Same job with 3 different agencies
Discussion
I was contacted by a recruitment agency a few days ago after they'd came across my CV on one of the job websites. We discussed the vacancy and I agreed to have my CV sent to the client.
This morning I've received my daily automated job alert emails from the various job websites that have my CV and this vacancy I've been put forward for has now been listed by 2 other agencies. It's definitely the same job, identical job description but different salary with all 3 - there's a £1k-£2k difference in salary between the 3 adverts.
Are there any advantages/disadvantages in sending my CV to the other 2? The recruiter I spoke to the other day asked if I'd applied for anything else and I said no which is correct a few days ago.
The recruiter that I spoke to submitted my CV before I'd seen the job description but now that I've seen the job description I could edit my CV to better reflect the role? (By editing I mean highlighting the relevant skills I have that they are looking for)
My fear is that the client might not take too kindly to receiving my CV from 3 different sources?
Thoughts?
This morning I've received my daily automated job alert emails from the various job websites that have my CV and this vacancy I've been put forward for has now been listed by 2 other agencies. It's definitely the same job, identical job description but different salary with all 3 - there's a £1k-£2k difference in salary between the 3 adverts.
Are there any advantages/disadvantages in sending my CV to the other 2? The recruiter I spoke to the other day asked if I'd applied for anything else and I said no which is correct a few days ago.
The recruiter that I spoke to submitted my CV before I'd seen the job description but now that I've seen the job description I could edit my CV to better reflect the role? (By editing I mean highlighting the relevant skills I have that they are looking for)
My fear is that the client might not take too kindly to receiving my CV from 3 different sources?
Thoughts?
Agreed, stick with the original application.
Agency terms and conditions mean that if your CV has been sent in by them, a fee is due if you are recruited regardless of the actual route used. E.g. agency sends in your CV for a job, you don't get it. 3 months later a similar job appears on the employer's site and you apply directly - a fee is due to that original agency.
What you do need to do is make absolutely sure you have been put forward.
Agency terms and conditions mean that if your CV has been sent in by them, a fee is due if you are recruited regardless of the actual route used. E.g. agency sends in your CV for a job, you don't get it. 3 months later a similar job appears on the employer's site and you apply directly - a fee is due to that original agency.
What you do need to do is make absolutely sure you have been put forward.
Flooble said:
Agency terms and conditions mean that if your CV has been sent in by them, a fee is due if you are recruited regardless of the actual route used. E.g. agency sends in your CV for a job, you don't get it. 3 months later a similar job appears on the employer's site and you apply directly - a fee is due to that original agency.
I think that only applies if you bring them in for interview when they were referred by the Agency. If the agency sends you a CV and you don't shortlist for interview then, if the candidate applies directly later, and is successful my understanding is that no fee is payable.AyBee said:
Don't! Go through the process with 1 agency (the one you've already agreed to send your CV) but take note of the salaries - the agency won't be deciding how much you're paid, the company will so it doesn't matter which agency submitted your CV.
I think you've got that the wrong way round. If you're going to be contracting to the company through the agency they will be the ones deciding how much you are paid, not the company. I suspect this is the case otherwise there would be no reason for the other agencies to be advertising the job at different rates.In response to the other guy about the fees, I don't think that's the case either. In my line of work the fee only comes into effect if you've actually started the assignment. Up until that point the agency has no "hold" on the client nor the temp/contractor.
At this stage I'd say stick with agency #1 for now and see what develops. If anyone comes of it that's the point when you present the agency with the higher rates offered by the other agencies and suggest that they improve upon them if they want you to stay with them.
AyBee said:
Don't! Go through the process with 1 agency (the one you've already agreed to send your CV) but take note of the salaries - the agency won't be deciding how much you're paid, the company will so it doesn't matter which agency submitted your CV.
Thanks. If it makes any difference, I didn't send my CV to first agency, they downloaded a copy off the job website I have it uploaded on. I'm just concerned that I haven't had the chance to edit my CV to include the skills and knowledge the job spec is looking for. My CV on the job websites is generic and I usually adapt my CV to the role I'm applying for.
Ref the fees thing - it depends on the agency of course but I have seen some amazing agency T&Cs.
e.g. They referred to "an introduction" rather than "an interview" and defined "introduction" as "shall mean an interview, the acceptance of a CV or Applicant's details, ..." and then specified that fees were payable if the applicant was engaged "even though the introduction was indirect" ... " or re-applies for any other position" within a period of one year from the date of introduction.
