Recruitment Agency Exclusive Representation

Willem-de-Blois

I applied for a job which seems perfect for me within an industry that is hit hard by the financial situation. I found the vacancy through indeed.co.uk and I applied directly to the employer a few days before the closing date. This was two weeks ago.

I haven't heard anything from the employer and I since saw similar positions advertised through indeed.co.uk by two recruitment agencies with two different closing dates. Owing to the lack of jobs, I didn't want to presume that these positions were the same that I had already applied for directly. Therefore, I sent them my cover letter and CV.

Yesterday one of the agencies called me telling me that my application is very strong and that it is one of the few that he has received which the employer would be interested in. He told me who the employer is but I did not tell him that I had already got in contact with the employer.

After the telephone call, he sent me an email for me to reply to, to state that he has the exclusive right to represent me to the employer and that I have not already been in contact with the employer. If I confirm this, I would be lying.

I don't want to ruin my chances with this job but I don't want to be seen to be lying by getting the agent to represent me and having my CV appear twice on the employer's desk.

What should I do?

anamenottaken

Willem-de-Blois wrote: »

I applied for a job which seems perfect for me within an industry that is hit hard by the financial situation. I found the vacancy through indeed.co.uk and I applied directly to the employer a few days before the closing date. This was two weeks ago.

I haven't heard anything from the employer and I since saw similar positions advertised through indeed.co.uk by two recruitment agencies with two different closing dates. Owing to the lack of jobs, I didn't want to presume that these positions were the same that I had already applied for directly. Therefore, I sent them my cover letter and CV.

Yesterday one of the agencies called me telling me that my application is very strong and that it is one of the few that he has received which the employer would be interested in. He told me who the employer is but I did not tell him that I had already got in contact with the employer.

After the telephone call, he sent me an email for me to reply to, to state that he has the exclusive right to represent me to the employer and that I have not already been in contact with the employer. If I confirm this, I would be lying.

I don't want to ruin my chances with this job but I don't want to be seen to be lying by getting the agent to represent me and having my CV appear twice on the employer's desk.

What should I do?

Contact the employer - referring to your original application.

Did you keep a copy of the original advertisement?

Willem-de-Blois

anamenottaken wrote: »

Contact the employer - referring to your original application.

Did you keep a copy of the original advertisement?

I have found the original advertisement on a cached google page.

Should I call or email given that the agent is awaiting my response?

Willem-de-Blois

I called the employer who explained that he received a lot less applications that he hoped for - hence why he took on a recruitment agent to get more applications in. He will start the short listing in 10 days.

It seems that my original application wasn't enough to close the recruitment process.

anamenottaken

Willem-de-Blois wrote: »

I called the employer who explained that he received a lot less applications that he hoped for - hence why he took on a recruitment agent to get more applications in. He will start the short listing in 10 days.

It seems that my original application wasn't enough to close the recruitment process.

But did the employer confirm that your application had been received and considered?

If he did, then I'd go back to the recruitment agency and admit that you had applied through the original advertisement. It could be that if they don't have even better applications yours will be taken forward when they realise that there aren't many qualified people available.

Willem-de-Blois

anamenottaken wrote: »

But did the employer confirm that your application had been received and considered?

If he did, then I'd go back to the recruitment agency and admit that you had applied through the original advertisement. It could be that if they don't have even better applications yours will be taken forward when they realise that there aren't many qualified people available.

Yes he had my cover letter and CV at hand when the receptionist put me through to him. He told me that he was surprised that so few people applied (6) and that was the reason he agreed to allow a recruitment agency try to get more applicants. He said that he'd call people to interview in 7-10 days once he has received more applications.

I told the recruitment agent that I had applied for the post before the original closing date.

It seems that my application was looked upon favourably by both employer and agent separately however my application seems to have not been strong enough to stop the employer going out to market for more applications.

AP007

Willem-de-Blois wrote: »

Yes he had my cover letter and CV at hand when the receptionist put me through to him. He told me that he was surprised that so few people applied (6) and that was the reason he agreed to allow a recruitment agency try to get more applicants. He said that he'd call people to interview in 7-10 days once he has received more applications.

I told the recruitment agent that I had applied for the post before the original closing date.

It seems that my application was looked upon favourably by both employer and agent separately however my application seems to have not been strong enough to stop the employer going out to market for more applications.

How do you know that? Have you been turned down?

If they only got 6 CV's yours may have been one of the good ones and 5 bad ones hence going to an agency to see if they can get more candidates.

I would take my chances with the direct application and tell the agency since you submitted the CV to the company first you can not have them represent you.

Willem-de-Blois

AP007 wrote: »

How do you know that? Have you been turned down?

If they only got 6 CV's yours may have been one of the good ones and 5 bad ones hence going to an agency to see if they can get more candidates.

I would take my chances with the direct application and tell the agency since you submitted the CV to the company first you can not have them represent you.

No I haven't been turned down. You are right, the employer probably wants at least 3 candidates who in theory are suitable to come to the interviews.

The agent wished me luck with the position which was decent of him. Yesterday he said that I was one of the few candidates that he would put forward.

I have a good chance versus an equally qualified candidate from the agency seeing I got to the employer directly as I'd likely be cheaper to hire.

mattcanary

Willem-de-Blois wrote: »

Yes he had my cover letter and CV at hand when the receptionist put me through to him. He told me that he was surprised that so few people applied (6) and that was the reason he agreed to allow a recruitment agency try to get more applicants. He said that he'd call people to interview in 7-10 days once he has received more applications.

I told the recruitment agent that I had applied for the post before the original closing date.

It seems that my application was looked upon favourably by both employer and agent separately however my application seems to have not been strong enough to stop the employer going out to market for more applications.

To be frank, they've probably just told you, what you wanted to hear.

Willem-de-Blois

mattcanary wrote: »

To be frank, they've probably just told you, what you wanted to hear.

Maybe.

I've received a job alert email from the same area advertising the same job title. This is the third agency to advertise but the advertised salary is much lower. The lower range of salary is £10k/ year and this is for a job that requires a degree and over 2 year's experience! :eek: