What happens if...

[Peter Loew]

If you are put forward for the same role by two different agencies?

I have been put forward for a role by an agency I don't trust but a more trustworthy agency wants to put me forward for the same role.

Will this blow me out of the water or just cause a war between the two agencies?

P

[JoJoGabor]

How did you manage to get put forward by two agencies? You should always ask for the client name before agreeing for your CV to be sent on. Once sent, don't let anyone else send your CV forward, most ClientCo's think it makes you look unorganised.

Now its happened, its up to the client to decide which agency to go through, if they want to offer you an interview

[jmo21]

he didn't say that.

Peter, this is one of the no no's - client doesn't car, and first agent has dibs on you.

make sure 2nd agent does NOT put you forward as the client may bin you altogether so there is no hassle over who put you forward

[expat]

he didn't say that.

Peter, this is one of the no no's - client doesn't care, and first agent has dibs on you.

Why?

[jmo21]

general experience i guess, not a hard and fast law or anything

[gingerjedi]

From what I've been told when I asked the same question the client will bin you if he see's the CV twice, they just wouldn't want to get in a situation with 2 agencies claiming and counter claiming who should represent you.

Whether either agent has a right to claim 'first dibs' will be irrelevant as your CV will be in the bin.

[Ardesco]

Tell second agent that you think you may have been put forward and ask them to check with the client. If they think you are good enough to be put forward they will normally check and it is possible the first agent hasn't put you forward because you are a risk to their preferred client if somebody else puts you forward and they are trying to keep you out of the game.

[Turion]

Another agent scare tactic to say client will not consider you if your cv is put forward twice. Absolute ballpats, its the agents who are shiite scared. I've secured contracts on several occasions where my cv was put put forward by 2 agents. The main thing is to get your cv in front of the client. If it happens twice it's no big deal.

An agent will often say that he's putting you forward, without doing so. Why? Because he may only be able to submit 2 or 3, and to reduce competition, so that his favoured candidate (gets more commision) has more chance, he then rings round and says he's submitting your's to eliminate potential threats. Happened to me on a few occasions that I know.

Client will choose cheapest or the first received and or the one on the PSL. Make sure the agent is on the client PSL, and you trust them or you could be wasting your time.

[Peter Loew]

It's interesting to see the varied replies when it comes to this.

I am leaning on the side of Turion, it seems like another agent scare tactic. From our point of view, we want the client to see our CVs, we want to win the piece of work; and we understandably will do everything we can to get the work. We all know how dodgy and docile agents can be, and so to increase the chances of our CVs getting across it seems sensible for us to use at least one agency for this purpose.

Has anybody had any experience where they have lost the role altogether simply because they were repped by more than one agency?

P

[Lockhouse]

Tell second agent that you think you may have been put forward and ask them to check with the client. If they think you are good enough to be put forward they will normally check and it is possible the first agent hasn't put you forward because you are a risk to their preferred client if somebody else puts you forward and they are trying to keep you out of the game.

WHS. Most of the time when an agent says your CV has gone to a client, they're lying. No harm in this approach at all.