Reply to: Contacting the client direct

[bullseye]

The client may have to bail. It wont matter that the agent has refused to represent you. It is the relationship between agent and client that is a can of worms.
The agent can claim to have recently introduced you so by default is your agent if the client takes you and there will be a contract stating this.

Best of luck getting the direct gig. I hope you added the agents cut to your rate, though you will look really cheap without an agents cut.

Client came back today saying I did not make the cut, It might have been the case that they did not want the hassle, as you said.

I was surprised that they atleast thought of informing me the bad news, even though there was a long gap in between.

[bullseye]

The same happened to me recently. I had two pimps contact me for the same gig, within 5 minutes of each other. I opted for first come first served. The first pimp did not put me forward (my rate was high) but he said he would, and said he did.

By doing this he had frozen me out of the market, so no other pimps could put me forward. Then he puts in his cheapest, and charges as much as he can get away with. Simples.

There is one agent, who is doing this to me. Everytime she advertises a role which matches my skills, she calls me up, takes my updated CV and says she will forward my CV to the client. Then calls me back next day and says client liked my CV and she is now waiting for the interview dates. Its not like she is avoiding me during this phase. If I call her up, she comes on phone and sounds very genuine.However, I have never got a interview out of her. This has happened 3 times. Total time waster

[The Lone Gunman]

The same happened to me recently. I had two pimps contact me for the same gig, within 5 minutes of each other. I opted for first come first served. The first pimp did not put me forward (my rate was high) but he said he would, and said he did.

By doing this he had frozen me out of the market, so no other pimps could put me forward. Then he puts in his cheapest, and charges as much as he can get away with. Simples.

If that happens then be honest with pimp 2. Tell him you may have been put forward already. Many of them know the tricks and will ring the client and ask if they have had your resume.

[suityou01]

Pimp took my CV for a role recently and never sent it through to the client ( I was asking for the max rate ) , by coincidence 2 weeks later a friend phoned me and asked me if I would like to go direct to them, I am still there.

The agent might not even have sent it through to them in the first place.

The same happened to me recently. I had two pimps contact me for the same gig, within 5 minutes of each other. I opted for first come first served. The first pimp did not put me forward (my rate was high) but he said he would, and said he did.

By doing this he had frozen me out of the market, so no other pimps could put me forward. Then he puts in his cheapest, and charges as much as he can get away with. Simples.

[The Lone Gunman]

Thanks guys for all the ideas and support.

Sent my CV to the manager this morning. Got a reply from her asking how I heard about the vacancy and whether I would like to do day rate contract or fixed term.

I have now replied to her. I hope this does not end here.

Keeping my fingers crossed now.

The client may have to bail. It wont matter that the agent has refused to represent you. It is the relationship between agent and client that is a can of worms.
The agent can claim to have recently introduced you so by default is your agent if the client takes you and there will be a contract stating this.

Best of luck getting the direct gig. I hope you added the agents cut to your rate, though you will look really cheap without an agents cut.

[bullseye]

Thanks guys for all the ideas and support.

Sent my CV to the manager this morning. Got a reply from her asking how I heard about the vacancy and whether I would like to do day rate contract or fixed term.

I have now replied to her. I hope this does not end here.

Keeping my fingers crossed now.

[minestrone]

Pimp took my CV for a role recently and never sent it through to the client ( I was asking for the max rate ) , by coincidence 2 weeks later a friend phoned me and asked me if I would like to go direct to them, I am still there.

The agent might not even have sent it through to them in the first place.

[Cliphead]

I went direct with a client after having been placed first time by the pimp, didn't take long to become pimp free after that.

[Board Game Geek]

Can the agent legitimately refuse to put you foward for a role ? Isn't that discrimination ?

I'm sure the agent will find other ways to not put you forward and avoid legal hassle, but even so.

I'd go direct with a letter stating that "due to my disappointment with Agency XYZ, and their unfathomable methods of contractor selection which I feel are not in their Client's best interests, I have no recourse but to approach you directly..blah blah blah".

[expat]

Absolutely, especially if that refusal is in email form and not just hearsay from a phone conversation.

The only place where it falls on its arse is if you get the gig over one of his candidates, he finds out and then kicks up a stink with Clientco. Admittedly it's a smallish risk if the Agent has a brain (which is a gigantic ask for an Agent) since he risks his ongoing relationship with Mr Clientco.

That would be quite bizarre, if he thinks that his once having failed you in the past gives him a right specifically to exclude you from a contract.

[BrilloPad]

I would definetly submit my cv. particularly given the state of the market.

[TykeMerc]

WHS. The agent has refused to represent you so you're in the clear?

Absolutely, especially if that refusal is in email form and not just hearsay from a phone conversation.

The only place where it falls on its arse is if you get the gig over one of his candidates, he finds out and then kicks up a stink with Clientco. Admittedly it's a smallish risk if the Agent has a brain (which is a gigantic ask for an Agent) since he risks his ongoing relationship with Mr Clientco.

[Zippy]

what have you got to lose? and if you get the gig - bullseye!

WHS. The agent has refused to represent you so you're in the clear?

[RichardCranium]

he refused to put me forward for the role saying if the client did not like your CV then will not like it now as well.

What an idiot.

I have the contact details (email) of the hiring manager.

My question to the folks here is, now that I know the contact details and also know that the role exists, shall I approach the hiring manager direct?

Do it. The agent has refused to represent you so can do not a thing about it.

Many of you have been hiring managers, how would you take it if someone approaches you direct?

It has depended upon corporate policy.

Suck it and see. If they won't let you go direct, ask them which agencies they accept CVs from and pick one of those to represent you (for no more than 8% margin because YOU found the role).

[MPwannadecentincome]

what have you got to lose? and if you get the gig - bullseye!