Equal Employment

Misleading Recruitment Practices — Proceed With Extreme Caution

I am writing this review to warn fellow job seekers about my deeply damaging experience with Cecilia Rogers, a recruiter at Equal Employment. What began as an exciting career opportunity ended in significant financial loss and professional instability — and I believe other candidates deserve to know what I went through before engaging with this recruiter. Promises Made, Promises Broken During the recruitment process, Cecilia made several specific commitments on behalf of the company she was placing me with. These included: Role stability — I was assured the position was secure and long-term. A salary increase over my previous package. A cellular phone and contract as part of the benefits package. A new laptop to be provided upon joining. Relocation reimbur*****t. Retention penalty reimbur*****t. None of these promises were honoured in full. It became clear after accepting the offer that these commitments had either been overstated, were never formally agreed upon with the employer, or were simply fabricated to make the opportunity more attractive. When I raised these discrepancies, there was little accountability or support from Cecilia, Equal Employment, or my new employer. The Real Cost: Approximately R100,000 Trusting this recruiter's word cost me dearly. In making the decision to accept this role, I incurred significant relocation costs and simultaneously forfeited valuable income and benefits from my previous position. The total financial impact to me has been approximately R100,000 — a devastating consequence of what I can only describe as reckless and irresponsible recruitment conduct. Perhaps most alarmingly, the company I was placed with entered a retrenchment process within just four months of my joining. This raises serious questions about what Cecilia and Equal Employment knew — or should have known — about the financial health and stability of their client company at the time of placement. Whether through negligence or willful omission, candidates were not made aware of this risk. A recruiter's duty of care extends beyond simply filling a vacancy. It includes honestly representing the company they are recruiting for and not misleading candidates about conditions that could materially affect their decision to accept an offer. My Advice to Fellow Job Seekers Get every promise in writing — do not rely on verbal assurances from this recruiter. Request a copy of the formal offer letter / contract before resigning from your current role. Research the financial health of any company Equal Employment places you with independently. Be cautious if Cecilia contacts you — ask detailed questions and verify all claims directly with the employer! I share this not out of bitterness, but out of a genuine desire to protect others from the financial and professional harm I have experienced. No job seeker should have to absorb a R100,000 loss because a recruiter made promises they had no authority — or intention — of keeping.