Has anyone else put you forward for this role?...

[pauldee]

One of the usual questions you get asked but I've never really got why agents are so deadly against putting you forward when someone else does?

I get what they're up to when they ask 'Have you been put forward for any other roles?' - this is fishing for clients currently looking for contractors, but that's not what 's going on here.

I don't always believe that an agent is actually putting me forward so I would like as many to put me forward as possible, but I've always played along with the agent in the past.

The agent says it looks bad for me, but I'm pretty sure they think it looks bad for them, but I haven't figured out why.

[northernladuk]

Because the client will only accept your CV from one source so if you've already been put forward the other agent will have dibs on you and the second agent has wasted one of the two or three cv's he's allowed to put forward.

Being put forward by multiple agents is a complete waste if everyone's time.

It makes you look bad as it shows a level of naiveity that might work against you.

Tell them you'll grant the first agent exclusivity for 24 hours and if you hear nothing get the second one to put you forward if you are worried they aren't. I've lost an interview because two agents submitted me and then had a massive argument in front of the client as to who got in first.

You've got to understand the process if you want to play the game properly.

[pauldee]

Because the client will only accept your CV from one source so if you've already been put forward the other agent will have dibs on you and the second agent has wasted one of the two or three cv's he's allowed to put forward.

I didn't understand this limitation.

[northernladuk]

I didn't understand this limitation.

So how do you think it was going to work when you get the gig but are being represented by two agents?

[pauldee]

So how do you think it was going to work when you get the gig but are being represented by two agents?

Whoever got in there first.

[Bee]

So how do you think it was going to work when you get the gig but are being represented by two agents?

How do we know which agent will put forward the CV?

[northernladuk]

Whoever got in there first.

Which will cause a massive argument and the client will want nothing of it and drop you there and then.

[northernladuk]

How do we know which agent will put forward the CV?

And there is the rub. You don't but IMO asking multiple agents to put you forward isn't going to end well. TBH if the first doesn't put you forward it's because you werent the strongest candidate so even if the second does put you forward you are in the back foot already.

[SueEllen]

And there is the rub. You don't but IMO asking multiple agents to put you forward isn't going to end well.

You could get lucky e.g. agent one blocks your CV while agent 2 puts it forward and you get the gig.

But ALWAYS presume it will go wrong.

[kaiser78]

And there is the rub. You don't but IMO asking multiple agents to put you forward isn't going to end well. TBH if the first doesn't put you forward it's because you werent the strongest candidate so even if the second does put you forward you are in the back foot already.

In the agents opinion. This doesn't mean that the client will not see you as the strongest client either.

I have faced situations in the past where I have been told that my CV will be submitted, only to find out that then it actually wasn't. Had I gone with a second agent (although appreciate this is not always the best approach), this risk would have been reduced.