Reply to: Agent withholding client name

[nomadd]

I never let an agent submit my cv if they wont tell me who the client is.

This^

[BolshieBastard]

I never let an agent submit my cv if they wont tell me who the client is.

I may not consider the potential client meets my expectations, for example phamaceutical companies, so dont want to be submitted then have to withdraw due to this.

[Umbongoo]

[QUOTE=redgiant;1484885].

I had a agent call and they have send me the role spec (very generic but they mentioned one of two things that I specialise in within the covering email) without any client name on it. They have said they are the sole agent for the role so they shouldn't have any problems in sharing the name with me but they have refused to tell me when I asked and would only give it to me if the client wanted to interview me.

QUOTE]

In my exp it's normally once you have been advised that they want to put you forward that they then disclose who the client is. It's useful to know because there could b a time when you don't actually want your details to go to a particular client, for whatever reason.

[nomadd]

There is no guarentee any agency is actually working for the new major project at Credit Suisse or BNP Paribas.

And yet, strangely, I worked for both those companies, back-to-back, through the same agency.

Small world.

[redgiant]

These specs you've received -- are they just in an email body or in an attached document? If it's a document, check the document properties... sometimes the agent has removed the client name from the doc itself but not from the properties and you'll see the author's name and company there.

Thanks. I thought of that earlier and managed to get the client from the author's name (quick LinkedIn search) in the end. Great idea!

[MrRobin]

These specs you've received -- are they just in an email body or in an attached document? If it's a document, check the document properties... sometimes the agent has removed the client name from the doc itself but not from the properties and you'll see the author's name and company there.

[minstrel]

I've started to notice this trend as well and almost posted about it myself. However, in both cases the contracts turned out to be real but I didn't get their names until very late in the process.

I was scratching my head because it's been a while since I've been looking for contracts and I couldn't remember if it was like this before. I even explained to the agent that this might mean my CV gets submitted by two different agents but he was willing to take that risk.

I agree, I can't remember it being like this a few years ago. Now I'm finding it very hard to get the name of client until agent gives address for the interview.

[AnonAgent]

I dont personally use the tactic of witholding agency name. However if an agency really wants to fish for jobs, then surely it would make more sense to tell you an exciting client you want to work for? There is no guarentee any agency is actually working for the new major project at Credit Suisse or BNP Paribas.

[redgiant]

I tried to do this once, but almost all the agencies, and the client want to know the names of client anyways before scheduling any interviews. How have the clients and agencies taken this so far? would be keen to know about it.

I only have it on my public CV i.e. the ones on the job boards and my website. If an agent or potential client asks me for a CV with my clients names on it I can send it over to them seperatly but at least I can keep a tab on where it's going.

As NLUK has said it sometimes isn't that hard to guess the client name even if you withhold the client name e.g. a government department in the Cheltenham area.

[rd409]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I never mention client names on my CV for that reason. It is also the same reason for why I never add recruiters to my LinkedIn profile unless I have had a role in the past secured by them - as they say on the site when you add contacts - don't add people who you don't know well.

I tried to do this once, but almost all the agencies, and the client want to know the names of client anyways before scheduling any interviews. How have the clients and agencies taken this so far? would be keen to know about it.

[redgiant]

A copy of your CV should be easily available on job boards anyways. They usually fish for the direct dials of the persons incharge of recruiting, or their names, so that they can ask for that person on the switch board. Names of client on your CV is as good as the name of client in telephone directory. You should be vary of providing them sole representation right in such cases though.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I never mention client names on my CV for that reason. It is also the same reason for why I never add recruiters to my LinkedIn profile unless I have had a role in the past secured by them - as they say on the site when you add contacts - don't add people who you don't know well.

[rd409]

I had a quick search beforehand but couldn't find anything similar.

I had a agent call and they have send me the role spec (very generic but they mentioned one of two things that I specialise in within the covering email) without any client name on it. They have said they are the sole agent for the role so they shouldn't have any problems in sharing the name with me but they have refused to tell me when I asked and would only give it to me if the client wanted to interview me.

I think it's just another agent CV fishing for roles that don't exist but just want to get another view. Thanks.

A copy of your CV should be easily available on job boards anyways. They usually fish for the direct dials of the persons incharge of recruiting, or their names, so that they can ask for that person on the switch board. Names of client on your CV is as good as the name of client in telephone directory. You should be vary of providing them sole representation right in such cases though.

[jmo21]

I find in most cases that the agent is happy to tell me once I've confirmed they can put me forward. In the rare cases where they won't (or for example say they want to show various un-named clients my CV) then I tell them not to take it further.

But that's pretty rare for me, most cases , as I say, they don't have a problem. YMMV

Same for me.

If they still won't, it's fishing as far as I am concerned.

[Dark Black]

I find in most cases that the agent is happy to tell me once I've confirmed they can put me forward. In the rare cases where they won't (or for example say they want to show various un-named clients my CV) then I tell them not to take it further.

But that's pretty rare for me, most cases , as I say, they don't have a problem. YMMV

[manclarky]

You are gonna have to a bit smarter than that old boy.

They do withold names so you don't go direct or via another agent. Just a bit of protectionism. Yes they do do this when they are fishing as well so need to be a bit smarter than just throwing the fishing accusation at them.

I can't think of an agent that has told me the client for years but you can guess who they are from time to time. Financial client in Cheshire etc.

BarCap or Bank of America?