Multiple agencies with the same job.

[DaveB]

My contract is up for renewal soon and there is a nice juicy job in the same area that looks good. Thing is, at least 3 agencies are advertising it. Do I go for the scattergun approach and apply via all of them or just pick one? It's via JobSite so I can make a reasonable excuse that I didn't know it was the same client :P

On the plus side if my CV comes in from three different agencies it looks good for me but the downside is that there might be some nastiness when it comes to deciding who got me the contract etc....

[ChimpMaster]

Call up each one and see what rate you can get from each one. After all, you're in it for the money and for 3 of to be advertising must make it a competitive market - i.e. they'll have to negotiate to get your CV.

Highest rate wins - quite simple really.

[DaveB]

Call up each one and see what rate you can get from each one. After all, you're in it for the money and for 3 of to be advertising must make it a competitive market - i.e. they'll have to negotiate to get your CV.

Highest rate wins - quite simple really.

Nice idea, but unfortunately, being JobSite, there are no direct contact details. You can only apply via the website and you don't get to know who the agency is until after you have applied and they have your CV.

[thunderlizard]

there might be some nastiness when it comes to deciding who got me the contract etc....

Don't worry about that. The client will have a way of deciding, e.g. a supplier hierarchy, or first-come-first-served. Agencies will tell you "we're the preferred supplier and if you involve anybody else it will harm your chances", but that's rarely true.

[Bluebird]

My contract is up for renewal soon and there is a nice juicy job in the same area that looks good. Thing is, at least 3 agencies are advertising it. Do I go for the scattergun approach and apply via all of them or just pick one? It's via JobSite so I can make a reasonable excuse that I didn't know it was the same client :P

On the plus side if my CV comes in from three different agencies it looks good for me but the downside is that there might be some nastiness when it comes to deciding who got me the contract etc....

Apply via ALL - most agencies will only be allowed to submit a number of CVs, they submit the best [ say 3 ] and tell all the others that they have been submitted to enhance their chance of getting the gig.

If your CV does turn up 3 times on a clients desk, it just goes to show that 3 agencies think you're worth a punt should should actually enhance your chances...

[Sausage Surprise]

I know one employer who rejects a cv if it comes in via more than one agency. Seems mad but they do.

[NotAllThere]

I know one employer who rejects a cv if it comes in via more than one agency. Seems mad but they do.

I work on the basis that if they're that stupid, I don't want to work for them anyway.

[WindyAnna]

I know one employer who rejects a cv if it comes in via more than one agency. Seems mad but they do.

The reason that they do that is because the hassle you get from agencies along the "but I saw him first" lines is so painful that it is easier just to reject candidates that come from more than one source. Believe me I've been the hiring manager on this and having agents calling you and telling you that they can prove the CV came to them first, that they will do you deals on rates, that the other agent is a lying conniving charlatan, that the client wants them to represent them and is about to put it in writing .... it's tedious, difficult to know who is telling the truth and awkward. Unless I was presented with a candidate that was so far ahead of the rest that it was worth it then I wouldn't waste my time with the hassle.

Anotehr client I worked for considered a CV from multiple sources to be indicative of laziness on behalf of the agency who was just sending CVs out without discussing things with the candidate.

I expect to be told who the client is before my CV is submitted ... if the application is via Jobsite I expect a follow up call from the agency before it's submitted. I've applied to multiple agencies before - the one who makes the best efforts gets to represent me - things such as calls me soonest, offers the best rate, isn't a complete ars*hole tend to appeal to me and put them above the rest. If just looking at the ads and there is an agent that I am happy to work with then I won't necessarily bother with the others.

Windy

[robnjc]

depends whether you want to p1ss off the agents concerned?

[AZZIK]

Nice idea, but unfortunately, being JobSite, there are no direct contact details. You can only apply via the website and you don't get to know who the agency is until after you have applied and they have your CV.

Actually, there is quite a sneaky but easy way to get the contact details of any agent/agency personnel. Copy and paste their names(s) into google, and you should get an email address for them! It works for me 90% of the time.