No communication from Agency: Plain rude or the norm ?

I applied for a job through an agency in June.
My CV had to be in by the 2nd July .
The job I was applying for is nolonger being advertised so I am presuming the position has been filled.

I have not even recieved a mail saying my CV was recieved or a mail notifying me that position was filled.

Is this plain rude or is this the norm

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

It depends on the agency. Something similar has happened to me recently. Sent my cv via e-mail applying for a particular job. About 3 months later they phoned asking me to come in and meet them...not a mention of the job I had actually applied for.

I find its usually best to phone first and speak to someone in the agency about the position...at least then you can send your cv to a particular person.

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

Fairly normal, I'm afraid, particularly when dealing with agencies. I'm job-hunting at the moment myself and really have had to chase up on my applications, even after I've met with the recruitment consultants. Ring them, get the name of the person dealing with the position, and then make sure you get to talk to them. At least then you have a defined point of contact.

Which reminds me, I need to do exactly that now.

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

just be careful with agencies and ask loads of questions.

I applied for a job advertised, as it mentioned various different benefits. The agency set me up with and interview and I got the job. Now silly me, I didn't ask about all the benefits mentioned at the interview but assumed they would be in my contract. We spoke about salary and holidays but that was it. Big mistake!!! Contract arrived, and most of the conditions mentioned in the ad, did not appear in the contract. When I queried it, the agency told me that they put jobs in to attract people and that this job was based on the ad I had applied for but I should have asked about conditions in the ad when I was at the interview. So moral of the story is take nothing for granted and have them confirm everything for you at the interview and then it should be in the contract too. Naturally, was too disgusted to take the job!

good luck!

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

This is typical behaviour by recruitment agencies, and unfortunately a lot of businesses as well.
However, on the other hand, it's approximately a month now since you applied for the job. Did you not really want the job since it's only now dawning on you that you haven't received a response?

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

Well to be honest I was not bothered..Getting the job would mean a bit change in my life and I was 50/50 on the whole thing...
I just thought it was rude not to have recieved a mail or a phone call.

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

ZEGAR said:

Well to be honest I was not bothered..Getting the job would mean a bit change in my life and I was 50/50 on the whole thing...
I just thought it was rude not to have recieved a mail or a phone call.

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As opposed to you wasting someone elses working time applying for a job that you didn't really want?

Maybe people who actually want jobs that they apply for, and who follow up on their applications, get better service and communication from these kinds of companies?

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

Silly comment...People apply for jobs all the time that may not be sure about.
Interviews give you a feel for the company and allow you to ask questions..These things help you make up your mind..

You could also take the view that it is a waste of time to attend an interview if you are not definitely going to get it !!!

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

I think it may also depend on whether you're only in contact with them over one particular job, or whether you're looking for whatever they might have available. If you're only interested in one particular job, then there's no real benefit to them in contacting you to let you know you haven't got that position. They're not going to get a placement fee for getting you a job.

If you're out of a job and looking for whatever is available, then it's in their interests to look after you a little better so that you don't move to a different agency.

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

Yes this is the norm but that doesnt mean that its not rude.

I am jobhunting at the mo & have found that if I havent heard back from the agency it means that I have not gotten a 2nd interview/the job............I think that they don't want to tell you directly because there is always the possiblity that the person who has been offered the job will pull out and you may still be in the line up..........

Re: Plain rude or the norm ?

Rudeness seems to be becoming the norm in this area. I must admit, I do not attribute the decline solely to agencies - my experience of working for a couple of agencies is that you generally have to be standing in front of them before they'll remember/consider you. Now when you're the target of a headhunter, all that changes......

My experience over the last few months relates purely to employers/companies, etc. I genuinely have no problem with someone ignoring my ON-SPEC application. They didn't ask for it, fine. But I do have a problem with employers taking out (expensive) ads, inviting applications and then not bothering to acknowledge such applications.

