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Agents and Job applications

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  • 28-11-2011 5:00pm
    #1
    yenoah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭


    Hi,

    Is it commonplace for a recruitment agent to have 2 or more candidates go for the same job? If so, then who is the agent representing? (themsleves I guess). Just wondering though.


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    #2
    yenoah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭yenoah


    Just to clarify, I am talking about Software Developement roles. I recently had an experience whereby I undertook a job application on referral from a recruitment agent. After the second interview and many strategy calls from the agent, they let slip that they had another candidate going for the job also.

    I found this strange and wondered is it commonplace. Just trying to get a handle on the norms in this situation so I can react accordingly.

    Many thanks.


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    #3
    FSL
    Registered Users Posts: 1,456 ✭✭✭FSL


    As far as any job is concerned if the agent is recruiting on behalf of the company then they will send them a number of candidates they believe satisfy the criteria specified by the company.


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    #4
    yenoah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭yenoah


    So the agent is acting on behalf of the employer, I see.


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    #5
    moycullen14
    Registered Users Posts: 881 ✭✭✭moycullen14


    yenoah wrote: »
    So the agent is acting on behalf of the employer, I see.
    Follow the money. You're not paying the agent so he's not working for you. You are an input to the agent's business. The employer pays him so that's where his loyalties lie. It's not at all unreasonable for an agent to place more than one candidate for a job - in fact, it makes perfect sense.


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    #6
    Procasinator
    Registered Users Posts: 1,311 ✭✭✭Procasinator


    Even if the potential recruit was the paying customer, unless they never take clients with overlapping skills (unlikely, as most places specialise in areas such as IT) it would be unfair to only offer the opportunity to one of their clients.


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    #7
    cornbb
    Registered Users Posts: 6,790 ✭✭✭cornbb


    More than once, I've dealt with agents/recruiters that spoke about "other applicants" that I later found out that never existed. Same with other colleagues. I believe it's a trick they use to get you to take up an offer in a hurry. Not sure if that's the case in your situation but I thought it might be worth knowing about.


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    #8
    Webmonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 9,579 ✭✭✭Webmonkey


    cornbb wrote: »
    More than once, I've dealt with agents/recruiters that spoke about "other applicants" that I later found out that never existed. Same with other colleagues. I believe it's a trick they use to get you to take up an offer in a hurry. Not sure if that's the case in your situation but I thought it might be worth knowing about.
    Yeah they are not the most honest at the best of times. I won't be going through them in the future again anyways. They are too pushy for my liking.


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    #9
    robd
    Registered Users Posts: 951 ✭✭✭robd


    Let's be clear here, Recruitment Agents represent themselves.

    An employer will use multiple agents and agents will submit multiple CV's for a position. Once your CV is submitted to an employer, then there is an exclusivity to deal with that agency for a period of time (say 6 months but up to 2 years) in regard to and individual candidate.

    Agents are a go between. They advertise jobs and trawl through online databases and linkedin to find candidates. They work their contacts to get jobs in and they try to match the two. If they are successful they get an agreed commission of 20%+. It's all about the match.

    It's a numbers game pure and simple. No matter how good the agency and how they pitch themselves it always ends up more a less the same.

    Once you realise the cold hard reality of this and don't take particular jobs not working out personally, then agents are generally great to deal with. As you get more experienced (particularly if you contract and use agents a lot) you learn to screen the agents and generally only work with a select few.


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    #10
    robd
    Registered Users Posts: 951 ✭✭✭robd


    Webmonkey wrote: »
    Yeah they are not the most honest at the best of times. I won't be going through them in the future again anyways. They are too pushy for my liking.

    I've a love/hate relationship with recruiters. I find as an experienced contractor they represent me better. It's a waste of my time turning up to an interview and being insulted by a potential employer because they think my market rates are outrageous.

    Of course they're pushy, they're sales people after all. Nothing to stop you pushing back.

    They're are ones who I just don't deal with as I said above.


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    #11
    Sheeps
    Registered Users Posts: 2,762 ✭✭✭Sheeps


    The agent is purely a middleman, however some companies deal exclusively with certain agencies.


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