Has agent forwarded my CV?

[richy_rich]

OK - here is the situation....

Applied for a contract through Agent A 2 weeks ago and he tells me that the client is still looking at CV's.

I have seen the same job advertised a few times in the last few days.

Agent B rings me today and tells me 'in all honesty ' that the client has never heard of me and that they want to represent me! They tell me that they have nothing to gain from lying to me because if the client has my details from a previous agency they gain nothing and are wasting their own time - which seems fair enough!

I have advised agency B to go ahead - do you think this was the right move and what do you think Agency A is playing at????

Anyone else ever experienced this before?

Cheers,

RR.

[BrilloPad]

had it before.

agent can only submit x CVs - and is hoping for better than you!

In future, say to any agent that they only represent you on condition you are put forward.

Your only option now is go to agent A and ask what is going on. And say what you have heard from agent B.

Else ask Agent B to put you forward - but Agent A might cause a fuss later!

[ChimpMaster]

You did the right thing, after all you need to look after yourself first and make sure that you are put in front of the client. Well done.

[Euro-commuter]

...
Else ask Agent B to put you forward - but Agent A might cause a fuss later!

Cause a fuss? No-one has the right to take your CV only to sit on it, and then complain that you went and got the contract that they wanted to stop you from going for.

[lukemg]

Yes, this happens quite often for a number of reasons e.g.
- Agent is compiling list to send, contacts you early but later gets better prospects. These may not always be better skills etc they might be more local/available/keen on the rate/able to squeeze better percentage out of.
He sends the preferred list and you miss out. Does he call and tell you - yeah, good one.
- Agent has an A and B list, A list goes off, client says got any more ? (brief might be vague). Yeah - course I have Guv says the agent and sends list B across (already contacted and available etc). If the client doesn't ask for more - list B gets ditched. Does he call and tell you - yeah, good one.
- If a number of agencies are competing for the role, agent doesn't want you to go through another even if they aren't sending you in. They pretend they are sending you and you don't go via another/if you get a call you say you are already being put forward - cuts down competition.

You are unlikely to find out any of these things happen to you but it might account for some of the send CV, talk to agent who sounds keen and says he will put you in, you never hear another word - scenarios (track the agent down if you like, you will find the role is withdrawn, internal appointment, on-hold, client invited others for interview etc etc). Of course, you might just have been rejected by the client.

[BrilloPad]

Cause a fuss? No-one has the right to take your CV only to sit on it, and then complain that you went and got the contract that they wanted to stop you from going for.

That as maybe - but I lost a contract in 1990 recesiion cos of it. Agent A made a fuss - client(BOTL) did not risk a fight - so picked someone else. So agent B said anyway...

Maybe it was cos I was c**p?

Either way lost a contract when I needed one. Times are benign now...

[cykophysh39]

One thing to learn in this game!

Agent's shouldn't be believed at all costs. They will often phone you up saying they are dealing exclusively with a client, and blow two tonnes of smoke up your butt, and you'll never hear from them again.

I always say yes, to an agent when they say they wanna put my Skills profile forward, even if I've just got off the phone to an agent about the same Gig. In my Experience it doesn't make you look bad in the clients eyes, as they know a contractors CV is normally Carpet bombed, and that Contractors CV are normally harvested by pimps. Each agent only gets 2 -5 CV's to put forward, and it is not Guaranteed they will put yours forward in that pile.

I had a laugh one day, when I went to an interview with a client, just walked out the door and was getting in the car when a pimp called me to say that they were working very closely with the client on a position where they were the exclusive agency, I let him drone on before I told him I had just finished an interview with the said client.

However once you set up a decent relationship with a good agent, to continuing business can be good, but when you're starting out just beware about believing what they say
Never trust a pimp.

[rootsnall]

Ask for email confirmation from both agents, ask A to confirm they have forwarded your CV, ask B to confirm they have approached the client and your CV is not already there and only then give them permission to forward your CV. It's a common situation and once it occurs it's a good pointer that you won't be getting the gig.

[richy_rich]

Well.........

Just had an interview with the client today on the back of the deal done by Agency B.

Agency A - yes you Mr.Parity - you are a **** of the highest order!

Cheers for the advice everyone,

RR.

[ChimpMaster]

Well.........

Just had an interview with the client today on the back of the deal done by Agency B.

Agency A - yes you Mr.Parity - you are a **** of the highest order!

Cheers for the advice everyone,

RR.

Well done mate. If you get the contract, you should definately call up the first Agent and have a laugh. Oh and post your transcript here so that we can have a good laugh.