Reply to: Why do agents do this?

[CheeseSlice]

Had an agent ring me and said he had seen my CV on jobserver and after a brief discussion of role and rate he said he would send me a jobspec and hoped to put me forward for the role.

Now 3 hours later I get nothing..

Is this some sort of agent strategy? My Assumption is that he's found someone else which is why he's not contacted me.. Would I be correct or is there another reason agents do this?

This has happened to me twice in the last 48 hours.
The worst bit is that it was the same guy using two fake identities from different real agencies. It was so blatantly the same guy (same tardy voice and conversation routine) who just happens to know the boss at my old place and asks a few prying questions about the co. whilst he's at it.

Each time he promised to send me a job spec for a role in the city, both times have never turned up.

I can't wait for him to call again, then it's rumble time

[denver2k]

Its been happening with me this time.

Although, quite a few time they also gave me names of clients and sent me job specs. But somehow never respond after that, even if i write "Waiting for your response" in my emails.

[Jubber]

I'm getting them a lot ....

"Hi Jubber - how are you today?"
"I'm good thanks"

"Great - I've got a role here that I'm recruiting for <insert role with my skills> Are you looking for contract work?"
"Yes - I'll always consider agency provided contract opportunities"

"Excellent! Ok - I see you were working at <previous client>.... is Lord Lucan <or another made up name> still heading that dept?"
"Never heard of him"

"Really? Ok ... who is running it now ....."

At this point I try to keep it civil. The next time I may not.

I know we are all trying to make a living, agents included, but I'm just like you - I spend 10 mins neatly knocking probing questions into touch - get promises of job specs and "can you see the client tomorrow..." etc etc never to hear another thing, because basically, there was no job in the first place.

Chin up though ...... one day a REAL one will come through

[Pogle]

I'm seasoned enough to not give out ref details or places I've worked at previously but just find it a bit irritating when they don't follow up. Typical I guess

Pecker up Badge!
It's annoying and frustrating at the mo, I've been there and got the jaunty hat! BUT it will happen and then you will have the luxury of ignoring agents calls

[Cyberman]

Check your 'junk' mail.

[badger7579]

I'm seasoned enough to not give out ref details or places I've worked at previously but just find it a bit irritating when they don't follow up. Typical I guess

[moorfield]

Had an agent ring me and said he had seen my CV on jobserver and after a brief discussion of role and rate he said he would send me a jobspec and hoped to put me forward for the role.

Now 3 hours later I get nothing..

Is this some sort of agent strategy? My Assumption is that he's found someone else which is why he's not contacted me.. Would I be correct or is there another reason agents do this?

This has happened to me several times over the last few weeks. Some of them are even cheeky/lazy enough to ask me to fill out a "skills matrix" or "cover sheet" too. Frustrating, but keep ploughing on ...

[kookachoo]

Could be worse, they could say "I've seen your details on adultfriendfinder.com"

[pmeswani]

Had an agent ring me and said he had seen my CV on jobserver and after a brief discussion of role and rate he said he would send me a jobspec and hoped to put me forward for the role.

Now 3 hours later I get nothing..

Is this some sort of agent strategy? My Assumption is that he's found someone else which is why he's not contacted me.. Would I be correct or is there another reason agents do this?

It's called Fishing. It's one step below asking for 2 or more references. They are determining if you are on the market or not. The chances are, you had applied for a role with them via Jobserve some time ago, and their database tells them that you applied for a role via that Job Board... hence why they say "They have seen your details on Jobserve".

It's either that, or they genuinely forgot to send the description to you.

[original PM]

maybe if their call stats are being monitored and they are bored of rejections from cleints they just start random calls to random contractors to make themselves look busy?

[Mehmeh]

I think sometimes its because they didn't like something you said... maybe not enough experience or whatever...but didnt have the guts to say.

OR I've actually had them call back a day or 2 later saying cool...NOW we need 2 references....

[SallyAnne]

is there another reason agents do this?

Are you looking for something more than "because they're a bunch of c**ts?"

[Pickle2]

I doubt agnets are trawling jobserve for cv's in the current climate...

[Zippy]

Is this some sort of agent strategy? My Assumption is that he's found someone else which is why he's not contacted me.. Would I be correct or is there another reason agents do this?

I've always assumed they do this to get information from you. They hope you'll fall for the fact that they are interested in you and talk about present and previous clients. Did he give you the name of his client?

[NeverGoPermy]

Had an agent ring me and said he had seen my CV on jobserver and after a brief discussion of role and rate he said he would send me a jobspec and hoped to put me forward for the role.

Now 3 hours later I get nothing..

Is this some sort of agent strategy? My Assumption is that he's found someone else which is why he's not contacted me.. Would I be correct or is there another reason agents do this?

Yes - agents are usually muppets.

I had a fella ring me up about a job to which I told him I would have no chance of getting it for a number of reasons, and if I applied it would be wasting my time, his time, the clients time.

To which he replied, and I'm not making this up, "Oh OK, well I think I'll put you forward anyway."

WTF??!!! Did you just listen to a word I said???!!

I also find that agents ring round about jobs that I know for a fact that aren't there any more.

Dodgy dodgy geezas.