Same role advertised by multiple agencies

[Eirikur]

I always apply to all
Not all will get back to you in the first place even if there's a 100% match.
If one ask for exclusive representation wait a few hours before replying to see if any other agencies get back to you. Give the one you do authorise 48 or 72 hours max to submit your cv.

[LondonManc]

Go with AgentA, agree to exclusivity so long as they are on the PSL of ClientCo. Once you find out who ClientCo is, contact them with a general question - a role is advertised by AgentA; please can you advise if they are on the PSL and if not, which agents are.

[suityou01]

Another point of view

Sometimes you can read jobserve differently. Usually the role will crop up more than once by different agencies, with the oldest advert having the most detail. The others will be watered down variations on a theme. For example the original role may state "Experience of investment banking, with demonstrable experience of xyz legislation, and abc financial instruments., then later on a similar role in the same location pops up, listing the same skills and just says "Investment banking experience essential".

What's happening here is that the detailed ad is the real one, and the others are agencies posting soundy likey roles, even though they aren't representing any client. This is for 2 reasons :

1) They may have a good idea who the client is, and when they get some applications in will sort the CVs and then take a punt at the client and hope they bite.
2) They just want to get CVs in and need a quick role description so plagiarise, sometimes so awfully it's easy to spot.

When you get good, you can read jobserve like the matrix, and see more deeply into what the market is doing and smile to yourself that it's a quiet day on the boards and that's why you're not getting calls. It's often good to do this to keep morale up while on the bench.

[CloudWalker]

Apply for One & Apply for all!

[sapexpert]

Never happen to me

For whatever reason I always found projects without agents but one day I'll go through them, is just a matter of time.

But if they don't tell you the final customer, how can you say is the same project? You could 'guess' but you cannot say.

Plus I had a company that put my CV forward at a rate without even talking with me.
Well, what happen was that I refused to work with that customer, period. I did not want the fight in between agencies and... got yet another project without agents

No it's not. I applied to the same gig with two agents and got an interview through one, other one found out and started arguing over who had dibs. Client wanted nothing to do with it all and cancelled the interview while I was in the car park.

I can see what everyone is saying applying through both but I've been bitten twice by this so makes me very nervous. If I see this happening I'd speak to both agents and get a feel for who is most proactive and on the ball and go with them with the comment as Stek says. All well an good saying apply to both but there can be consequences.

[Boney M]

No it's not. I applied to the same gig with two agents and got an interview through one, other one found out and started arguing over who had dibs. Client wanted nothing to do with it all and cancelled the interview while I was in the car park.

I can see what everyone is saying applying through both but I've been bitten twice by this so makes me very nervous. If I see this happening I'd speak to both agents and get a feel for who is most proactive and on the ball and go with them with the comment as Stek says. All well an good saying apply to both but there can be consequences.

You must have missed this bit

Apply to all, the bottom feeders at the agency will sift through and match your CV to the job description with no clue what they are looking for only when you get a call from the senior/principal consultant who deals with the client and he says he is putting you forward then tell the others you are represented. You might apply to 3 and only one calls you or maybe two call and one puts you forward and the other doesnt.

[NibblyPig]

I'm still not sure what to do with this, cos I am pretty sure I don't get put forward for half the roles (sometimes confirmed later by other recruiters who apparently phone the client to check and say nope the client didn't receive your CV).

I considered contacting the client direct to follow up on my application, saying "no I haven't been put forward yet" when really I have, etc.

No clue what's best.

[northernladuk]

And those agents are telling you the truth??

[NibblyPig]

And those agents are telling you the truth??

If that comment is aimed at me - who knows. If a 2nd recruiter wants to put me forward after I tell em I've already been put forward, for whatever reason/lies, it doesn't really affect me I don't think.

I have always been tempted to phone the client to check but I think it might hurt my chances.

I am tempted if I hear nothing back from a recruiter to then apply directly, every few months, to anything I didn't hear back from.

[northernladuk]

It was and don't be tempted to do either of things.

I think you are trolling.