Advice please! Two agents wishing to represent dilemma.

[Muttley08]

I always think if you're good enough, the client ain't gona bin ya...if they do they're very dim!

I've had multiples myself when recruiting - at the end of the day as a manager, you want the best team to make your life easy.

I'm sure the client will go with whichever agency has the least markup - which is why they don't want multiple put forward, and will tell you how bad it is!

[BolshieBastard]

When applying for roles on jobswerve that may be with different agents, I always add a comment that 'my co never deliberately makes multiple applications for roles but, given the sparse comments on jobsites etc, it is not always possible to differentiate these. In such circumstances, my co will agree to be presented by the agent who secures and confirms in writing the interview appointment, interviewer and client contact details.'

Its not ideal but nothing ever is.

I know from experience HBOS will bin apps if received from more than one agent so be warned, sometimes you do lose out.

[LadyChatterley]

An update on this situation. I emailed Agent B, asking him to find out if I was already put forward and until he found out this information then I could not offer exclusivity. That was early afternoon yesterday. I've heard nothing, no reply to the email but the cheeky so-and-so sent me an invite to connect to him via LinkedIn. Might I add here that Agent B works for an Agency that I absolutely cannot stand and whom have done me over before and cost me two jobs with their piss-arsing about.

Agent A sounded a good guy. So I rang him. On his mobile and got a full explanation. Agent A has exclusivity and has worked with the end client for 12yrs and was waiting for the manager to get back to him as they are ironing out the role definition/responsibilities. etc etc To cut a long story short, I am going to go with him. End client also has an outsourcing agency on site taking care of another piece of work, who got wind of the vacancy and are trying to get one of their own guys in there. So Blackjac's right again.

Northernladuk - I was in the same position years ago, did the same thing. I got the gig but boy did it cause ramifications and such in-fighting I almost lost the gig altogether except I knew a few people on the project. Thats why I think twice now.

Agent B (***that one James Caan used to own) cost me two jobs. I was in a fortunate position, two interviews, two job offers, so had to make a decision relatively fast. One job was in London, so had to factor in travel time, train ticket costs, hotel (1 or 2 night pr wk) but really prestigious client to have on CV. The other job - 20 mins up the road, no real travel costs, no hotels, none of the hassle. Offering about 40 quid a day cheaper per day. So, being pressed by both agents - in the end I went with the one closer to home - less hassle. Waited another 2 days for contract to come through, got a phonecall, its not 6 months offer, its 3 - still ok to accept? Obviously, I said yes, (no other job and this was a Wednesday) - got a call on the Friday late afternoon, the projects been canned, withdrawing the contract.
So naturally - I'd rather not do business with them ever again if I can help it.

[blacjac]

I'm sure you are right but I wonder why these clients offer the same contract to several agencies in the first place rather than having a preferred supplier? If they don't like being dependent on one agency they could distribute the contracts (individually) between multiple agencies so they can get a feel for who is best, without giving the same position to more than one agency.

Agencies have a nasty habit of finding out and taking it upon themselves to act.

E.g.:
Client asks Agency A to get them a contractor.
Agency A advertises role
Agency B sees advert, does some research to find out who client is
Agency B contacts client to say "You know that role you are advertising through Agency A, well I have the perfect candidate for it...."

Seen it happen a few times....

[Menelaus]

All agents = lying, cheating, scum-sucking bastards.

HTH.

[George Parr]

Personally I would not want my CV to go twice as I have heard bad stories of people binning duplicate CV's as they don't want to get tied up in Agency arguments.

I'm sure you are right but I wonder why these clients offer the same contract to several agencies in the first place rather than having a preferred supplier? If they don't like being dependent on one agency they could distribute the contracts (individually) between multiple agencies so they can get a feel for who is best, without giving the same position to more than one agency.

[Fred Bloggs]

Ask agent B to directly ask the client if they already have your CV. If not, then go ahead with B and then send an email to agent A saying to them that you do not want them to represent you after due consideration. If agent B will do this check they unlikely to lie to you, I believe. If they had no intention of putting you forward then they wouldn't check.

