Reply to: If an agency sends an unsolicited email

[TheFaQQer]

Must have been a small agency or a newbie agent?

Neither. But I think that he was so used to being able to bull his way through, he didn't realise what he was saying or who he was saying it to.

He still rings me every so often with an "awight mate, aahzitgoin'?" when I answer the phone.

[jmo21]

In my last permie job, we had two CVs arrive for the same guy - one we'd asked to see, one unsolicited. The unsolicited one arrived slightly earlier than the one we'd asked the other agent for.

When we took the contractor on, we did it through the agency that we'd asked to provide the CV. Unsolicited agency rang up, ranting about how they were going to sue for commission etc. because they'd sent the CV in first (although how they would prove that I don't know).

In the end, my boss told the agent to f**k off and banged the phone down on him. 30 seconds later, I answered the phone - "hi, it's Gary from XXX - I was talking to Fred and I think we must have got cut off somehow..."

They didn't get any more business from us, and they didn't get any money for the unsolicited CV either.

How on earth did they think that would work when they didn't have a contract with your company for that role??!?!

Must have been a small agency or a newbie agent?

special bunch indeed.

[vwdan]

In my last permie job, we had two CVs arrive for the same guy - one we'd asked to see, one unsolicited. The unsolicited one arrived slightly earlier than the one we'd asked the other agent for.

When we took the contractor on, we did it through the agency that we'd asked to provide the CV. Unsolicited agency rang up, ranting about how they were going to sue for commission etc. because they'd sent the CV in first (although how they would prove that I don't know).

In the end, my boss told the agent to f**k off and banged the phone down on him. 30 seconds later, I answered the phone - "hi, it's Gary from XXX - I was talking to Fred and I think we must have got cut off somehow..."

They didn't get any more business from us, and they didn't get any money for the unsolicited CV either.

They really are a special bunch aren't they. One step below second hand car dealers, really.

[TheFaQQer]

You can't enforce ANYTHING in an unsolicited e-mail - imagine the carnage if you could!

In my last permie job, we had two CVs arrive for the same guy - one we'd asked to see, one unsolicited. The unsolicited one arrived slightly earlier than the one we'd asked the other agent for.

When we took the contractor on, we did it through the agency that we'd asked to provide the CV. Unsolicited agency rang up, ranting about how they were going to sue for commission etc. because they'd sent the CV in first (although how they would prove that I don't know).

In the end, my boss told the agent to f**k off and banged the phone down on him. 30 seconds later, I answered the phone - "hi, it's Gary from XXX - I was talking to Fred and I think we must have got cut off somehow..."

They didn't get any more business from us, and they didn't get any money for the unsolicited CV either.

[Eirikur]

Sod that. They could only enforce the conditions in that email if you had replied agreeing to them then went on to cntact the client directly. Even then. I doubt they could enforce the £10k claim though.

I suppose they might argue the mail wasnt intended for you but seeing as its addressed to you I doubt that. Plus they could be then accused of spam.

The mail started with "Good Morning {CANDIDATE.FIRST_NAME "

[BolshieBastard]

Sod that. They could only enforce the conditions in that email if you had replied agreeing to them then went on to cntact the client directly. Even then. I doubt they could enforce the £10k claim though.

I suppose they might argue the mail wasnt intended for you but seeing as its addressed to you I doubt that. Plus they could be then accused of spam.

[tarbera]

Reply back and say yes you agree

But change wording in the email so say they agree to pay you 10k if they don't get you the role

[northernladuk]

I'm agreeing that the client probably won't take someone direct.
Instead the OP should use the info found, to tailor the cv better for when he/she submits it through the agency.

Ah gotcha and yes that's a good option. Gotta make sure the CV still matches the spec the agent supplied though as it's highly likely he will do nothing more than a CV to spec comparison to see if you fit. If you put too much stuff he can't keyword match he may not put you forward.

[darrylmg]

Eh?? This makes no sense to me.

I'm agreeing that the client probably won't take someone direct.
Instead the OP should use the info found, to tailor the cv better for when he/she submits it through the agency.

[northernladuk]

Yes.
Just use the info to get the jump on the agent.
You know it's more than likely a real role.
You know the expenditure for travel etc.
You could get on LinkedIn and see what techies work there to suss the tech.
You then customise your cv and submit via the agent and wait for bananas all round.

Eh?? This makes no sense to me.

[darrylmg]

I'd be interested to know how many large clients that use agencies will take people on direct instead. I can't imagine it's that many.

Yes.
Just use the info to get the jump on the agent.
You know it's more than likely a real role.
You know the expenditure for travel etc.
You could get on LinkedIn and see what techies work there to suss the tech.
You then customise your cv and submit via the agent and wait for bananas all round.

[northernladuk]

I'd be interested to know how many large clients that use agencies will take people on direct instead. I can't imagine it's that many.

[Boo]

You can't enforce ANYTHING in an unsolicited e-mail - imagine the carnage if you could!

Oh yes you can - you are my slave now, muahaahaahaa !

Boo

[tractor]

...

Which contains an attached job spec and they were too stupid to remove the name of the author from the properties in the word doc, from which I can conclude who the end customer is.

The email has this text in it:
If you are a candidate/consultant/jobseeker:
You agree
(a) not to contact directly and/or without our knowledge any of our clients to whom we have referred/introduced you
(b) not to provide any services to a client that we have introduced you to, unless it is through a contract with us where we receive payment for our introduction services. This also applies in the event that you have been introduced to the client via another party, unless you communicate this to us within 24 hours, and we write to you to accept that we are not the introducer in that instance.
In the event your actions or omissions cause a breach of these conditions you agree to pay a fee for damages, representing the likely loss to our business, which shall be limited to £10,000.

Can they enforce the above if I were to contact the end client directly? Again the email was sent totally unsolicited

Regardless of any failure to take identifying data out of documents, any agent that offered me the opportunity of paying them 10K would be in the bin before they even started. I would also send them an email forbidding them to refer me anywhere.

If they sent the same document after an initial discussion about the role and failed to remove said data, I would view it differently and would not take advantage of their impropriety. That to me, is just fair business dealing. I would expect no less from them either.

[vwdan]

You can't enforce ANYTHING in an unsolicited e-mail - imagine the carnage if you could!