, he said, they would need to have my signed authorization to tender my complete resume including address and phone numbers for the positions I have agreed to consider and they have qualified me for.

He also said I would have to agree and authorize in writing a credit check, security check and reference checks upon completion of a successful interview.!!


Is this standard practice in Canada ? This is not the first time I am dealing with a recruiter in Canada and no one has ever asked me to sign a document like this before.

Thanks

No this is completely abnormal. No recruiter will ever ask for a credit reference or any such. By sending your resume to a recruiter you're giving them permission to approach a client with your details. Sounds like something really dodgy is going on.

It's possible credit checks, security checks etc may be required for certain jobs, but it's not a normal part of the process for the majority. generally only government, sensitive positions, working with children etc.

I would say reference checks are normal practise.

Security clearance should be submitted by the agency as soon as you have taken residence here. They should be started as soon as possible as they can take time. Unlike the UK you can obtain security clearances before you obtain a job requiring them.

Credit checks is not the normal pratice.

I have been asked by agencies to sign release forms just to show they have your permission to represent you (as in they have not downloaded your resume from Monster.ca without your permission etc). It also depends if they are using your details on RFPs in that they are writing a bid to become prefered suppliers.

Where are these agencies you are dealing with?

Toronto. Why would an Employer be interested in my credit history ?

I'm not sure about the credit check, I am Ottawa based and not heard this from any company or agencies here.

In the UK as part of a security clearance check procedure they might run your credit check to see if you have any issues that could be used against you etc but you would not be involved in that.

Given you are probably new here, the credit check does not provide much at an early stage of residency.

To me it sounds like a miss-informed agency person. I have been given the misleading information on things like security clearances and controlled goods directive by agencies and a company respectively due to lack of knowledge.

Most finance firms will require a credit check as part of the hiring process but they will do that themselves and not ask a recruiter to do it for them. There's no reason for a recruiter to ask for anything like that. All they need is your resume and maybe a signed disclosure saying that you're allowing them to represent you. What types of job are you applying for?

Credit history is much more widely used in Canada than it is elsewhere. Car and house insurance rates, for example, are set in part based on credit history, which is one reason why immigrants pay higher premiums, even if they have proof of claims free driving abroad. The Post Office uses credit history to determine identity when requesting services such as a mail forwarding. So, depending on the line of work, there's a fair chance that an employer might request it.

Since you won't have any credit history I don't see any risk in allowing a check.

Construction Project Management. Large Projects.