Recruitment dilemma......
Discussion
O.K. So I've spotted an agency avertising a job. By the description of the job I can tell who the employer is. The employer is advertising the job on their website. I phoned the agent and he confirms, indirectly and without a direct question that indeed my suspicions are correct.
I level with the agent, who I have known for more than six years, and say that it's going to be difficult to figure which is the best route for application. He says that he would forward me for the job, but that their computer didn't throw me up for the job because I'd "timed out".
I suspect that if I apply direct with the company concerned that my application will disappear into the system and I'll never get a proper contact, or hear again. I also suspect that if I go through the agency, I have a better chance of being selected for interview. Unfortunately though, if I apply through the agent I'll be competing against people who have applied direct. By comparison the employer may have to choose between me and someone who doesn't have agency fees in the background.
What's the employer view? Am I going to be better off applying through the agent, or direct?
I only ask, because I don't think I'm gonna get the job.
In anticipation.
I level with the agent, who I have known for more than six years, and say that it's going to be difficult to figure which is the best route for application. He says that he would forward me for the job, but that their computer didn't throw me up for the job because I'd "timed out".
I suspect that if I apply direct with the company concerned that my application will disappear into the system and I'll never get a proper contact, or hear again. I also suspect that if I go through the agency, I have a better chance of being selected for interview. Unfortunately though, if I apply through the agent I'll be competing against people who have applied direct. By comparison the employer may have to choose between me and someone who doesn't have agency fees in the background.
What's the employer view? Am I going to be better off applying through the agent, or direct?
I only ask, because I don't think I'm gonna get the job.
In anticipation.
I probaby should point out that this is a permie role.
Well it amazes me but they are a pretty big employer, so maybe it gets lost in the computerised confusion. I've tried before through the direct website, but the trouble is that you just don't get any response at all.
I can only imagine that I'm one of very many applicants.
Ahhh well.
Well it amazes me but they are a pretty big employer, so maybe it gets lost in the computerised confusion. I've tried before through the direct website, but the trouble is that you just don't get any response at all.
I can only imagine that I'm one of very many applicants.
Ahhh well.
When you go through an agency, if they are any good they will make sure your application is presented in the best possible way as well as chasing your CV and handling any objections. When I worked client side as a recruitment manager I often arranged interviews on the basis of a recruiters recommendation if the recruiter had credibility and new our business and his candidates well.
A direct application can get lost and as a job seeker it is harder to chase in the same way a recruiter would.
Oh well, you live and learn.
Sam
A direct application can get lost and as a job seeker it is harder to chase in the same way a recruiter would.
Oh well, you live and learn.
Sam
Also, for the agency fee employers are expecting the chaff already to have been sorted out for them.
I'm not saying you are chaff, but that's not to say the employer might not think that.
IME when there is a mix of agency and direct applicants, it usually seems to be an agency bod that gets the job. (Might just be that they offer better candidates though!)
I'm not saying you are chaff, but that's not to say the employer might not think that.
IME when there is a mix of agency and direct applicants, it usually seems to be an agency bod that gets the job. (Might just be that they offer better candidates though!)
I have little experience of big company recruiting but plenty of small company recruiting. The wedge the recruitment company take is, shall we say, significant. Whichever budget it comes out of. I have seen people lose jobs purely because that factor made them too expensive. We would look at any approach, and credit someone who approached direct with a bit of initiative. So on that basis I would do both, but then, I work for a small company.
It's interesting.
I think there's a lower chance of one's application dissapearing into the ether with a direct application to a small employer.
I think that prior to the invasion of computer recruitment, the same might have been more true with larger employers. As Mr Dylan said "The times they're......
I've worked for large and small employers. The big ones are more consistent from an employee experience perspective, but one thing that's certainly true; The bigger they come, the more red tape there is. Trouble with small companies, is that they are much more variable in terms of the employee experience.
I'd personally favour a decent small employer over a big one any day, but sadly there aren't many in my line where I am! Maybe I can change that!
I think there's a lower chance of one's application dissapearing into the ether with a direct application to a small employer.
I think that prior to the invasion of computer recruitment, the same might have been more true with larger employers. As Mr Dylan said "The times they're......
I've worked for large and small employers. The big ones are more consistent from an employee experience perspective, but one thing that's certainly true; The bigger they come, the more red tape there is. Trouble with small companies, is that they are much more variable in terms of the employee experience.
I'd personally favour a decent small employer over a big one any day, but sadly there aren't many in my line where I am! Maybe I can change that!
Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 22 November 20:15
It really depends on the dynamic between company and external recruitment agency. Some will have good relationships with a few agencies and receive few but high quality CVs. Other will receive loads of CVs from loads of companies, often with no name but a reference number.
When I recruited our Finance Manager we used 3 or 4 agencies but hired a direct applicant.
The thing with agencies is that if they don't meet the brief or the recruiter pi**es you off then you just tend to ignore a lot of their calls, waffly emails with CV attachements.
For example, a different role but same pricicple, one recruiter met me to take a full brief which I duly gave, I questioned her to make sure she understood. The first couple of CVs that came over were wide of the mark, so I reiterated the brief. Subsequent CVs were still wide of the mark, I gave constructive criticism on all of them. By then I just thought the recruiter was rubbish and any subsequent CV got only a cursory glance.
My advice is to contact the company directly, enquire over the phone about the role, what they are looking for etc, get a named contact, submit your details then harass them on the phone. For me it is much easier to say no to a recruiter than a direct applicant.
When I recruited our Finance Manager we used 3 or 4 agencies but hired a direct applicant.
The thing with agencies is that if they don't meet the brief or the recruiter pi**es you off then you just tend to ignore a lot of their calls, waffly emails with CV attachements.
For example, a different role but same pricicple, one recruiter met me to take a full brief which I duly gave, I questioned her to make sure she understood. The first couple of CVs that came over were wide of the mark, so I reiterated the brief. Subsequent CVs were still wide of the mark, I gave constructive criticism on all of them. By then I just thought the recruiter was rubbish and any subsequent CV got only a cursory glance.
My advice is to contact the company directly, enquire over the phone about the role, what they are looking for etc, get a named contact, submit your details then harass them on the phone. For me it is much easier to say no to a recruiter than a direct applicant.
Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff