What should i do if two recruiters send my resume for the same job?

Two Resumes, One Job?

The reality is that a hiring manager can brief more than one recruitment agency, and you as the job seeker can register with more than one recruitment consultant. Both parties are perfectly entitled to do so, but it can be a fraught situation. Unfortunately, it is you, as the job seeker, who often is the one who loses out the most. You can't be represented twice for a role. As I wrote recently, it’s very important for you to be the person in control of your resume. It's your job search; you have the most to gain and also the most to lose. The number one cardinal rule is you NEVER have your resume sent anywhere without your permission. Your resume is a private document and subject to being treated in accordance with the privacy legislation. 

For you to agree to have your details represented by a recruitment consultant, you need to be made aware of ALL the relevant information, including the name of the company, so you can make an informed decision about whether this is the job for you. 

You also can't agree to have your details sent through to the same company by multiple agencies, thinking this gives you a better chance of securing the position. The hiring manager may just think that you aren't in control of your job search, and it can all end in tears. They may think it's too hard to work out who to contact to arrange your interview, and so they may just throw their hands up in the air and say, 'Too hard. Who else is there?' Don't agree to have your details sent forward with only hazy details, such as a 'professional services firm in the CBD', for example. 

Your alarm bells should also be ringing if you receive a phone call from your recruiter advising you of an interview and it's the first you have heard of the company. Some hiring companies have a first in best dressed policy, so it becomes a resume race to get the details through, without the candidate being appropriately and thoroughly briefed. people2people is a registered member of the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA), and the guidelines for those of us who are members of the industry's professional body abide by the industry's ethics code. In short, this means you can select who you want to represent you. It's up to you!

Have a question for Manda Milling, people2people Director? Let us know in the comments or tweet @p2pManda!

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Manda Milling • July 15, 2021

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