>>One problem I find here is that often the agency will filter people out who aren't an exact match . You've got to persuade them to get past them to the client.
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>Yeah, many lifetimes ago I did IT recruitment and there is a fine balance that you keep between the client and the applicant. Most clients don't like to interview and don't want to waste their time with applicants that are not going to fit nicely into their specs. That's what the recruiter is there for; to filter so they only see what they want to see. Usually, after a certain amount of time with no one hired, the recruiter will suggest removing some of the more nit picky requirements to open the field a bit more.

From everything I have heard it is even worse now. With all the online job searches and applications it costs practically nothing to throw your hat in the ring. People have always applied for jobs they knew they weren't qualified for but now you don't even have to print off a resume, put a stamp on the envelope, and put it in the mail. It's essentially free to apply for a job, with a predictable increase in the number of applications. Those in hiring positions don't have time to wade through all of them.