Going direct rather than through a recruiter

[PM-Junkie]

Think of it this way. Imagine you are a self employed plumber. Do you think you would get customers:

1. By just using agencies and waiting for the phone to ring?
2. By marketing your services direct to potential customers?
3. By getting follow on work and referrals from existing customers?

Your answer should be no different if you replace "self employed plumber" with "IT contractor". If your answer is 1, then you don't understand this "running a company" lark.

Once you understand that and realise agencies just get in the way and potentially damage your reputation, you're away.

[EddieNambulous]

Also, if on the website it says, "No agencies please"... Would this mean they only work with a small number of agencies?

If it says "no agencies please", doesn't that suggest even more strongly that you should try going direct assuming you haven't got an interview through the agent?

I have my doubts that agents who claim they are sending your CV to the client always do. In some cases, it's a dirty trick to stop you applying and competing with their own preferred candidate.

[BoredBloke]

If the agent has not put you forward then there is nothing to stop you putting your own CV forward. If the advert is freely available for all to see then go for it.

[scooterscot]

The question you really want to ask, what does the client want?

Perhaps they would rather manage outsourcing through a single contact and not multiple service agreements etc.

There is a way though in time you'll learn, I'm not going to tell you though.

[hmmm]

When a recruiter comes to you with a job spec and the same job is advertised on the company's website.. what's to stop you going direct? What's the incentive to go through the recruiter?

Also, if on the website it says, "No agencies please"... Would this mean they only work with a small number of agencies?