Is it pointless to chase up Rec Consultants after applying ?

[SimonMac]

If a pimp has the chance to make money out of you they will be in touch before you need to chase

[CheeseSlice]

I only ever chase once I've got through interview stage and the agent is slow with paperwork, or so that they nudge the client for SC applications etc.

[eek]

If a pimp has the chance to make money out of you they will be in touch before you need to chase

That's true once you are on the pimps radar. You do however need to get on their radar and I've found that ringing them once does that as it:-

1) moves your CV into their view
2) shows you can talk to people and are personable ....

Remember that agents usually have a tall pile of 200+ crap applications to go through. 2 minutes of your time moves you from that pile into the very short pile of possibles...

[youngguy]

I'm finding that if the agent wants you, they will pester you with calls and if you don't answer they often email you (then often call again).

[SussexSeagull]

I have given up chasing agents after having an interview so chasing them after a CV is unlikely to happen.

The time to sell yourself is when you are in a contract or have dealings with other people that might prove useful in finding future work.

LinkedIn is getting more and more important in my experience.

[Stevie Wonder Boy]

That's true once you are on the pimps radar. You do however need to get on their radar and I've found that ringing them once does that as it:-

1) moves your CV into their view
2) shows you can talk to people and are personable ....

Remember that agents usually have a tall pile of 200+ crap applications to go through. 2 minutes of your time moves you from that pile into the very short pile of possibles...

I don't know if that's necessarily true. Where I am right now they are trying to fill a lot of positions and the pimps can't find anyone. Rate is good, location is a bit pants.

My opinion and experience is that 9 out 10 ads are a re-post, ripoff or fish for CV's. They pay for advertising so they just keep gathering CV's. About half the interviews I've gotten were for the original advert. A lot of pimps hoard CV's and ring you if they have a fit. They don't want to advertise the role, I guess it saves on costs and prevents the other pimps for stealing their lead.

The other thing they will do if they are second tier or a chancer for a requirement is offer a higher rate and see if they can get a higher quality candidate... The "mistake" is revealed just before they put you forward.

So the best strategy is to carpet bomb, don't take it personal, don't waste your time chasing the -- Network, network, network with people you know.

Also don't be a yourself when you are on-site and the client is looking, get involved and push forward your contacts.

[RSoles]

If I've applied through something likejobserve then I'll ring once, maybe an hour later
just to make sure the application got through and to give the agent a heads up and a chance to talk to me.
If there's no answer, or 'he's busy' then I'll move on...

Saying that, I've had nearly half my contracts direct, so haven't needed to bother......

[AvsFan]

So the general consensus is that it is a waste of time, which is what my experience was coming too.

The point about agents answering each other phones in pairs makes complete sense. Whenever, I phoned the no. given at the bottom of the application, if I did get through to someone it wasn't the person I was after and they would say 'their unavailable at the moment' or hold on and then after attempting to transfer the call saying the same thing. They've said they leave a note to call me back but of course I've never been called back.

So going forward I think I'll phone once just to check CV has been received and chat to the agent if I possible but if I can't get through I'll just move on and certainly won't bother to leave a message to be called back.

Appreciate the input everyone.

[kaiser78]

If it is a killer role I chase up with an initial phone call to at least get myself visible. This has worked for me in the past. If agent is not available I just leave it as per other posters higher up (in this thread).

[Tasslehoff]

In my experience, agents often work in pairs answering each other’s phones. The agent answering the phone will take your name and "just see if he/she's in", if they don't want to speak to you, they're out, if they do, they're in.

If you're unlucky and they're out, just say thanks very much and move on to the next application.

THIS.

When I ring a agency now I have a script

"Hi it's Tasslehoff looking for Agent B, in regards to role C"

To save them saying "Oh yea who are you after, I will see if he is in" and just cut to the bloddy chase.

FWIW I do chase if I want a role and it has helped me in the past.