Recruitment Agencies – tactics

[caz_manc]

Call me cynical but:

Agencies always say this is an exclusive position, please don’t tell anyone, BUT what if they then don’t put your CV forward?

I have currently four amazing jobs which are perfect for me near me. This doesn’t happen that often! I have been looking for three years now.

There obviously are not exclusive and I don’t want to miss out. People do say it is not professional for your CV to go over someone’s desk twice, but doesn’t that make it more obvious you are ideal for the role?

[bigandclever]

caz_manc said:

Call me cynical but:

Agencies always say this is an exclusive position, please don’t tell anyone, BUT what if they then don’t put your CV forward?

I have currently four amazing jobs which are perfect for me near me. This doesn’t happen that often! I have been looking for three years now.

There obviously are not exclusive and I don’t want to miss out. People do say it is not professional for your CV to go over someone’s desk twice, but doesn’t that make it more obvious you are ideal for the role?

You will get many responses to this but one of the reasons it's perhaps not ideal for your cv to be put in by two different agents is that the company doing the recruiting almost certainly doesn't want to get involved in any ballache arguments between the two agencies when you get chosen about which one was actually representing you. Sometimes it's easier just to bin the cv.

As for "what if they then don’t put your CV forward?", I don't know how you'd know. Personally, I always make sure that if there is a hint of 'exclusivity' then I am told the company and the contact up front. I have to trust the agent, then the agent has to trust me. But my work is horribly niche so I can usually work out who it is anyway, from the spec - doesn't necessarily mean I can approach the client direct though.

[Original Poster]

If I speak to a candidate about a role with a company and he says he's already been sent over I won't send him for obvious reasons.

That's exactly why I don't understand why some recruiters don't tell candidates the company name, makes the above situation happen far too often in turn making you look unprofessional.

[caz_manc]

I have all the names of the Companies.

My problem really is the 'trust' of the recruitment agents! The main one I ahve been using is well renowed in my field, but when I talk to candiates there are a few interesting stories.

So how do I know my CV has definately been submitted? Should I ring up the companies HR department?

[SteveS Cup]

Trust... that is what is needed.

If they haven't sent your CV then they have better candidates.

Harsh but true.

[Ponk]

caz_manc said:

I have all the names of the Companies.

My problem really is the 'trust' of the recruitment agents! The main one I ahve been using is well renowed in my field, but when I talk to candiates there are a few interesting stories.

So how do I know my CV has definately been submitted? Should I ring up the companies HR department?

If you know the company name why don't you cut out the middle man and email the company direct? They aren't going to mind as it might save them some money by not having to pay the commission.

If you're not sure calling them can't hurt.

[SteveS Cup]

Ponk said:

If you know the company name why don't you cut out the middle man and email the company direct? They aren't going to mind as it might save them some money by not having to pay the commission.

If you're not sure calling them can't hurt.

No it won't... if his CV has been submitted by the agent the company will have to go through the agency. Depending on how good the Agencies relationship / TOB are.

[vxr8mate]

Ponk said:

If you know the company name why don't you cut out the middle man and email the company direct? They aren't going to mind as it might save them some money by not having to pay the commission.

If you're not sure calling them can't hurt.

Some clients wish to remain anonymous because they don’t want all and sundry emailing, posting and dropping off CV’s, after all that’s why they turned to an agency in the first place, to do all that for them.
Chances are if the agency deems you a suitable candidate they will put your CV forward. Think about it, why wouldn’t they, that’s how they generate revenue by matching candidates to vacancies.

[5harp3y]

Nothing to do with relationship. If they have sent the CV already and you are selected to interview the company will have to pay a fee. Other wise everybody would get told the company name andapply direct.

If you think they haven't submitted your CV, chase them up and ask them.

[caz_manc]

vxr8mate said:

Chances are if the agency deems you a suitable candidate they will put your CV forward. Think about it, why wouldn’t they, that’s how they generate revenue by matching candidates to vacancies.

What SteveS Cup said might be true. But if an agency has 15 great people, but they know 10 of those will go for the top value, would you put 15 in or 10?

On another note I have confirmation of 2 interviews so fingers crossed.

[caz_manc]

I have now found out that the agency had not put my CV forward. Another agency has and I now have an interview.

What would be the reason for that?

[Big Tav]

I would guess that the first agent didn't think you would get the placement so a waste of their time and no commission, the other either thinks you are good enough or they don't have anyone else so they are taking a chance that you might get it. That's my guess anyway,

[bigandclever]

Or the first agent would make more on someone else than you. Or they had a limited number of candidates to put forward and you missed the cut for any number of (plausible and spurious)reasons. Or they 'knew' the other candidates better. You'll never know the reason, so there's no point dwelling on it. The important thing is you're in the mix, so good luck!

[zippy3x]

caz_manc said:

I have now found out that the agency had not put my CV forward. Another agency has and I now have an interview.

What would be the reason for that?

May I ask how you found out? Did you ring the company directly?

[caz_manc]

There are other people in my department who have said they had problems with the same recruitment agency. So after not hearing from them for three weeks, and knowing that my CV was directly in line with what they want, I was thinking something was a bit weird.

So I explained this to an agency that I do have more 'trust' in, as I have got interviews from her in the past.

She simple asked the client if they had seen a CV from me. On answering no, submitted my CV.

[Teebs]

caz_manc said:

There are other people in my department who have said they had problems with the same recruitment agency. So after not hearing from them for three weeks, and knowing that my CV was directly in line with what they want, I was thinking something was a bit weird.

So I explained this to an agency that I do have more 'trust' in, as I have got interviews from her in the past.

She simple asked the client if they had seen a CV from me. On answering no, submitted my CV.

Are the recruiters based in Warrington?

[caz_manc]

Central Manchester

I think it was worth trying to get another recruiter on board in this case, otherwise I would have missed out on the job.

P.s. Boss hasn't allowed me the time off, so will have to rearange interview, fingers crossed they are happy with that.

Interview yesterday went really well as well, so will ahve to see.