3 roles, 2 agencies, 1 client

[maxxor3]

Hi,

As the title implies, I've seen 3 new postings on jobserve, for which my skills are a good fit and normally I would apply for all of them.However, the client description is amost identical on all of them and it seems that they are all for the same client and there seems to be a bit of overlap between them as well.

1. Posting 1, from agency A main skill required is X
2. Posting 2, from agency A but with a different agent name on the ad, main skills required are X and Y
3. Posting 3 looks similar to posting 2 but has been posted from agency B - main skills required are again X and Y

Skills wise all 3 roles fit perfectly to my skillset so I could apply for all 3, but would it be sensible to do that? I mean, since most likely there's only one client behild these ads, wouldn't there be a danger that my CV could end up being sent to them 2 or 3 times, thus making me look a bit ...stupid?

If you were in this position, what would you choose to do? Pick one and apply for that or take the risk and apply for more than one?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[tractor]

...

Hi,

As the title implies, I've seen 3 new postings on jobserve, for which my skills are a good fit and normally I would apply for all of them.However, the client description is amost identical on all of them and it seems that they are all for the same client and there seems to be a bit of overlap between them as well.

1. Posting 1, from agency A main skill required is X
2. Posting 2, from agency A but with a different agent name on the ad, main skills required are X and Y
3. Posting 3 looks similar to posting 2 but has been posted from agency B - main skills required are again X and Y

Skills wise all 3 roles fit perfectly to my skillset so I could apply for all 3, but would it be sensible to do that? I mean, since most likely there's only one client behild these ads, wouldn't there be a danger that my CV could end up being sent to them 2 or 3 times, thus making me look a bit ...stupid?

If you were in this position, what would you choose to do? Pick one and apply for that or take the risk and apply for more than one?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Have you been a contractor for long? If you cannot make a decision on which roles to apply for how is it going to go when you have to make a real decision?

Apply for all three, if you are lucky, you may get a single bite. If you get more than one bite, compare the rates and the agents and if the roles are indeed the same, go for the agent that is the most receptive/responsive/best rep. Make sure if you give them exclusive rights to represent you on the role it is on the condition that they confirm when your application is forwarded to the client. Then if they are just trawling, you are free to assign another agent.

It is not rocket science.

[FatLazyContractor]

Have you been a contractor for long? If you cannot make a decision on which roles to apply for how is it going to go when you have to make a real decision?

Apply for all three, if you are lucky, you may get a single bite. If you get more than one bite, compare the rates and the agents and if the roles are indeed the same, go for the agent that is the most receptive/responsive/best rep. Make sure if you give them exclusive rights to represent you on the role it is on the condition that they confirm when your application is forwarded to the client. Then if they are just trawling, you are free to assign another agent.

It is not rocket science.

Agree with most of what you said, but this. How do you even know that the agent has actually forwarded your CV to the client? Given the snake-oil-selling profession they are in, do you really believe them when they say that they have forwarded your CV?

Setting such conditions with a pimp with no substantial evidence (unless one wants to wait till one gets an interview) is a futile cause. Happy to stand corrected....

[BolshieBastard]

Agree with most of what you said, but this. How do you even know that the agent has actually forwarded your CV to the client? Given the snake-oil-selling profession they are in, do you really believe them when they say that they have forwarded your CV?

Setting such conditions with a pimp with no substantial evidence (unless one wants to wait till one gets an interview) is a futile cause. Happy to stand corrected....

You can never guarantee an agent will forward you even if you agree exclusivity.

When you give 'exclusivity' this is why you dont give it unconditionally. You have to stipulate a time limit, the shorter the better. For example, if you give exclusivity for 72 hours, other agents may have filled their quota of applicants by the time the other agent fails to deliver and its too late to approach other agents although if you have the client's name, you could try going direct.

Plus, how long does an agent \ account manager need to confirm you are one of their preferred 3? I'd say they know pretty much straight away, the rest of the time they are looking for cheaper candidates, which is why we want a short period of exclusivity.

I'd give an agency an absolue maximum 12 hours exclusivity but preferably to 5pm that day. How many times have we been told 'you're a perfect fit' only to discover at the end of the conversation your cv is being past to the agency account manager for a decision whether to submit you? Too often I'd say.

