Contacting a company directly?
Discussion
I had a recruiter call me up having found my CV on a job hunting website before Christmas with a job he thought I'd be suitable for (engineering sales and project managing). He sent the job spec with the company letterhead and it seemed ok. I've called him a couple of times since, and he says he's been talking to his client, but I'm not getting any actual feedback regarding answers to my questions or that the recruitment process is any further along.
On the last call 2 weeks ago I politely asked him if there was any point me still considering this job or should I look elsewhere and was told I was still in the running, etc. Nothing since.
Seeing as I know the name of the company, would it be terribly bad form for me to call them direct? I'm not trying to cut the agency out as far as them getting paid etc is concerned, I just want to know one way or the other. They (via the agent) contacted me first, so it's not like I'm nagging Google to make me a programmer just because I sent in a CV out of the blue with no relevant qualifications.
On the last call 2 weeks ago I politely asked him if there was any point me still considering this job or should I look elsewhere and was told I was still in the running, etc. Nothing since.
Seeing as I know the name of the company, would it be terribly bad form for me to call them direct? I'm not trying to cut the agency out as far as them getting paid etc is concerned, I just want to know one way or the other. They (via the agent) contacted me first, so it's not like I'm nagging Google to make me a programmer just because I sent in a CV out of the blue with no relevant qualifications.
I would follow up by e-mail with the recruiter. Are you sure the recruiter has definitely put you forward to the company?
It could either be that the recruiter is useless, or the company are bad/slow at replying. Either way I suggest keeping your options open by looking for other opportunities.
Depending what line of work you're in LinkedIn might be good for finding potential vacancies. A lot of employers advertise on there directly too.
It could either be that the recruiter is useless, or the company are bad/slow at replying. Either way I suggest keeping your options open by looking for other opportunities.
Depending what line of work you're in LinkedIn might be good for finding potential vacancies. A lot of employers advertise on there directly too.
I had a vaguely similar situation recently. I was put forward for a job position by an agency and had an interview almost immediately. It went well, and the agent called me a few hours afterwards saying that the company want to see me for a 2nd interview. Great.
I then heard absolutely nothing the following week, so called the agent on a Friday afternoon to see what was going on. It sounded like she'd totally forgotten about the position, and she promised to call the company and then myself on Monday.
Monday comes, no call. So I call her Tuesday, get through to her colleague who promises she'll call me back in 30 minutes. Which she doesn't.
Eventually I decided to just call the company directly, and left a message with the person who interviewed me, explaining the situation. That was about a week ago and I still haven't heard anything from anyone. So I've basically given up on that one.
It's incredibly annoying though as it was just a big waste of time for everyone involved.
I then heard absolutely nothing the following week, so called the agent on a Friday afternoon to see what was going on. It sounded like she'd totally forgotten about the position, and she promised to call the company and then myself on Monday.
Monday comes, no call. So I call her Tuesday, get through to her colleague who promises she'll call me back in 30 minutes. Which she doesn't.
Eventually I decided to just call the company directly, and left a message with the person who interviewed me, explaining the situation. That was about a week ago and I still haven't heard anything from anyone. So I've basically given up on that one.
It's incredibly annoying though as it was just a big waste of time for everyone involved.
witko999 said:
That's true, but I expect to be told as much by the agency, rather than dodging contact.
I've long ago learnt that if the agent isn't likely to get any money out of contacting you, then they don't bother. There's very few who would take the time to actually feed back when it something other than progressing your application. If you find an agent who you can build a proper relationship with, then stick with them!20 years of recruitment experience here.
We get this a lot. We get companies come on to us with a role they're desperate to fill. We set all the wheels in motion, find candidates, do all the tooing and froing, pre interviews, client meetings etc etc and forward the client a selection of great CV's. We then hear nothing back, no feedback...nada. We email and phone the client to the point of being a total pain in the arse, and have to back off before we piss them off.
In the meantime we've got candidates (rightly) asking for feedback on their CV, we're trying not to put them off in case the client comes on suddenly and requests an interview - I've had this happen 6 months after submitting a CV. 9 times out of 10 we look like idiots/cowboys to the candidate in this situation, and it's really not our fault. We are acting in good faith.
Clients change their minds, people are internally recruited, hiring managers jump the gun and make a request for staff before it's signed off - there are a lot of variables. Recruiters are often the last to know, and sometimes never told.
If the agency has got half decent terms and conditions, the client won't take you directly anyway as your CV was submitted in the first instance by the agency.
We get this a lot. We get companies come on to us with a role they're desperate to fill. We set all the wheels in motion, find candidates, do all the tooing and froing, pre interviews, client meetings etc etc and forward the client a selection of great CV's. We then hear nothing back, no feedback...nada. We email and phone the client to the point of being a total pain in the arse, and have to back off before we piss them off.
In the meantime we've got candidates (rightly) asking for feedback on their CV, we're trying not to put them off in case the client comes on suddenly and requests an interview - I've had this happen 6 months after submitting a CV. 9 times out of 10 we look like idiots/cowboys to the candidate in this situation, and it's really not our fault. We are acting in good faith.
Clients change their minds, people are internally recruited, hiring managers jump the gun and make a request for staff before it's signed off - there are a lot of variables. Recruiters are often the last to know, and sometimes never told.
If the agency has got half decent terms and conditions, the client won't take you directly anyway as your CV was submitted in the first instance by the agency.
t that gives agencies a bad name. Thanks CB (and others). Not trying to go direct as far as employment goes, I'm sure there's a contract to be honoured and I'm fine with that. Just want to know what's going on, even if it is "someone internally got the job". I emailed the agency yesterday. If I don't hear anything back by Monday I'll call the agent and if I can't get through call the company.
I currently have something similar however by cv hasn't been sent to the recruiter and therefore not the hiring company. The recruiter was unable to answer any basic questions beyond the spec given to him and even asked me to send him a a question via email so he could forward to a colleague who I presume has the client relationship...he couldn't even spare the time to type the email himself.
Anyhow, I've prompted again so will see what happens.
Anyhow, I've prompted again so will see what happens.
smashy said:
he called you ,you owe him nothing hes messing you about ......contact them direct ,ring them be proactive thats what id do ,and as its a sales job so should you buddy!
I called him last week. Apparently the job went to someone else. Surely these people were being interviewed so the fact I wasn't offered one while others were should have given him a clue. So that's that one over with anyway.Edited by crofty1984 on Saturday 17th February 08:19
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff