Playing agents off against each other & things.

[BolshieBastard]

OK here's the position. Had an interview yesterday for a role I fancy and am waiting for feedback via agent (A) whether I've got the role.

In the meantime, my previous client has some roles available and agent is in the process of arranging an interview early next week. Turns out this is for a new e commerce project.

Here's rub one; the agent (B) putting me forward for the role with my old client isnt the agent (C) who I was through when I last worked for them 4 months ago.

But there's more.

Agent (C), who is in fact, the agent who I worked through at my previous client above who's interested in me going back, has contacted me about another role very close to home with a client I have been trying to get on site at.

Previous attempts to get an interview with them have not been successful and, I havent got an interview with them yet. The role is primarily e commerce.

Now, I'd like to chivvie the agent (C), into pushing their client to indicating whether they want to interview me and quickly. But, I dont want the agent to know about the other jobs knowing the dirty tricks agents get up to, wanting to know who you interviewed with etc etc.

Any suggestions how I can play this? Obviously agent C cant force the client into arranging an interview promptly but at the same time, if they knew I may not be on the market for long (can always wish!) and that both other roles are e commerce they may want to move quicker. This agent also cannot know I've a chance of interviewing at previous client with agent B.

[cojak]

The market is still very fragile - be careful that you don't end up with nowt...

[northernladuk]

Hmm interesting one this. Let me get this right...

So first role with agent A is just mulling on in the background
Second role with Agent B is also just following it's own path
Third role with Agent C is again seperate but you want to push this forward quicker?

I don't see a problem telling the agent you are on borrowed time because you have other irons but would like this one and think you are perfect. Try and convince him it is in his best interest to place you with C. You don't have to tell him why your on a timescale or who with. Whether he believes you or not is totally up to your spiel.

I wouldn't hold out too much for this unless the role was made for you and you are in a niche area though. The agent tends to put 2 or 3 CV's forward so one of you in a rush won't really phase him if he has 2 other perfectly acceptable ones. He may even shy away from you in case you take another role and he loses one of his options thinking about it.

Whether B and C find out about each other is a totally separate issue. As long as you keep schtum about the details of your other opportunities you should be fine, and at the end of the day it is of no business to any of the other agents what you are up to.

[TheFaQQer]

Tell C that you have had an interview with one client and have another one with a different one lined up.

It's easy enough not to tell C who you are interviewing with - you just say "I'm sorry, but I've been asked not to discuss the client details at this stage - I'm sure you wouldn't want me to let other agencies know that there is an opportunity with XYZ would you?"

I had an agent this week asking how much I'd been put forward for when they rang me about a role!! She tried to get an answer by saying "it doesn't matter how much they put you forward for, we can't represent you anyway, I'm just interested". She didn't add "to find out so I can get my guys to undercut you so you don't get the role".

[BolshieBastard]

The market is still very fragile - be careful that you don't end up with nowt...

Agreed that's why I thought I'd put it to the committee for advice.

Hmm interesting one this. Let me get this right...

So first role with agent A is just mulling on in the background

This is waiting for a decision from the client and is expected today.

Second role with Agent B is also just following it's own path
Third role with Agent C is again seperate but you want to push this forward quicker?

I don't see a problem telling the agent you are on borrowed time because you have other irons but would like this one and think you are perfect. Try and convince him it is in his best interest to place you with C. You don't have to tell him why your on a timescale or who with. Whether he believes you or not is totally up to your spiel.

I wouldn't hold out too much for this unless the role was made for you and you are in a niche area though. The agent tends to put 2 or 3 CV's forward so one of you in a rush won't really phase him if he has 2 other perfectly acceptable ones. He may even shy away from you in case you take another role and he loses one of his options thinking about it.

Whether B and C find out about each other is a totally separate issue. As long as you keep schtum about the details of your other opportunities you should be fine, and at the end of the day it is of no business to any of the other agents what you are up to.

Cheers.

I'll see what I can do. As I said, the first job is one I like but the 3rd role (which is nothing of substance yet) is a lot nearer home and opens the possibility to a new avenue.

If the first job comes up with an offer later today, it'll all be immaterial as a bird in the hand etc...............

[northernladuk]

well fingers crossed for you. And if you get it PM the other roles and we talk about a cut lol

[cojak]

Agreed that's why I thought I'd put it to the committee for advice.



This is waiting for a decision from the client and is expected today.



Cheers.

I'll see what I can do. As I said, the first job is one I like but the 3rd role (which is nothing of substance yet) is a lot nearer home and opens the possibility to a new avenue.

If the first job comes up with an offer later today, it'll all be immaterial as a bird in the hand etc...............

The most important point at the moment..

[BolshieBastard]

The most important point at the moment..

Agreed.

Must admit when I finished at my last client 4 months ago, I was quite relaxed about finding another role. I knew Nov \ Dec and very early Jan would be quiet. I started sending off my cv for roles early in Jan but got no response.

I then upped the anti and started sending it to more and more agents. Still nothing. So then I started getting my LinkedIn profile in shape and tailoring the cv for specific roles. Although I started to get nibbles, still nothing solid.

Finally I spaced out my cv since it did look a wall of text and more importantly I think, started sending my cv for roles that were not an exact fit for me to get my cv in front of anyone who was recruiting.

As it happens, each of the roles now on the go came about as a result of

my LinkedIn contacts
my last client needing some contractors
an agent calling me out of the blue.

It is imo a numbers game but shows its also a mixture of networking, previous client and firebombing agents.

[TheFaQQer]

If the first job comes up with an offer later today, it'll all be immaterial as a bird in the hand etc...............

Be careful - quite often I find that all a bird in the hand offers is sh!t on the wrist.

[northernladuk]

Be careful - quite often I find that all a bird in the hand offers is sh!t on the wrist.

Or grabs hold of your finger and holds on for dear life while you shake your hand vigoursly trying to get it off resulting in a flurry of feathers at which point some old woman attacks you with a bag for being cruel to the bird and then some bloke paggers you for attacking an old woman and a bird and....

I need to shut up don't I???