I have applied for 10 advertised jobs over the past 3 weeks and received NO responses. Sorry, I'll amend that - I was asked in one particular case if I was SERIOUS about the application

Now that's rudeness..................

as far as i gather they work on commission so if they think they can make money out of u they will contact u......if they dont they wont (because whats the point contactin u to tell u they dont think ur suitable for the job-it maybe rude but its just makin work for themselves)............ive never received contact back from an agency unless they thought i wud at least get an interview...........what i find best is to phone the person at the end of the job description from the agency, and give them ur backround straight away before emailin a cv.......if u dont hear back within a cupla days forget it..........

I used agencies to find a job earlier this year for the first time. I found that there is a wide spectrum of quality between different agencies. I found that if you apply for a job online that is through an agency you can forget about it as they tend to offer these jobs to those already on their books. Best thing to do is to make an appointment with an agency and talk through your CV and your job expectations etc. When they have gone through the trouble of meeting you they usually call you if/when suitable jobs arise. I say usually however one out of the three agencies I approached completely gave me the cold shoulder following my initial meeting, even though at the meeting was very positive and I was given the impression that I would be bombarded with job offers! They wouldnt reply to my emails or phone calls and I eventually gave up! Try picking an agency that specialises in your choosen occupation and word of month recommendations go a long way........

Good luck job hunting I dont envy you its a taxing task but its worth it once you get what you want.

Quite a lot of jobs agencies advertise will be made up. If they want more CVs in for particular skills, they make up a job vacancy to attract these CVs.

tyler_durden said:

as far as i gather they work on commission so if they think they can make money out of u they will contact u......

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Recruitment consultants can make money based on -

1. The numbers of CVs they have sent into them.
2. The number of cold calls they make to companies
3. The number of candidates they bring into their office to meet them
4. The number of CVs they submit to hiring companies
5. The numbers of jobs specs the receive from hiring companies
6. The total number of calls they make in a week

and obviously

7. The commission they earn by placing someone in a job

lukegriffen said:

Quite a lot of jobs agencies advertise will be made up. If they want more CVs in for particular skills, they make up a job vacancy to attract these CVs.

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I know of at least one person who took time off at her own expense to visit an agency with regard to a particular job. Although she asked time and again if the job was still available, when she arrived at the agency she was told it was 'just offered to someone else'. Of course the agency still wanted her particulars etc.

I hate recruitment agencies. I hate hate hate them. I find they do nothing but time waste. If you don't get the first job you apply for, you never hear back from them.

I've had bad experiences with all of the agencies I've applied to. So much so, that if a job is advertised via a recruitment company, it'll put me off applying.

Rubbish. All of them.

(/rant over)

K.

liteweight said:

I know of at least one person who took time off at her own expense to visit an agency with regard to a particular job. Although she asked time and again if the job was still available, when she arrived at the agency she was told it was 'just offered to someone else'. Of course the agency still wanted her particulars etc.

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I used to find this all the time. Also used to find a lot who'd bring me in even though they didn't have a single job suitable. A lot of time wasters.

However, that all changed, once I'd experience and certifications and the market tightened. For the best part of about 6 months now I get cold calls all the time - for a long time all were for Dublin jobs (I live in Cork). Also found that there is a huge discrepancy between different agencies, and even consultants in the same agency.

Have found lately that a lot of agencies and getting pushier and pushing hard to get you to go to a particular interview. It can be tough if you are looking but the location and/or job/terms are a bit outside what you want as you don't really know if the calls are going to stop tomorrow.

In the end I got offered 2 jobs - one which I hadn't applied for, but the agency had my cv from another application and a second which I had applied directly for - and second was offer i couldn't refuse.

What did bug me over the years was agencies who didn't call back after I'd actually gone to an interview with their client. One in particular in Dublin which I won't name. Thats really just plain lack of courtesy.

Of course I'm sure clients are just as difficult, and I'm sure that the agenct who got me job number one is putting pins in my effigy right now....