Why Consent Before Submission Should Never Be Optional

A consultant finding out secondhand that their resume went to a client is more common than it should be — a BSR moving fast on an urgent requirement, assuming a general “keep me in mind” covers every future submission. It's also one of the fastest ways to lose a consultant's trust entirely.

Who is this for?

This is for consultants who want clarity on what “representation” should actually mean, and for BSRs who want to avoid a relationship-damaging mistake.

Why does this happen despite good intentions?

• Speed pressure on urgent requirements. Confirming with a consultant feels like it costs time a fast-moving requirement doesn't have.
• Assuming prior consent covers everything. A consultant agreeing to be marketed generally doesn't mean every specific submission was approved.
• Treating it as a formality. When submissions feel routine, asking each time can start to feel unnecessary — until it isn't.

What does this look like in practice?

A consultant tells a BSR they're open to new opportunities. Two weeks later, the consultant gets a call from a recruiter referencing a submission they never knew happened, for a client they specifically wanted to avoid due to a past experience. The BSR wasn't acting in bad faith — they assumed general interest meant blanket approval. The consultant no longer feels comfortable working with that BSR.

What does this actually cost when it's skipped?

Beyond the immediate awkwardness, it damages the one thing a BSR needs most from a consultant relationship: trust that their information is being handled the way they expect. A consultant who's been submitted without consent once starts double-checking everything after, which slows down every future submission for both sides.

Where does Jobfynder fit in?

A consultant sets a representation preference directly on their profile, and submissions require that consent to be current — so “I didn't know this was happening” isn't a conversation that needs to happen after the fact.

Jobfynder is getting ready to launch, starting with a limited, invited group of BSRs, with recruiter and consultant accounts connected through them. If you've been submitted somewhere without being asked first, visit jobfynder.com and open the Live Chat to get in touch.