Unsure if agency really pushed my CV

Smilerterry

I work in Finacial Services as a PA/Office Manager. The sector I work in is quite specialised and you tend to get to know quite a few people in the business. I've have been head hunted twice for roles.

I am currently looking to move jobs (don't like job I was head hunted for - typical) and applied through an agency for a role in a very similar company. I had infact been offered a job by this company about two years ago but turned it down at the time as it was too similar to the role I already had. Now they are advertising again for the same role and my circumstances have changed (this would also be evident on my CV) and I would really like to be considered for the role.

The agency forwarded my CV to them last week and came back with questions regarding my experience etc. The Office Manager at the company was dealing with the initial stages of sifting through CV's.

They asked more questions on Monday regarding notice period, then when I phoned the agency today they saiad they teh comapny are already on 2nd round interviews, so probably did not want to see me.

I am confused slightly, as I have 7 years experience in this field and they thought I was good enough for the job previously. I don't think that the eihter the agency really tried to highlight my CV or the Office Manager knew what she was doing.

Don't know what to do, shall I go back to agency and ask them to contact the company and ask about my CV or shall I email an application into the company direct to the CEO (who will be doing the interviews), or just forget about it?

Any advice appreciatted.

dirtydress

I have had this happen to me before. Admittedly I dont have the kind of experience you have but i definitely wasnt pushed for a role I knew I was more than suited for. I would say go to the company directly as you know how to sell yourself best and you can explain the situation and hopefully they will see it as you're motivated and eager for the job since you are coming directly to them. Sometimes agencies really arn't the way to go, ive had some awful experiences!!

JackieChan

You could always make contact with the Office Manager and subtely advise him that your aware from your agency that the company is at 2nd interviews.Just ask him if your CV will be left on file for future jobs.
At least you give him/her the opportunity to explain if your application this time has been unsuccessfull instead of playing the waiting game to hear back from your agency.

stovelid

Agencies have their own agendas.

I applied for a job through one agency, and they claimed to have sent my CV to the company, but I heard zilch back.

I sent the same CV for the same job through a different agency, and was called in for an interview immediately. :mad:

I assume that the first agency wanted to prioritize another candidate, or thought that I had asked for too much money.

I would use more than one agency in future.

flash harry

some companies really dont like getting turned down and may be not giving you a chance to do this again, either way agency should tell you.....

Going to the company direct should be a last resort (yes Im a recruiter) because if the agency are a proper partner with the company, they will know you've gone behind they're back and you will look bad for doing so......

The argument re they want candidate A to get it so aren't pushing candidate B makes no sense - most see 4/5 candidates and these may come from several sources so the agency needs to get as many of these slots filled with their candidate to maximise the chance of filling the role and therefore making the €€

Smilerterry

I ended up phoning the agency again yesterday afternoon, asking them if they could phone the company and tell that that I am keen on being considered for the role and that my circumstances have changed since last time, in the hope that:

a) my CV gets a liitle push from the agency
b) if it was that they didn't want to see me as I had turned down the job offer previously, at least I would know.

Have yet to hear back from the agency!

Thanks for the advice guys.

Millionaire

Its very hard know what happened or why, there could be many many reasons.

One that I have some across often in over 10 years as recruiter (8 years running on biz), sometimes the Hiring Manager in the company, the CEO, HR Manager , (IT Manager etc), they just have enough CVs in.

So as a recruiter, again this often happen, I come across an excellent candidate (sounds like your one since you've been headedhunter before, & lots of specific experience) , later in the game, I would myself contact hiring manager, email CV and in email acknowledge the time frame, and list out the reason why the candidate is excellet, achievement, & what they can do, & of course I will call Hiring Manager then, & explain, (now this is only if it is an exceptionally great candidate for the job). Sometimes the Hiring Manager will jump on the CV, want to interview immediatly asap or sometimes they say "thanks but Mary in HR says not to take an more CVs in" (so internal politics in company, Hiring Manager does not want to upset Mary in HR, & cause an inter-department war! ).

Or perhaps, the company might have found someone direct with great experience, a little lower salary & no fee to pay agency.

I would certainly contact the agency, put across your point,politely and low key, even write and email for the Hiring Manager in company, and ask recruitment agency person to email it on to them from you. So recruiter is not left out of the loop, & also hiring manager can see email came from you via recruiter, stating a case for yourself to be re considered.

It might work! you got nothing to loose for sure.

On the other hand some people in world can be stubborn my nature, and if you turned down a job in that company before, for whatever reason, might have a hump on them over it, in the case your better off finding a better job else where. (I have come across that before too, with hiring managers).

The way I see it, and do it, if a candidate is really good, and it is late in the interview cycle, and I honestly feel company might miss out on someone really good, I will put a good case to the hiring manager to interview or even phone interview the candidate. Before I would do that, me and candidate must do homework, and pick out work achievement in previous jobs where candidate excelled, & back it all up by explaining this (above & beyond what most people put on CV), & even have a refence from previous company back it up. Sometimes, it will open a door, but only if candidate is one the the best, and also reallly want an opportunity to interview.

If it is in the best interests of the hiring manager & client that this is a good thing, and hiring manager will know all parties are being genuine. Thats the golden rule.

Good luck with it, I hope what is right turns out for you.

God Bless
Gerry