If you see a contract that only one agency has do you suspect phishing?

[Cenobite]

A few weeks ago I saw a well paid contract and had a look round Jobserve looking for the best 'price' and saw that it was only with this one agent. Sent my CV in and had an agent email me back very quickly, spoke to her then she said her manager wanted to talk to me too and would ring five minutes later. Never heard a peep again. Emailed her and her manager once and again no response.

Then applied for a different contract with a different agent over the weekend. Again seems they're the only agent with the contract. Agent emailed me about the contract first thing this morning. Tried calling twice now but I think I'm being screened out before we've even talked about rate or anything.

I'm starting to think if only one agent has the work, then it's often a CV harvesting exercise. Any thoughts?

[dty]

Many smaller clients only work with a single agency.

[TheFaQQer]

Many larger clients have a single preferred agency.

[Cenobite]

I know what you mean about single agent stuff but I've never had agents get back to me so quickly then just drop the whole thing without either speaking to me on the phone nor discussing rate. I suppose the only other thing is budget being pulled very quickly.

[northernladuk]

I know what you mean about single agent stuff but I've never had agents get back to me so quickly then just drop the whole thing without either speaking to me on the phone nor discussing rate. I suppose the only other thing is budget being pulled very quickly.

Or they have found someone better and you no longer have any chance of making them money so you are now dead to them.

[JoJoGabor]

Maybe you don't sound like an ideal fit when they speak to you, remember that phonecall is the second screening after reviewing your CV.

[Cenobite]

Maybe you don't sound like an ideal fit when they speak to you, remember that phonecall is the second screening after reviewing your CV.

It's just in the first case I'd been told I'd passed the first phone screening and was told the next call would be 5 mins later.

In today's case I got an email back telling me to call then when I ring they don't want to talk.

I just can't win at the moment!