Agent withholding client name

**northernladuk** · 17 February 2012, 11:34

You are gonna have to a bit smarter than that old boy.

They do withold names so you don't go direct or via another agent. Just a bit of protectionism. Yes they do do this when they are fishing as well so need to be a bit smarter than just throwing the fishing accusation at them.

I can't think of an agent that has told me the client for years but you can guess who they are from time to time. Financial client in Cheshire etc.

**Cenobite** · 17 February 2012, 11:35

I've started to notice this trend as well and almost posted about it myself. However, in both cases the contracts turned out to be real but I didn't get their names until very late in the process.

I was scratching my head because it's been a while since I've been looking for contracts and I couldn't remember if it was like this before. I even explained to the agent that this might mean my CV gets submitted by two different agents but he was willing to take that risk.

**manclarky** · 17 February 2012, 11:43

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

You are gonna have to a bit smarter than that old boy.

They do withold names so you don't go direct or via another agent. Just a bit of protectionism. Yes they do do this when they are fishing as well so need to be a bit smarter than just throwing the fishing accusation at them.

I can't think of an agent that has told me the client for years but you can guess who they are from time to time. Financial client in Cheshire etc.

BarCap or Bank of America?

**Dark Black** · 17 February 2012, 11:47

I find in most cases that the agent is happy to tell me once I've confirmed they can put me forward. In the rare cases where they won't (or for example say they want to show various un-named clients my CV) then I tell them not to take it further.

But that's pretty rare for me, most cases , as I say, they don't have a problem. YMMV

**jmo21** · 17 February 2012, 11:57

Originally posted by Dark Black View Post

I find in most cases that the agent is happy to tell me once I've confirmed they can put me forward. In the rare cases where they won't (or for example say they want to show various un-named clients my CV) then I tell them not to take it further.

But that's pretty rare for me, most cases , as I say, they don't have a problem. YMMV

Same for me.

If they still won't, it's fishing as far as I am concerned.

**rd409** · 17 February 2012, 12:02

Originally posted by redgiant View Post

I had a quick search beforehand but couldn't find anything similar.

I had a agent call and they have send me the role spec (very generic but they mentioned one of two things that I specialise in within the covering email) without any client name on it. They have said they are the sole agent for the role so they shouldn't have any problems in sharing the name with me but they have refused to tell me when I asked and would only give it to me if the client wanted to interview me.

I think it's just another agent CV fishing for roles that don't exist but just want to get another view. Thanks.

A copy of your CV should be easily available on job boards anyways. They usually fish for the direct dials of the persons incharge of recruiting, or their names, so that they can ask for that person on the switch board. Names of client on your CV is as good as the name of client in telephone directory. You should be vary of providing them sole representation right in such cases though.

**redgiant** · 17 February 2012, 12:06

Originally posted by rd409 View Post

A copy of your CV should be easily available on job boards anyways. They usually fish for the direct dials of the persons incharge of recruiting, or their names, so that they can ask for that person on the switch board. Names of client on your CV is as good as the name of client in telephone directory. You should be vary of providing them sole representation right in such cases though.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I never mention client names on my CV for that reason. It is also the same reason for why I never add recruiters to my LinkedIn profile unless I have had a role in the past secured by them - as they say on the site when you add contacts - don't add people who you don't know well.

**rd409** · 17 February 2012, 12:20

Originally posted by redgiant View Post

Thanks for the advice everyone. I never mention client names on my CV for that reason. It is also the same reason for why I never add recruiters to my LinkedIn profile unless I have had a role in the past secured by them - as they say on the site when you add contacts - don't add people who you don't know well.

I tried to do this once, but almost all the agencies, and the client want to know the names of client anyways before scheduling any interviews. How have the clients and agencies taken this so far? would be keen to know about it.

**redgiant** · 17 February 2012, 13:11

Originally posted by rd409 View Post

I tried to do this once, but almost all the agencies, and the client want to know the names of client anyways before scheduling any interviews. How have the clients and agencies taken this so far? would be keen to know about it.

I only have it on my public CV i.e. the ones on the job boards and my website. If an agent or potential client asks me for a CV with my clients names on it I can send it over to them seperatly but at least I can keep a tab on where it's going.

As NLUK has said it sometimes isn't that hard to guess the client name even if you withhold the client name e.g. a government department in the Cheltenham area.

Agent withholding client name