to contact the employer directly following an interview through an agency?

[mixedmamameansbusiness]

I am registered with an agency (admin work) and their sister agency had a job I was interested in. I expressed interest and got an interview the next day which went really very well.

In the email about the role all of the contact details for the employer were there, email etc. The interview was last Wednesday and I am really interested and the interviewer (director I would work for) seemed impressed. The consultant has been off sick and responded to my emails and calls today that she is unsure if they have heard back since she has been unwell and will come back to me.

The company is very small and a 'family' company and the role will be all about personal rapport.

I guess I just don't feel she is representing my interest particularly well to her client and I want to just send an email direct saying thanks for seeing me last week I am really interested so if you could come back to the agent or words to that affect.

Is this really bad? I guess the company may not like it and in which case I rule myself out and that will be my own fault, but I want to be proactive about this job. I realise the agency won't like it but I would make it clear in my email if they could come back to the agent.

I don't think you should. If you don't get the job you will have upset the agency and they may not bother getting you more interviews. I think your best bet would be to speak to the agency and ask if someone could follow it up with the employer.

It's a bit too long after the interview for. 'thanks for interviewing me' type email although in future maybe do that. I read that that is a good move once upon a time and have always done that on the jobs I'm keen on since.

Hmm, yes I see your point but I would say 'I look forward to hearing from the agency soon' or words to that affect. I don't want to tread on anyones toes but I want the employer to know I am interested and the agency hasnt done that.

Dont do it, the company is paying the agency so that they dont have to have that level of contact with you at this stage. Every so often we have this at my work and to be honest it puts us right off the candidate.

Also if you get regular work via the other half of the agency you'll be shooting yourself in the foot for future work if they find out.

Don't do it. This is why the company have engaged an agency.

If you have concerns on how they are representing you, then address them with the agency. Although from your op, it looks like your beef is that the consultant has been off sick and there has been no feedback in the meantime?

Generally ime, organisations take longer than candidates would like to make a decision. They use the agecny to act as a buffer to keep candidates warm.

If I were you I would send the company my CV with all my contact details on.

It will remind them that you were interviewed and give them the opportunity to contact you directly thus avoiding paying the agency fees which as a small company may be a factor in not choosing you.

I wouldn't make direct approach
they employed agency specifically to field all queries and screen candidates

Bluerinse, the agency made the introduction to the op & their client, therefore the company will still be liable to pay them a fee whether they decide to try and screw the agency or not.

The agency and the company will have signed a contract before the agency started sending candidates to them.

Again OP, don't make direct contact.

I absolutely have no intention of screwing the agency over.

My 'beef' as referred to below, is that nobody has expressed my interest to the client since the interview.

I also know that the compant are using at least 1 other agency as I have seen the job advertised so am keen that my agency make it clear that I want the job and they arent doing that.

I have emailed the agency - again. I have specifically asked if she or any of her colleagues have spoken with them at all after my interview as I keen for them to know I am interested and not 'forget' me. No response.

Hi OP

If the company engaged you directly, cutting out the agency as bluerinse suggested, then yes THEY would be screwing the agency over. Not you.

I'm sorry the agency haven't got back to you and hope you get some feedback either way soon.

yabu a week isnt that long at all to wait on feedback. Im sure if the company were ready to make a decision they would have contacted the agency already.

I wouldnt recommend going direct, they have engaged the services of an agency for a reason, and when the agency find out you went direct they wont bother contacting you with any other vacancies. What Bluerinse suggests is very underhand, and would make the company liable for an introduction fee, which might be more than what has been agreed for the role depending on the t's and c's. Worst case there being they offer you the role not knowing they would be liable (or thinking they would get away with it), you hand in your notice, the agency finds out (and they probably will, somehow) stings them for a fee, the company withdraw the offer, you're left with no job.

God whatever you do don't go straight to the company. I worked for a (short) while at a recruitment agency and that's the quickest way to make sure you won't get a single interview through them again. Plus the company will not appreciate it and won't want to know you.

No, don't contact the company direct. When we recruit, we use an agency to take the pain out of it. Any CV we were sent directly would either go in the bin, because we would think that the applicant didn't have the wit to follow the instructions in the ad & go via the agency, or it would just get emailed or posted straight to the agency.

If you have already applied via the agency, I guess it wouldn't endear you to them, if they then found out you'd approached the company directly.

It's odd that the agency isn't pushing more on your behalf. It's their best interest to "sell" you to the client, so they should be as desperate for a decision/feedback as you are.

I agree that contacting the company directly would be a bad idea, but I would chase the agency. Phone them, don't email.

maybe agency have already located a candidate