Why Do Recruitment Companies...

gettingready

well.. if an agency calls me about that perfect new contract - I ask them to send me exclusive representation request where they have to state company, rate etc - if I am happy all is well.. if they say they "can not disclose the client at this point" I advise them to call someone else

if an agency calls me and asks me where was my CV submitted already (fishing for new contacts for themselves) - I say I can not disclose this information as I have signed exclusive rights to my CV for those vacancies...with agencies that contacted me about those

and this is how it goes....

TheRecruiter

gettingready wrote: »

well.. if an agency calls me about that perfect new contract - I ask them to send me exclusive representation request where they have to state company, rate etc - if I am happy all is well.. if they say they "can not disclose the client at this point" I advise them to call someone else

if an agency calls me and asks me where was my CV submitted already (fishing for new contacts for themselves) - I say I can not disclose this information as I have signed exclusive rights to my CV for those vacancies...with agencies that contacted me about those

and this is how it goes....

Of course you do... and you're surprised that they don't send you a copy of a confidential document, give me a break.. For a start, there's no such thing as an "exclusive representation request".

On a contract basis, there's typically a master agreement in place with the client and a separate assignment schedule for each contractor on site. The master agreement won't give any information on rates and certainly wouldn't be shared with candidates as quite frankly the agreement has nothing to do with you, it's between the company and the recruiter. You'd have a separate agreement with the agency.

When it comes to details of a specific vacancy, we don't get a formal document for each one. Normally we'll get a phone call from the manager detailing what he/she wants.

I agree with you not giving away information on your other interviews etc but you're in the minority. A lot of candidates do give this information to whoever calls and that's why agencies keep it confidential - If agencies revealed the employer to every candidate we spoke to then our competition would go through the roof, just doesn't make any sense.

If you rely on agencies for work then my advice would be to build a relationship with a select few and work openly and honestly with them. When they know you don't sing like a canary to other agencies, they will give you the full details everytime.

If you don't rely on agencies then stop using them and you won't have any issues.

gettingready

Sorry but I can assure you that for every vacancy I agree to be put forward for - I get an "exclusive right to represent" email to sign and it does state company name and proposed rate. That is how it works in my field and with agencies I deal with - and I am happy with that.

That is purely to ensure:

1) I know and agree where my cv is going
2) Several agencies do not send my cv to the same company

I absolutely refuse to deal with agencies who deal with people in any other way and would be horrified if my CV went anywhere with me not agreeing to it being sent there or I did not know the rate offered or the location was not suitable for me etc etc.

But as I said - I am a contractor and on a daily rate. Perhaps other types of recruitment work differently.

TheRecruiter

gettingready wrote: »

I have no need o meet agency recruiter in person. My CV/skills/experience/references/job history are a very good indication of what I can/will do and for how much (I am on a daily rate) - having to meet anyone in person would make absolutely no sense..

Guess it depends on what you do. Let me ask you this though...

If you were an employer, paying £10k - £20k for a single placement , wouldn't you want the agency to meet the candidates first? I know that I would.

With your mind set, why bother meeting the end client at all, what benefit is there? If getting a job is purely about experience, then you'd get an offer from someone looking at your CV.

The reality is that companies hire based on 2 criteria. 60% skills / 40% personal / culture fit.

Even in highly skilled /technical jobs, just because you have the skills doesn't mean you'll get hired.

When you engage a recruiter, you expect them to filter for both, sometimes this involves meeting the recruiter so that they can understand if you'd be a good fit for the company.

This only applies to good recruiters, I dont think you should meet every recruiter about every job but do disagree that you should refuse to meet them on principal.

TheRecruiter

gettingready wrote: »

Sorry but I can assure you that for every vacancy I agree to be put forward for - I get an "exclusive right to represent" email to sign and it does state company name and proposed rate. That is how it works in my field and with agencies I deal with - and I am happy with that.

That is purely to ensure:

1) I know and agree where my cv is going
2) Several agencies do not send my cv to the same company

I absolutely refuse to deal with agencies who deal with people in any other way and would be horrified if my CV went anywhere with me not agreeing to it being sent there or I did not know the rate offered or the location was not suitable for me etc etc.

But as I said - I am a contractor and on a daily rate. Perhaps other types of recruitment work differently.

Oh okay, we are talking cross wires. I though you meant a copy of the agreement between the employer and the agent.

I agree with the exclusive representation form, makes things much easier and avoids duplication.

gettingready

Just so we are clear what am I talking about and you do not get confused - one example:

Hi XXXX

Thank you for your time this afternoon

As discussed, I will be submitting your CV to XXXXXXXfor their upcoming XXXXXrequirement. The rate agreed is XXXXX per day via Ltd company and this would be a 6 month initial contract

Please reply to this email confirming you are happy for XXXXXXXX to be your sole representative and I will get some feedback to you asap

Please feel free to pass my details onto any other colleagues you feel have the appropriate experience as yourself

Thanks
XXXXXX

gettingready

TheRecruiter wrote: »

With your mind set, why bother meeting the end client at all, what benefit is there? If getting a job is purely about experience, then you'd get an offer from someone looking at your CV.

And several times I did. So did few of my colleagues.Or sometimes purely by recommendation from one client to another when they use the same agency. Yes, I guess it depends on what one does.

gettingready

Also let's look at it his way:


1) Agency lets say in Preston recruiting for a local, Preston based warehouse picker job at NMW- they will be searching for local people and may want to see them in person.

2) Same agency in Preston recruiting for a 300 per day contract for a London based client. Best candidates are London based (just for the sake of argument). Do you seriously expect London based candidate to go and see an agency in Preston for a London based job? I do not think so

Yes, there is Skype or the recruiter could come down to the town where the best candidates are if he/she really wants to see them in person but I doubt any candidate would travel to see an agency in the scenario above. But hey - I may be wrong

dktreesea

gettingready wrote: »

Also let's look at it his way:


1) Agency lets say in Preston recruiting for a local, Preston based warehouse picker job at NMW- they will be searching for local people and may want to see them in person.

2) Same agency in Preston recruiting for a 300 per day contract for a London based client. Best candidates are London based (just for the sake of argument). Do you seriously expect London based candidate to go and see an agency in Preston for a London based job? I do not think so

Yes, there is Skype or the recruiter could come down to the town where the best candidates are if he/she really wants to see them in person but I doubt any candidate would travel to see an agency in the scenario above. But hey - I may be wrong

Why would a London based client be using a Preston based agent to recruit for them anyway? In my area of expertise, most of the agents are in the Slough /Reading /Basingstoke /Bracknell neck of the woods because that is where most of their clients are.

gettingready

dktreesea wrote: »

Why would a London based client be using a Preston based agent to recruit for them anyway? .

I always wonder about that myself but often get calls from agencies "up North" about London contracts so go figure

And my last London contract was actually via an agency in Preston - and they did come down to London to see us (4 contractors via the same agency on the same London site) twice during our 7 months on the job.

But again - I refer to contracting, not permanent jobs. Most contractors are happy to relocate on Mon-Fri basis to where contract is (if worth it). Friend from London was working in Wales for 6 months and Scotland for 4 - she just stayed in a hotel Mon night till Fri morning.

Personally I only work in London but often get calls about contracts on the other side of the country.