But.......then again they could lie about checking even when they haven't.

Decisions, decisions......

[northernladuk]

Early on in my contracting career I got stuck in a position where I was being put forward for the same role by 3 different agencies. Although non mentioned the client it was pretty obvious it was the same. In my naivety I though sod em, apply with all 3 and may the best man win. Not all of them will put my CV forward so was edging my bets.

Anyway, ALL of them put me forward and all hell broke loose. The one that got in first say ah well, shouldn't have done it but your in with us so sod em, the other two were less than happy and had some calls from very unhappy agents. Played the dumb card saying didn't know it was same job and at that point they got abusive and personal I politely mentioned I would be contacting their managers about their behavoiur which shut them up and didn't hear from them again.

Got the role, did the job and finished without a problem. Dunno if I got away lucky here or as long as client and one of agencies gets the right man who really cares in the long run.

[LadyChatterley]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Yes - both Agents mentioned the name of the end client.

However, be prepared for the fact that Agent A might say they have put you forward when they haven't, as might Agent B, in order to present someone they can make more money off. (blackjac - this is what worries me).

I'm thinking of doing what Thunderbird said and sending a reply via email to Agent B stating (Tell him to go ahead but you're not sure you can do exclusivity because you've already tried to go via A (but A didn't put you forward). But is this likely to make him back off if he cannot get exclusivity? Decisions, decisions.

If I ring Agent A for an update and mention this to him, then he could do one of two things, put me forward pronto, or do me over saying he's gonna put me forward then doesn't bother. I work with SAP and I think they'll definately be looking at rates/costs.

[Brussels Slumdog]

Did they mention the clients name

Hi

I wondered if anyone could offer any advice in this situation please.

Yesterday I applied for a role online and was sent a reply email saying 'thanks for applying etc, please fill in this form with day rate expectation, attach CV and current strengths in each skill set, then I'll pass it over to my colleague who is dealing with it for review and will get back to you'. So did that and fired it off yesterday afternoon - not heard anything yet.

What would you do? Thanks.

Did he actually reveal the name of the client?
What you should have told the second agency is that the role sounds like
one that you applied for yesterday but have not had any feedback.

[thunderlizard]

You haven't heard back from A, so assume they've decided not to put you forward.
Be open and honest with B. Tell him to go ahead but you're not sure you can do exclusivity because you've already tried to go via A (but A didn't put you forward).

[blacjac]

Call Agent A and ask.


However, be prepared for the fact that Agent A might say they have put you forward when they haven't, as might Agent B, in order to present someone they can make more money off.

It is a matter of speaking to each agent and trying to get a read for the situation and plumping for the one you trust the most. Personally I would not want my CV to go twice as I have heard bad stories of people binning duplicate CV's as they don't want to get tied up in Agency arguments.

[LadyChatterley]

Hi

I wondered if anyone could offer any advice in this situation please.

Yesterday I applied for a role online and was sent a reply email saying 'thanks for applying etc, please fill in this form with day rate expectation, attach CV and current strengths in each skill set, then I'll pass it over to my colleague who is dealing with it for review and will get back to you'. So did that and fired it off yesterday afternoon - not heard anything yet.

Today I apply for a similar sounding role - turns out it is the exact same role with exactly the same client -agent tells me the day rate and wishes to represent me and has sent me an email to reply to giving him exclusivity.

Now Agent 'A' has not mentioned a day rate yet and I don't know for sure if he has put me forward whereas with Agent B, I know the score.

I don't know whether to call Agent A and ask what the score is and make him aware that Agent B is wanting to represent me (and find out the rate).

What to do for the best as I don't want to have them both put me forward then have them bicker etc who found me and lose the contract. On the other hand, I dont wish to let go of one of them who's wishing to put me forward when I don't know for sure if the other one is putting me forward.

What would you do? Thanks.