100 applications

[Stevie Wonder Boy]

12

[eek]

Ok, let's get real here. Agents are fond of telling us we are competing against 60 to 100 other applications for every contract. Understanding the power of the internet to reach all parts of the globe and the basic convenience of just clicking a link to apply for a contract.

My questions to any agent or someone really in the know,

1. How many of the applications are from Indians with no UK visa?
2. How many of the applications are from people with addresses outside the UK?
3. How many of these applications are from people who are out of commuting range?
4. How many of these are from applicants that are actually in contract?
5. How many applications are just miles away from the actual job specification, or just fail on basic requirements like an SC or a degree?

We all know the market is picking up, there just can't be that many people on the bench. I'm not buying it.

I've always treated it as the tulip we know it is.

Its incredibly rare that I apply for jobs and don't speak to the agent
Its incredibly rare that I don't get interviews from the customised cv the agent then receives

In fact I think last year was 3 applications, 3 interviews, attended 1st got the job apologized to the other two agents and clientco's....

[northernladuk]

Interesting questions those. Might be worth dropping Andy Hallett and some of our other know agents a PM to see if they will reply.

[SpontaneousOrder]

Ok, let's get real here. Agents are fond of telling us we are competing against 60 to 100 other applications for every contract. Understanding the power of the internet to reach all parts of the globe and the basic convenience of just clicking a link to apply for a contract.

My questions to any agent or someone really in the know,

1. How many of the applications are from Indians with no UK visa?
2. How many of the applications are from people with addresses outside the UK?
3. How many of these applications are from people who are out of commuting range?
4. How many of these are from applicants that are actually in contract?
5. How many applications are just miles away from the actual job specification, or just fail on basic requirements like an SC or a degree?

We all know the market is picking up, there just can't be that many people on the bench. I'm not buying it.

My current clientCo finds it incredibly difficult to hire. Possibly why I'm looking at a 6 month boom in the next couple of days.

I can hear the guys on the phone interviewing all day and evidently 99.9% of candidates (*edited out - forgot which board this was*) aren't very good (there are hardly ever any interviews).

100 applications? Sure. >5% competent candidates? No.

[tomtomagain]

I once put up a job ad on Gum Tree for a .net developer making it clear that it was a short term project, hours to suite and could be done from home.

Got dozens of replies from people telling me that they would resign from their current position and relocate.

It was clear that 90% of respondents didn't either read or comprehend the advert.

So I can easily imagine that a contract on jobserve would attract hundreds of responses.

And that 99% would be awful.

[SussexSeagull]

I get the impression a lot of people are a bit scatter gun when applying for roles so I can well believe it.

[stek]

I see the same on Linkedin, someone will post;

"I'm looking for an AIX role in or around Austin, TX, USA"

and within minutes there's several Bobs based in India answering

"I'm interested, please send details and will you sponsor me visa?"

Don't even twig is someone asking, not offering.....

[kingcook]

I see the same on Linkedin, someone will post;

"I'm looking for an AIX role in or around Austin, TX, USA"

and within minutes there's several Bobs based in India answering

"I'm interested, please send details and will you sponsor me visa?"

Don't even twig is someone asking, not offering.....

Yeah, or even replying to ads that are 4 months old.

Even more annoying/funny (depending on how you look at it) is when an agent/recruiter posts something like, "I have many clients in all parts of the world look for a XXX developer".

Vague.

[evilagent]

There can be many dozens of applications.
But once you filter out your list, indians with no visa, etc, you would hope to have at least 6-10 good hits.
Some agents will bluff about hundreds of applicants, which whilst true, does not reflect those worth putting forward.
The more established and mature agents will just give you the inside track.

You choose whether to deal with them and just see through the bluff and hope the next time they call its a good role.
Or you could get all holier than thou, put the phone down and feel superior.

[evilagent]

Interesting attitude, don't really care if the contractor is any good as anyone will do, as long as they are cheap enough (more margin).
I've learned to quickly identify the bluffers and blatant liars.

Didnt say dont care if contractor is any good or not.
I said there is a difference between apps and those worth putting forward.
Precisely the opposite of not caring.

Glad to hear you can identify bluffers.

More interestingly, can you identify a good recruiter from a bad agency?
Could you identify an inexperienced recruiter with potential and develop that relationship for future benefit?

Anyway, weekend beckons.
Have fun.