It hinged on what was meant by "acceptance of" but the advice our legal guy gave me was that if I'd received someone's CV we were on the hook. I didn't argue with him on the basis that there were plenty of other candidates so it wasn't worth risking getting in a fight.
e.g. They referred to "an introduction" rather than "an interview" and defined "introduction" as "shall mean an interview, the acceptance of a CV or Applicant's details, ..." and then specified that fees were payable if the applicant was engaged "even though the introduction was indirect" ... " or re-applies for any other position" within a period of one year from the date of introduction.
It hinged on what was meant by "acceptance of" but the advice our legal guy gave me was that if I'd received someone's CV we were on the hook. I didn't argue with him on the basis that there were plenty of other candidates so it wasn't worth risking getting in a fight.
Flooble said:
Agreed, stick with the original application.
Agency terms and conditions mean that if your CV has been sent in by them, a fee is due if you are recruited regardless of the actual route used. E.g. agency sends in your CV for a job, you don't get it. 3 months later a similar job appears on the employer's site and you apply directly - a fee is due to that original agency.
What you do need to do is make absolutely sure you have been put forward.
The recruitment agent emailed me to say that my CV had been emailed to the client and that the recruiter would be back in contact as soon as they hear back.Agency terms and conditions mean that if your CV has been sent in by them, a fee is due if you are recruited regardless of the actual route used. E.g. agency sends in your CV for a job, you don't get it. 3 months later a similar job appears on the employer's site and you apply directly - a fee is due to that original agency.
What you do need to do is make absolutely sure you have been put forward.
Countdown said:
My guess is that the agencies advertising it at the higher salary are not being 100% truthful. They are doing this to ensure that candidates go via them rather than the competition.
The agency that contacted me out of the blue haven't got it advertised on the various job websites, it's only on their own website.The difference in salary isn't an issue as I would negotiate a figure that I'm looking for.
Thanks all for the input so far. 
The difference in salary being offered isn't an issue, that's something that I would deal with if successful.
It's more to do with my CV that's been submitted - it gives a generic overview of my skills and knowledge etc. However the adverts that have appeared today say that they need someone with x, y and z which the CV submitted by the agency doesn't really mention.
I would preferred to have mentioned the x, y and z they are specifically looking for (which I have) but it isn't mentioned as such on the submitted CV. I would like to have submitted a CV to the client that demonstrates these skills as that could be the difference between myself and other candidates.
I guess I'll need to wait until next week and see what the agency who've submitted my CV come back with.
The difference in salary being offered isn't an issue, that's something that I would deal with if successful.
It's more to do with my CV that's been submitted - it gives a generic overview of my skills and knowledge etc. However the adverts that have appeared today say that they need someone with x, y and z which the CV submitted by the agency doesn't really mention.
I would preferred to have mentioned the x, y and z they are specifically looking for (which I have) but it isn't mentioned as such on the submitted CV. I would like to have submitted a CV to the client that demonstrates these skills as that could be the difference between myself and other candidates.
I guess I'll need to wait until next week and see what the agency who've submitted my CV come back with.
Ted2 said:
AyBee said:
Don't! Go through the process with 1 agency (the one you've already agreed to send your CV) but take note of the salaries - the agency won't be deciding how much you're paid, the company will so it doesn't matter which agency submitted your CV.
I think you've got that the wrong way round. If you're going to be contracting to the company through the agency they will be the ones deciding how much you are paid, not the company. I suspect this is the case otherwise there would be no reason for the other agencies to be advertising the job at different rates.XDA said:
AyBee said:
Don't! Go through the process with 1 agency (the one you've already agreed to send your CV) but take note of the salaries - the agency won't be deciding how much you're paid, the company will so it doesn't matter which agency submitted your CV.
Thanks. If it makes any difference, I didn't send my CV to first agency, they downloaded a copy off the job website I have it uploaded on. I'm just concerned that I haven't had the chance to edit my CV to include the skills and knowledge the job spec is looking for. My CV on the job websites is generic and I usually adapt my CV to the role I'm applying for.
I've heard that some agencies will advertise jobs when they've not been "instructed to" and make it look more appealing than their competitors and then if they do get an interested applicant approach the company with teh job along the lines of "hear you've got a vacancy for an xyz, we've got a superb client in the form of A, it woudl be in your interests to see him."
