Any way to work out if your CV has gone to client?

[youngguy]

Ok so we know that if you see a role that multiple agents are advertising, each of them will want you to confirm that they are your sole representatives.

We also know that sometimes agents won't actually put you forward for a role, even though they have said they will.

So what does everyone do?

1) Choose the agent you think/feel is being the most genuine and let the Gods decide.
2) Agree to be put forward by multiple agents (which risks the wrath of the client and the agent if your CV is submitted multiple times)
3) Or something else? I'm wondering whether anyone has used a form of words to the effect of "prove you have put me forward or I will go via another agent". I also wonder the value of this as I don't expect there is any way of checking if the agent says "course I have"

[SpontaneousOrder]

Ok so we know that if you see a role that multiple agents are advertising, each of them will want you to confirm that they are your sole representatives.

We also know that sometimes agents won't actually put you forward for a role, even though they have said they will.

So what does everyone do?

1) Choose the agent you think/feel is being the most genuine and let the Gods decide.
2) Agree to be put forward by multiple agents (which risks the wrath of the client and the agent if your CV is submitted multiple times)
3) Or something else? I'm wondering whether anyone has used a form of words to the effect of "prove you have put me forward or I will go via another agent". I also wonder the value of this as I don't expect there is any way of checking if the agent says "course I have"

Phone up and check. I did that once, they hadn't, I got the job.

[youngguy]

Phone up and check. I did that once, they hadn't, I got the job.

Interesting. Just wondering how this may look to the client - I'm assuming many use agents so they don't have to deal directly with people directly and may not take too kindly to someone calling them about a CV?

Still, it clearly worked for you

[SueEllen]

Interesting. Just wondering how this may look to the client - I'm assuming many use agents so they don't have to deal directly with people directly and may not take too kindly to someone calling them about a CV?

Clients also expect agents not to lie to them about the calibre of candidate they are putting forward i.e. if they say to the client that's the best applicants we have then it should be true.

[LondonManc]

I'd ring up the company's HR and ask who's on their PSL as you've had two or three agencies contract you about the same role and at least want to know which would be worth going with. If you're then not in that agency's best three, tough tulip.

[SpontaneousOrder]

Interesting. Just wondering how this may look to the client - I'm assuming many use agents so they don't have to deal directly with people directly and may not take too kindly to someone calling them about a CV?

Still, it clearly worked for you

To be fair - i forgot to mention - I only phoned up when the agent didn't get back to me and when i checked with him he said he hadn't heard anything.

[Eirikur]

If a second agency calls with the same contract I usually ask them to check with the client whether my cv was submitted or not. Most of the times they are happy to check it, if it wasn't they come back very quickly to say so.

[Avalonia]

Send it to all agencies, never trust a word they say.

[quackhandle]

Clients also expect agents not to lie to them about the calibre of candidate they are putting forward i.e. if they say to the client that's the best applicants we have then it should be true.

That's a good one, the amount of times I've been sitting next to a manager type on the phone to a pimp: "But what's written on his CV isn't the same idiot that turned up for the interview, what are you prats playing at?"

qh

[youngguy]

I'd ring up the company's HR and ask who's on their PSL as you've had two or three agencies contract you about the same role and at least want to know which would be worth going with. If you're then not in that agency's best three, tough tulip.

I believe all are on the PSL (the JD/ad is almost identical, so they have all had the same text from the client).

I've got no problem not being good enough, but if Agent A says they will put me forward, say today, and I tell Agent B to bugger off and I am then not put forward, I have 0% chance of getting the job. If Agent A called me tomorrow and said "we have a better chance with three others so I am not putting you forward afterall" I could at least go back to Agent B and say they can put me forward. I then have a chance of the client seeing my CV.

I'm well aware this isn't new practice, but just interested in how people handle it.