Them tricky old agents

[SillyMilly]

If an agent tells you he's on the PSL then he has no reason not to tell you who the client is. All the other agencies on the PSL will know about the requirement and if you tell an agency who's not on it they can't place you there anyway.

If an agent tells me who the client is then I won't knowingly let another agency put me forward. If the other agent won't tell me who it is then I usually say that I have been put forward for a job which sounds similar but they may wish to check with the client whether they have already got my CV.

However I don't beat myself up on moral grounds if - this is business and my first duty is to my shareholders (me) and my employees (me)!

[conned tractor]

Nah, I mean how are you really going to know you were submitted?

I will not have any way of knowing I was submitted, but possibly may have a clue if it goes quiet for a week or two.

Then if another agent contacts me about the role I have the opportunity to be upfront with them that I think the first agent may be pulling a fast one and tell them if they want to submit me to the client they need to ascertain whether my cv has actually been submitted.

This assuming of course they have direct contact with the hiring manager. Maybe this is the control they have over second tier suppliers by having PSLs - only the preffered supplier has contact with the hiring manager.

[conned tractor]

If an agent tells you he's on the PSL then he has no reason not to tell you who the client is. All the other agencies on the PSL will know about the requirement and if you tell an agency who's not on it they can't place you there anyway.

As I understand it, in my industry anyhow and definately for one specific client, if a job is not filled within a certain time it is let out to the second tier to fill producing a CONTRACTOR > SECOND TIER AGENT > PSL AGENT > CLIENT. Whereby the PSL agent takes a smaller cut if contractor placed by second tier.

If an agent tells me who the client is then I won't knowingly let another agency put me forward. If the other agent won't tell me who it is then I usually say that I have been put forward for a job which sounds similar but they may wish to check with the client whether they have already got my CV.

However I don't beat myself up on moral grounds if - this is business and my first duty is to my shareholders (me) and my employees (me)!

Me neither.

[northernrampage]

I will not have any way of knowing I was submitted, but possibly may have a clue if it goes quiet for a week or two.

Then if another agent contacts me about the role I have the opportunity to be upfront with them that I think the first agent may be pulling a fast one and tell them if they want to submit me to the client they need to ascertain whether my cv has actually been submitted.

If it was a contracting role I'd maybe wait a few days, then if I see it somewhere else I'd apply for it (probably check again with first agent to see what's happening).

And just be honest to the second agent when they ask...so many jobs seem similar anyway it may not be the same one. The first agent may not even have a relationship with the client, they could just be trying to get you in and not be a preferred supplier.

I've done this previously, as in said "I thought I was suitable for the role and heard nothing". The second agent then goes off to check (if they have a good relationship with the client, it's not really a problem for them).

I've also been asked if I was interested, then asked to do the email thing, then someone in the company contacted me directly that I knew. I still heard nothing from the agent so went via the client contact and got offered it.

[conned tractor]

Another slimeball

This is not the same contract as I was moaning about earlier but another position I had gone for. Good work, OK rate, bad location.

I recieved a phone call late this afternoon from an agent telling me of a role that fits my skill pretty well indeed.

The conversation went:

Agent: "blah, blah, blah, role, blah, blah, blah"

Me: "I'm sorry, I have already been put forward for that role by another agent yesterday".

Agent: "Oh, ok, I have a list of candidates from the client that have been put forward and I didn't see your name on there".

Me: "Oh".

Conversation about the role, company, her agency, etc followed.

Agent: "Do you want me to phone XXX and find out for sure".

Me: "ok".

Agent phones back 20 minutes later.

Agent: "I have just spoken to the HR manager and they definately haven't had your cv".

So I asked questions about who her contact within the client was and the validity of her relationship with the client and she seemed above board. Small agency local to the client, their website lists a number of roles at the client, etc. Discussed blocking tactics, etc. Said if there was contesting about who put me forward then there was no problem with letting me go with the other agent. She sold it pretty well although I think she was being genuine. Questions my morals too (before northenlad picks up on this) but I thought second agent was genuine.

So it seems someone is definately lying in this case. I put money on the first agent saying he submitted it and didn't bother. Then again I could have been sold up the river. Time will tell I suppose.

They make it so flucking difficult.

[worzelGummidge]

Apply through another agency anyway or check with the Personnel department that they have received your CV. Do NOT trust an agent.

[conned tractor]

Apply through another agency anyway or check with the Personnel department that they have received your CV. Do NOT trust an agent.

You know as stupid as it sounds I didn't think of that. I know the company so why not.

[jmo21]

This is not the same contract as I was moaning about earlier but another position I had gone for. Good work, OK rate, bad location.

I recieved a phone call late this afternoon from an agent telling me of a role that fits my skill pretty well indeed.

The conversation went:

Agent: "blah, blah, blah, role, blah, blah, blah"

Me: "I'm sorry, I have already been put forward for that role by another agent yesterday".

Agent: "Oh, ok, I have a list of candidates from the client that have been put forward and I didn't see your name on there".

Me: "Oh".

Conversation about the role, company, her agency, etc followed.

Agent: "Do you want me to phone XXX and find out for sure".

Me: "ok".

Agent phones back 20 minutes later.

Agent: "I have just spoken to the HR manager and they definately haven't had your cv".

So I asked questions about who her contact within the client was and the validity of her relationship with the client and she seemed above board. Small agency local to the client, their website lists a number of roles at the client, etc. Discussed blocking tactics, etc. Said if there was contesting about who put me forward then there was no problem with letting me go with the other agent. She sold it pretty well although I think she was being genuine. Questions my morals too (before northenlad picks up on this) but I thought second agent was genuine.

So it seems someone is definately lying in this case. I put money on the first agent saying he submitted it and didn't bother. Then again I could have been sold up the river. Time will tell I suppose.

They make it so flucking difficult.

It is possible the first agency has you in their backup list for when the client says, the first 10 CV's were not suitable, give me 10 more.

So in my replies to these exclusivity emails, I usually say something along the lines of "....as long as my CV is actually submitted to the client and is not on any back up list".

[DodgyAgent]

Apply through another agency anyway or check with the Personnel department that they have received your CV. Do NOT trust an agent.

Sound advice.

You have to remember that some PSL agencies are restricted in the number of CVs that they put forward for a job. If an agency has already submitted its quota and a really good candidate comes along they will often "block" that person by telling him they are putting him forward and then not doing so. To cover themselves they will also ask that the candidate doesnt let himself to get put forward by another agency. If it were me I would check with the HR administrators.

[bobspud]

Sound advice.

You have to remember that some PSL agencies are restricted in the number of CVs that they put forward for a job. If an agency has already submitted its quota and a really good candidate comes along they will often "block" that person by telling him they are putting him forward and then not doing so. To cover themselves they will also ask that the candidate doesnt let himself to get put forward by another agency. If it were me I would check with the HR administrators.

Shame isn't it. Wouldn't it be easier for the agent to just say "You are too late for this cut on the role unless our first three tank it. But I will submit your details to the client for future reference"