Dealing with agencies

[Kitten1978]

Hi,

I seem to have a lot of conversations with agencies when they have submitted my details which go along the lines of
Agent - "Have you got any other opportunities out there"
me - " yes I have, I have a second interview with one company"
Agent - " oh, who is that with?"

I never like to say who my interviews are with but at the same time I don't want to say to the agent I haven't got any opportunities as it makes me sound as if no-one wants me!
Is it ok to say to the agent I do have a second interview but I am sworn to secrecy about the company.

As I always seem to think if I tell the agent where my interviews are they will contact the client and I could find myself in competition with another agencies people

[Midland White]

Hi,

I seem to have a lot of conversations with agencies when they have submitted my details which go along the lines of
Agent - "Have you got any other opportunities out there"
me - " yes I have, I have a second interview with one company"
Agent - " oh, who is that with?"

I never like to say who my interviews are with but at the same time I don't want to say to the agent I haven't got any opportunities as it makes me sound as if no-one wants me!
Is it ok to say to the agent I do have a second interview but I am sworn to secrecy about the company.

As I always seem to think if I tell the agent where my interviews are they will contact the client and I could find myself in competition with another agencies people

1) If you have opportunities that could see you close to taking a role then they probably won't waste time putting you forward if they have plenty of candidates. Not always the case.

2) Yes they'll try sniff out your prospect if they can get a route in.

Your potential clients are no ones business but your own.

[Contreras]

Is it ok to say to the agent I do have a second interview but I am sworn to secrecy about the company.

Yes. "speaking to several other people at the moment", "waiting on feedback", ...

"I'm taking time off, not actively looking", "being chased for another role but ignoring it for now", ...

A brisk "my clients don't want to be bothered by you", "stop fishing for contacts", generally works too.

It's OK though to indicate a geographical area or industry domain though - to add some plausibility that you really do have other irons in the fire and/or settle any concerns that it could be the same role they're touting.

Whatever, deliver it with confidence.

[sal]

I usually go for the middle ground with something like "I have been put forward for 2 other roles and waiting for feedback from the client and potential interviews, but i prefer the role you are offering as the location/rate/nature of the work is better". This way you appear as being deemed viable candidate by 2 other pimps, but you are still not too far in the process of securing another role and you are very interested in his/hers offer.

Or "I have an interview lined up for next week, as the hiring manager is currently on annual leave, but i prefer the role you are offering as the location/rate/nature of the work is better and it will be great if you can put me forward and get me and interview before that"

[LondonManc]

I usually say that I've been put in for a couple but waiting to hear and that I won't tell them just like I won't tell the other agent who this one is with. Never had an agent who doesn't respect that.

[TheFaQQer]

Agent - "Have you got any other opportunities out there"
me - " yes I have, I have a second interview with one company"
Agent - " oh, who is that with?"

At which point, you laugh and say "you know better than to ask something like that".

Is it ok to say to the agent I do have a second interview but I am sworn to secrecy about the company.

Yes, but phrase it better than that - "I can't discuss that because they've already asked me to sign an NDA", or "it's a sensitive role with regards to clearance, so I can't really tell you that" or similar.

As I always seem to think if I tell the agent where my interviews are they will contact the client and I could find myself in competition with another agencies people

They might. They might not.

There are two reasons that the agent will ask you this. 1) can I get someone else in there? and 2) is it worth putting you forward for another role if you are close to signing this one?

I always tell agents that I have only just started looking, but that I've spoken to a few agents. Normally the truth but not enough to rule me out of anything they have available.