AyBee said:
Ted2 said:
AyBee said:
Don't! Go through the process with 1 agency (the one you've already agreed to send your CV) but take note of the salaries - the agency won't be deciding how much you're paid, the company will so it doesn't matter which agency submitted your CV.
I think you've got that the wrong way round. If you're going to be contracting to the company through the agency they will be the ones deciding how much you are paid, not the company. I suspect this is the case otherwise there would be no reason for the other agencies to be advertising the job at different rates.XDA said:
Yes permanent.
Right. So why the difference in the salaries on offer if you're sure it's all for the same job? If the company sets the salary then surely that's what the agency should advertise and they have own agreed fee with the company.I hear other people say that the agency advertises it at a higher rate in order to stand a better chance of being the ones to fill the role, but isn't this going to backfire badly when the company tells you the salary is actually £2k less? I have 20 years experience of dealing with agencies on the temp/contractor side of things so am well wise to most of their sly tricks.
Countdown said:
I think that only applies if you bring them in for interview when they were referred by the Agency. If the agency sends you a CV and you don't shortlist for interview then, if the candidate applies directly later, and is successful my understanding is that no fee is payable.
That would depend on the terms the agency has agreed with the client, something you're not priy to.XDA said:
Thanks all for the input so far.
The difference in salary being offered isn't an issue, that's something that I would deal with if successful.
It's more to do with my CV that's been submitted - it gives a generic overview of my skills and knowledge etc. However the adverts that have appeared today say that they need someone with x, y and z which the CV submitted by the agency doesn't really mention.
I would preferred to have mentioned the x, y and z they are specifically looking for (which I have) but it isn't mentioned as such on the submitted CV. I would like to have submitted a CV to the client that demonstrates these skills as that could be the difference between myself and other candidates.
I guess I'll need to wait until next week and see what the agency who've submitted my CV come back with.
Stick with the agency you gave permission to send your CV to the client first. Negotiate salary with the client directly. Good luck! The difference in salary being offered isn't an issue, that's something that I would deal with if successful.
It's more to do with my CV that's been submitted - it gives a generic overview of my skills and knowledge etc. However the adverts that have appeared today say that they need someone with x, y and z which the CV submitted by the agency doesn't really mention.
I would preferred to have mentioned the x, y and z they are specifically looking for (which I have) but it isn't mentioned as such on the submitted CV. I would like to have submitted a CV to the client that demonstrates these skills as that could be the difference between myself and other candidates.
I guess I'll need to wait until next week and see what the agency who've submitted my CV come back with.
I owned and managed a recruitment agency for over 20 years.
I would re draft your cv to highlight the skills and experience you have that match the job. Ask the original agency to submit the revised cv.
Do not get any other agency involved. That could risk a dispute which can be off putting to a potential employer.
I would re draft your cv to highlight the skills and experience you have that match the job. Ask the original agency to submit the revised cv.
Do not get any other agency involved. That could risk a dispute which can be off putting to a potential employer.
Ted2 said:
Right. So why the difference in the salaries on offer if you're sure it's all for the same job? If the company sets the salary then surely that's what the agency should advertise and they have own agreed fee with the company.
I hear other people say that the agency advertises it at a higher rate in order to stand a better chance of being the ones to fill the role, but isn't this going to backfire badly when the company tells you the salary is actually £2k less? I have 20 years experience of dealing with agencies on the temp/contractor side of things so am well wise to most of their sly tricks.
It's definitely the same job as the job spec the recruiter sent me matches word for word the other 2 adverts that popped up today. One of the adverts even lists the employer which is the same employer.I hear other people say that the agency advertises it at a higher rate in order to stand a better chance of being the ones to fill the role, but isn't this going to backfire badly when the company tells you the salary is actually £2k less? I have 20 years experience of dealing with agencies on the temp/contractor side of things so am well wise to most of their sly tricks.
The recruiter that contacted me said that the salary is £29k to £35k (and it's on the email I was sent by recruiter). One of the adverts uploaded today lists salary as £32k to £34k and the other one says £32k. So quite a considerable difference for the exact same job between 3 agencies.
I've been dealing with agencies for perm positions for the past 15 years and I know how they work - blatant lies, promises of call backs that never happen and generally promising things were never on offer. Unfortunately in IT you're stuck with having to deal with them.
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