"Don't Submit Your CV To Other Agencies"

[dspsyssts]

When applying for a role and the agency states they will put your CV forward and don't apply to any other agencies for this role....do you still apply via other agencies anyway?

Scenario:

Pimp is allowed to submit 3 CV's only for a role to a company...he does this, then gets your CV, your ideal for the role much better than the three he has already put forward, Pimp wants his boys to win and knows if you go through another agency you will win, so tells you he will put you forward, you are represented by him, don't go through any other agency etc...He doesn't put you forward, you hear nothing, you don't get the role.

Or am I being paranoid?

[HairyArsedBloke]

... am I being paranoid?

No.

[expat]

That's exactly how it goes.

Followed by: client takes you via other agency, first agency claims that he represents you, client doesn't have time for the aggro so changes his mind and you don't get the role. Result for the agent.

[northernladuk]

Not to want to sound like a broken record but this topic has come up a number of times recently. The general concensus I think was not to apply to others so as not to get stuck in the middle of a bun fight of which nothing good will come for you. There are a few thay have gotten away with it and will tell you to apply but I feel there is more chance for this to go badly wrong for you than good. Put the shoe on the other foot. If you had a list of contractors all pretty similar and one tries to screw you over what would you do?

[dspsyssts]

So in essence when your told your CV has been put forward you have to trust the agency.

Really I think they should copy you in on the email they send to the companies HR with your CV.

[nomadd]

So in essence when your told your CV has been put forward you have to trust the agency.

Nope. I don't. Ever.

I'll mention to a second agent that I've been told I was going to be put forward, but ask them to check. And if I haven't, then get back to me and we'll take it from there.

[Fred Bloggs]

Nope. I don't. Ever.

I'll mention to a second agent that I've been told I was going to be put forward, but ask them to check. And if I haven't, then get back to me and we'll take it from there.

Exactly the right thing to do, make pimp number two ask the client for you.

[BolshieBastard]

Nope. I don't. Ever.

I'll mention to a second agent that I've been told I was going to be put forward, but ask them to check. And if I haven't, then get back to me and we'll take it from there.

And if you're paranoid as the OP is, in this scenario 2nd agent finds out you have been submitted by the first agent so, proceeds to bad mouth you with the client while bully up the 3 cv's he's now going to send over in competition to you.

TBH, it depends how paranoid you are. If you think the agents and client are going to crap on you for multiple (or even just single applications) then they probably will. The truth is you'll never know.

My MO although its not foolproof, is to apply for the job with as many agents as possible. The one who gets back in touch asking you to let him \ her put you forward, is the one I generally go with. If any other agents contact me after this, I tell them I've just been contacted about something else which is better so Im no longer following the original up.

If I get an interview, fine, if I dont, move on.

[Wanderer]

I'll mention to a second agent that I've been told I was going to be put forward, but ask them to check. And if I haven't, then get back to me and we'll take it from there.

Not such a bad strategy. That way if the first agent hasn't put you forward then they can't claim to be the sole agent.

True, it HAS been discussed a bit recently too.

I'd be interested to hear the inside story from the agents who post here.... Or would that be telling?

[The Agents View]

Telling? Not really....

To be honest (and I know this sounds wishy washy) it depends.

The scenario you speak of, is a PSL driven situation. HR/internal recruitment functions decided that "capping" the number of CV's you can submit was a good idea a while ago, because they were getting too many CV's.

Unfortunately however, they still ask us to put our "best 3" forward (I personally believe that should be 1, maybe 2 people), but then still work on a "first come first served" basis. So from my perspective, I find my 3 and submit early doors in order not to get pipped, and at the last minute, a 4th person comes along who is head and shoulders above the rest. Officially I can't submit that person. Annoyingly, this is another result of tulip agencies ruining things for the rest of the industry by bombarding line managers with lame CV's.

My personal approach would be to pick up the phone and speak to the line manager or HR person. The simple question is whether they really want to be restricted by what a HR Doris says is the way they are to recruit, or do they want the best people.

Unfortuantely, within the recruitment industry, we have a lot of consultants who will pander to a clients every need - the ones who see the rules and stick by them - the ones you want to be talking with, are the ones who can think laterally, and work on a peer to peer level, as an advisor to the line manager, not as a HR dolly birds biatch.

Don't always assume that smaller or bigger is better either - I work for a big company, and I work quality over quantity, and with structured, respectful relationships. On the flipside, I know of countless small agencies who play the more political game.

That said, if I'd put you forward and someone else tried, I'd also be questioning your integrity. This is a really really tough one, for all concerned - the only advice I have is to speak to the ones who say "i've already put 3 people in, but I'll have a chat to the line Manager and see if I can get an exception to the rules" - those are the ones who are more likely to pick up the phone and actually find a way around.

HTh
TAV