Applying for jobs through agencys

[NotConfused]

Should you include a generic covering letter to those vague job adverts which give little indication of the company or their line of work for the job you want to apply for?

[singlecoil]

Not entirely sure what the question means. Normally if you apply for jobs through agencIES they would pass on such details as you have provided to them. So even if you supplied a covering letter, they wouldn't necessarily pass it on.

[NotConfused]

Its my understanding that its good practice to supply a covering letter with your CV when applying directly to the employer, that way you can tell them what a wonderful company they are and why you'd like to work for them.

My point is its not possible to tell who the employer is when you go through an agency, and so you cant really tailor a covering letter to them.

[singlecoil]

NotConfused said:

Its my understanding that its good practice to supply a covering letter with your CV when applying directly to the employer, that way you can tell them what a wonderful company they are and why you'd like to work for them.

My point is its not possible to tell who the employer is when you go through an agency, and so you cant really tailor a covering letter to them.

I don't think a company using an agency will be expecting a tailored covering letter, for precisely the reason you give.


If you find a way around this problem, make sure you get the letter proof read.

[Carrot]

If it was an agency job, my usual covering letter was along the lines of

"Dear Sirs,

I attach a copy of my CV for your consideration, in relation to the post of xxxxxxxxx job. I believe that my skills match the post that you are recruiting for.


Kind Regards,


Carrot"

Worked for me, got 5 interviews in 2 weeks and got offered a post on the 3rd week.

I did not get the chance to apply for any positions direct, so I guess the cover letter may need to be more detailed.

[anonymous-user]

I'm looking through some of the job board websites and it is really getting me down when I see four or five local agencies advertising the same frikkin position, it's pot luck to find out which one is the real one. I would put employment agencies in the same league as estate agents, the minority know exactly what they are doing and are quite professional and the rest are just filthy lying bloodsuckers.

[Mr POD]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Do they give the name of the 'consultant' and the name of the 'agency' ?

If they do, phone them and chat, and see if you can get them to talk about the position and the company. Tell them about the other adverts you've seen, and suggest that you've already applied via them, and see how they take it.

What happens is that either a company just sends all the agencies they've dealt with a job spec and let them get on with it, so they get 10 CV's from the same person from 10 agencies or they have a preferred supplier who will get CV's forwarded from other agencies, but will be smart enough to put only those on thier books forward unless desperation sets in.

Problem is you don't know which you are dealing with.

If you are contracting the later is worse because you can end up with 2 middle men each taking 10% of your income rather than one. Like the bloke on the desk 10 foot away who is on £4 an hour less than me LOL !!!

[TIGA84]

NotConfused said:

Should you include a generic covering letter to those vague job adverts which give little indication of the company or their line of work for the job you want to apply for?

Agencies, no - wont get read, a simple "Hi, I'm applying for x, looking for £y and availble in z weeks" would suffice on an email.

Directly - Yes. And give a short synopsis on your experience of why you're good for the job (basically a lead in to get them to read your CV). Although this will probably have a much more detailed advert.

[Soir]

TIGA84 said:

NotConfused said:

Should you include a generic covering letter to those vague job adverts which give little indication of the company or their line of work for the job you want to apply for?

Agencies, no - wont get read, a simple "Hi, I'm applying for x, looking for £y and availble in z weeks" would suffice on an email.

Directly - Yes. And give a short synopsis on your experience of why you're good for the job (basically a lead in to get them to read your CV). Although this will probably have a much more detailed advert.

+1 (best advice above)

[NickHKent]

Mr POD said:

If you are contracting the later is worse because you can end up with 2 middle men each taking 10% of your income rather than one. Like the bloke on the desk 10 foot away who is on £4 an hour less than me LOL !!!

Wrong.

The rate is the rate, agency fees go on top of said rate. Just because the total charge to the client (inc fee) is £40/hr doesn't mean that you would ever get that if you worked direct, instead of through an agency on £32/hr.

[AJS-]

Include a covering letter to the agency explaining what you are looking for, and they will most likely want to set up a meeting.

Best case scenario is they will have a few potential opportunities to talk to you about, or give you more details about the specific role that was covered by the vague advert (if indeed there is a specific role)

[Mr POD]

NickHKent said:

Mr POD said:

If you are contracting the later is worse because you can end up with 2 middle men each taking 10% of your income rather than one. Like the bloke on the desk 10 foot away who is on £4 an hour less than me LOL !!!

Wrong.

The rate is the rate, agency fees go on top of said rate. Just because the total charge to the client (inc fee) is £40/hr doesn't mean that you would ever get that if you worked direct, instead of through an agency on £32/hr.

Really ? I'm told that the Preferred supplier to my current client of contract staff, can decide how much of the fee to pay to the contractor, or to another agency, who could then decide how much of the remaining fee to pay to the contractor. Maybe they are lying. There does seem to be smoke and mirrors in this game.