Unknowingly applying for the same job through 2 agencies

TELLIT01

As others have said, I would always want to know the name of the company before agreeing to my details being forwarded. My experience of agencies over the years wasn't great. There was one which was really good, one which was OKish, but the rest really were no help at all.

getmore4less

The real problem here is the companies recruiting using a scatter gun approach with multiple agencies.

Companies should recruit using one agency to act on their behalf.

When we were recruiting sometime if we needed quite a few, everyone went through the agent even those that came direct,

The adverts on our own web site directed to the chosen agency and the chosen agent.

They were well paid to do the filter job so that what they did.

No conflict, no secrecy, no trying to cut them out.

NBLondon

In my experience, recruitment agencies are just one step above estate agents. Yep - I have also been put forward to the same employer by multiple agencies and I think getmore4less is tight - this is partly a consequence of the employer talking to more than one agency in the hope of getting a bigger pool of candidates but also partly because some agencies cold-call employers to try and get in.

I have had one agent tell me it was my fault for not being in control of who the agencies give my details out to - which was probably sour grapes because it was clear he wasn't getting any fees out of me.

And that's the thing to remember - the agency gets their money from the employer - they get nothing from you so there's no incentive for them to help you over any other candidate - unless they are competing with other agencies (or possibly with their colleagues). It would seem that it's in their interest to get the employer the right/best candidates available and secure the fees and repeat business but some seem to operate on the principle of just getting the most candidates in from of the employer or getting a possible match in first.

They are a necessary evil - for employers and for jobhunters.