[Eirikur]

H Make sure if you give them exclusive rights to represent you on the role it is on the condition that they confirm when your application is forwarded to the client. Then if they are just trawling, you are free to assign another agent.

This, plus ask the other agent to check if they did forward you. I have had numerous occasions where the agency said they had forwarded me, but actually they hadn't

[youngguy]

You can never guarantee an agent will forward you even if you agree exclusivity.

When you give 'exclusivity' this is why you dont give it unconditionally. You have to stipulate a time limit, the shorter the better. For example, if you give exclusivity for 72 hours

I'm just wondering why 12 hrs helps as I can't see a way where you can guarantee the agent has actually submitted you, short of getting a copy of the email from the agent to the client(never gonna happen).

I think all you can do is choose the best rate and most sincere and likeable agent (i will await the laughter..)

[northernladuk]

Woaah hold up. You need to do a bit of leg work first. Do not just apply to all three. Speak to the agents and try get a feel of what is going on. If you are a good fit for the role and your CV is good then you will be put forward. You don't need to apply to all agents. If you do and they both put you through there is going to be a bun fight which will only end up badly for you. I've been put forward by two agencies for the same role and the client dropped me rather than deal with two angry agents.

If you are not good enough to get the role with one submission spamming them just isn't going to help and will only hurt you.

Speak to the agents and make sure it's the same role, if it is just apply once.

[BolshieBastard]

I'm just wondering why 12 hrs helps as I can't see a way where you can guarantee the agent has actually submitted you, short of getting a copy of the email from the agent to the client(never gonna happen).

I think all you can do is choose the best rate and most sincere and likeable agent (i will await the laughter..)

Put it this way, you give them 72 hours exclusivity, Three days later, you can take it as read you havent been submitted. You could call the agent but they'll likely say they are still waiting for feedback.

Whatever you do next, it's also too late to try other agents for the same role as they have already got their candidates lined up.

If you give the agent 12 hours or, my favoured option of 5pm that day you've already told agent you want confirmation by then and if its not forthcoming, the exclusivity ends (I wouldnt say you'll approach other agents since they'll say anything to stop you doing this).

This still gives you time to contact other agents since many work beyond 5pm or, first thing the next morning.

There's no sure fire guarantee any approach means you will be submitted but, you have to make the odds more in your favour. In the past, I lost out on too many roles because some snot nosed account manager binned my cv off. I soon learnt to adjust my tactics when I realised what was going on.

Choose the most sincere agent? Good luck with that approach.

[tractor]

...

Agree with most of what you said, but this. How do you even know that the agent has actually forwarded your CV to the client? Given the snake-oil-selling profession they are in, do you really believe them when they say that they have forwarded your CV?

Setting such conditions with a pimp with no substantial evidence (unless one wants to wait till one gets an interview) is a futile cause. Happy to stand corrected....

I'm just wondering why 12 hrs helps as I can't see a way where you can guarantee the agent has actually submitted you, short of getting a copy of the email from the agent to the client(never gonna happen).

I think all you can do is choose the best rate and most sincere and likeable agent (i will await the laughter..)

If you see my posts when this question was last asked, probably a week ago and the week before that ad nauseum, I always give them 24 hrs if they ask for exclusivity and I insist on a copy of the referring email. If they do not, then they don't get exclusivity. Most are too stupid or lazy to spend time doctoring any email and they will only bother to get this far if you are a good fit and they actually intend to refer you anyway. If they do not, then you are free to go with the other agencie(s). Of course it is not going to be successful every single time, we are in business after all. But it goes some way to sorting out the time wasters/fishermen from the genuine ones.

[youngguy]

If you see my posts when this question was last asked, probably a week ago and the week before that ad nauseum, I always give them 24 hrs if they ask for exclusivity and I insist on a copy of the referring email. If they do not, then they don't get exclusivity. Most are too stupid or lazy to spend time doctoring any email and they will only bother to get this far if you are a good fit and they actually intend to refer you anyway. If they do not, then you are free to go with the other agencie(s). Of course it is not going to be successful every single time, we are in business after all. But it goes some way to sorting out the time wasters/fishermen from the genuine ones.

Interesting approach. I always assumed agents would absolutely refuse to share a client contact and email but I may well try this. After all if they want exclusivity i don't think it is unreasonable to be provided with proof.