IT Recruitment agency & the games they play....

**NotAllThere** · 24 February 2012, 06:23

Yes - this happens.

**farout117** · 24 February 2012, 08:00

Originally posted by grahamc View Post

Hi all,

Horrible first post, but I have to ask this.

Basically I keep getting put forward for SQL DBA contract roles by Agency 1 (they are usually first to contact me about new roles). Now the problem is, they have said I have been put forward for a role (and that my CV was liked, just waiting for final sign-off). I have since been called by 3 other agents about the same role. 1 of those agents asked who put me forward and then came back saying that he has spoken to HR and confirmed that my CV has not been put forward. Excuse me?!?!?!

Basically the company is limiting agents to 2 candidates to per agency and the 2nd agency is saying that Agency 1 are saying that my CV has gone forward, but in fact it has not. By doing this, Agency 1 then covers most of the market and stops all the top candidates from truly competing. Now its just the 2 that they send across.

Now I am not saying this is true, I am going to call Agency 1 tomorrow and find out if my CV has gone through and confirm it through HR of the company.

Does anyone else have any experience like this?

I had a similar experience, turned out Agency 1 never submitted my CV, and went with Agency 2. Result was that I got the job with Agency 2 and turned out the client never did business with Agency 1!

**MrRobin** · 24 February 2012, 08:01

Yep there are plenty of bad eggs out there who will lie through their back teeth to you. Some agencies are worse than others and your mileage will vary so chalk it up to experience, put that agency on your blacklist and move on.

Good luck finding a role.

**mos** · 24 February 2012, 08:53

If you have direct access to HR then you have upper hand but thread carefully. Try to avoid confrontation. Do not trust agent 2.

**JoJoGabor** · 24 February 2012, 09:07

Try to get confirmation in an email that each agent has in fact submitted you.

**kingcook** · 24 February 2012, 09:15

BolshieBastard said in a thread somewhere (and i think it's a good idea) is to tell agent 1 that they have 48 hours to get you a confirmed interview, else you go to agent 2, 3, ..., n...

**northernladuk** · 24 February 2012, 10:39

We have this question regularly and opinion seems divided. Some people say get all three agents to apply for you and deal with the fall out if you get sent in twice later. I can see why people might think this but....

Getting all three to put you forward may increase your chances slightly but when they find out and a war over who put you forward starts the chances of getting binned by the client far outweigh the benefits of multi applying.

You are likely (and it happened to me) get binned by the client before you even see him even if you are the right man for the job. He uses agents for an easy life. He does not want to mediate between two seething agents just for a contractor.

Try what Kingcook says but don't try and play the agents off. It will work out badly for you.

**BrilloPad** · 24 February 2012, 10:43

I get this often. I always say "please represent me subject to my CV being submitted".

**kingcook** · 24 February 2012, 12:25

Originally posted by BrilloPad View Post

I get this often. I always say "please represent me subject to my CV being submitted".

So what do you do if agent A says he's submitted your CV yet you hear nothing? Meanwhile you are unsure as to whether you should go via agent B?

IT Recruitment agency & the games they play....