Informal chat with a company who originally rejected me

cte1111

I say go for it, you never know your luck. Yes they might offer you something a bit lower down the ladder for a lower salary, but it's a foothold. You can sort out the contracts etc with the agency if / when you are actually offered a job.

My first proper job was actually one that I was initially turned down for. I did not have the experience that they were looking for, but my future boss (who I always got on with very well) felt that I had the potential. So when their first choice pulled out, they offered it to me.

She told me later that she had actually mentioned me to another department after the interview, but they had just recruited for the position that she was thinking of in their department. I've done the same myself on the other side of the table since, e.g. mentioned a candidate that we had interviewed to another department who then offered her a position. Good luck and well done for taking the risk, you've nothing to lose.

terra_ferma

Agree with Miss Rose.
If you don't get the job and the agency finds out you have met the client behind their back, they are not likely to offer you more work.

Good luck!!!!

SapphireFlames

I've applied for several permanent jobs via agencies over the last 6 weeks, and of these only one recruitment consultant has met me in person. All the others communicated with me via telephone and email. I would prefer to meet them in person, but many of these agencies (who advertise on jobs websites) are based all over the country so it wouldn't always be practical. If it's a local agency, I agree they should meet me in person, but even then they usually never mention anything about meeting me - they just send my CV straight to the employer after discussing it on the phone or via email.

Savy_3

Agencies almost always have an agreement in place so that they are entitled to a fee if they 'introduce' a candidate to the organisation. As they have already introduced you, they will already have themselves covered legally.

If it really bothers you, wait to see if you get an offer and once all paperwork has been signed and returned, casually contact the recruiter and mention that you are no longer looking because you have found a job with X company.

You are not being underhand in any way here as the company shouldn't have employed the services of this recruiter if they weren't prepared to pay the fee. You can also easily pass it off with your current employer that you were simply letter the recruiter know you were no-longer available.

Felicity

Well done!!!! I think you have shown persistence and a good attitude and they are going to give you a second chance.

The agency fee will be paid regardless, take that out of the equation and concentrate on preparing for the interview. They would not have re-advertised the job (without getting in touch with you first) if they were all about fee-avoidance.

Consider where you felt you were weak in the last interview (read the job spec again and think about it through their eyes), think deeply about the questions they asked you and how you could respond better. Spend lots and lots of time prepping for the interview between now and then and focus on how you can respond to the job requirements needs.

Take along any evidence that might impress them in a file (you don’t need to show them everything just have things to hand should the opportunity arise).

I wish you all the best, I think you have already made an impression. Good luck x

MissRose

I'm not sure where in the country you are based or the field in which you are looking for work so I accept that it may not be practical for you to meet with every consultant but at the very least they should be doing a really in-depth interview with you via the telephone. This isn't just about assessing your suitability for the role but also about establishing your needs and skills base. Please be wary of agenciecs who will fire off your CV without actually doing much work on your behalf.

I would advise you to research what agencies are well known for working with clients in your chosen field and then phoning (even if they don't have a position advertised at the time) and asking to be registered (via face to face or telephone interview). Once you are registered you should be contacted when any suitable vacancy arises that the consultant you are working for thinks you have a strong chance of attaining. Sometimes agencies will not even have to post a job on the open market as they may have candidates already registered that are suitable.

If you develop a good relationship with a consultant it really can be worth it's weight in gold as they will work hard to 'sell you' (and of course the fee!).

Again, all the very best.

SapphireFlames

Thank you to everyone who has given me advice in this thread. I am now putting together a portfolio of my major achievements as Felicity suggested. I'm including things like appraisal notes, internal training certificates and written feedback that I've received from my colleagues.

buftymctufty

Good Luck x

Indo77

SapphireFlames,

Is this a web/IT job?

SapphireFlames

Indo77 wrote: »

SapphireFlames,

Is this a web/IT job?

It's not a web job, but it is an IT job. How did you guess that?

I've just arrived back from the meeting and I think it went well. I answered some additional questions to clarify some of the things I said in the original interview and they seemed impressed with my folder of achievements. However, they still couldn't give me a firm job offer as they still have some candidates left to interview, but they said I should hear the result before Christmas. I'm really hopeful as out of all the interviews I've been to over the last few weeks, this is the job I want most of all.