Apply for job direct or through agency?

[Mybestusername]

I have seen a job that I am interested in on a job board, with application via a recruitment agency that is a specialist in the sector. I can also see the job advertised on the organisation's website, with the option to apply direct.

My instinct is to just apply direct, but is there any advantage for me to apply via the agency?

Go direct. I once lost a job they wanted to give me because I'd been sent by an agency. The employer had also advertised in the paper so I could have applied direct, but I hadn't seen the ad. They said they were really sorry, but it seemed that the agency had also seen the ad, and had sent me on the back of that. They wanted to give me the job, but balked at the ££££ they would have had to pay the agency, so they said they couldn't offer it to me.

Apply direct then the agency won't charge the finders fee which could be 15-25% of the offered salary.

Definitely direct. I will always take a direct application over agency. If I do have to use agency I’d want them off the agency books asap.

Thanks, I was thinking it would save them fees, but wondered if they might also think that agency candidates might be of a better calibre (having already been 'vetted'). I'll just apply direct.

No I think the opposite to be honest, most places go to agencies as they’re struggling to recruit directly. Agencies rush through vetting checks and don’t always do them well.