Agents - Can't live with 'em / can't work without 'em

[ckms]

Having moved into contracting earlier this year, I was fortunate to find my 1st client direct, without the need to enlist the help of an agent. Now that I am looking for my next contract role, I am finding dealing with agents more challenging than when I was looking for perm roles. They seem to deploy more tricks & it's not always the case that they actually have a role, or that they necessarily put you forward for it when they say they will do.

Does anyone have any pointers in what to look out for when dealing with these lovely, helpful people?

[TheFaQQer]

can't work without 'em

Having moved into contracting earlier this year, I was fortunate to find my 1st client direct, without the need to enlist the help of an agent.

So, clearly you can work without 'em.

Does anyone have any pointers in what to look out for when dealing with these lovely, helpful people?

Find an agent that you trust, and deal with them. Network with the more reliable ones (and there are some out there), so that when they have work available they contact you rather than you having to chase them - this week I've had five different agents contact me about different roles, but I'm not interested. Some I've worked with, some I haven't - but they are people that I've had a good relationship with since before I started contracting.

Don't fall for the references scam, make sure you know who the client is, make sure you don't sign anything you will regret later, push them to get you in there is you need it.

A contractor I used to work with has now branched out into being an agent, and looking at the roles that he's advertising on Jobserve, there's no way they are genuine, it's a CV harvesting exercise. You just need to spot before you fall for it.

[tractor]

...

Having moved into contracting earlier this year, I was fortunate to find my 1st client direct, without the need to enlist the help of an agent. Now that I am looking for my next contract role, I am finding dealing with agents more challenging than when I was looking for perm roles. They seem to deploy more tricks & it's not always the case that they actually have a role, or that they necessarily put you forward for it when they say they will do.

Does anyone have any pointers in what to look out for when dealing with these lovely, helpful people?

It's easy to spot one...

• Skull & Crossbones on the hat
• Hook for at least one hand
• Wooden leg
• Parrot droppings down the back

HTH.

[northernladuk]

Read this for starters...

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...eferences.html

[ckms]

Thanks. I guess I need to learn how to differentiate the real advertised roles from the fake ones

[tractor]

...

Thanks. I guess I need to learn how to differentiate the real advertised roles from the fake ones

Experience helps but to gain that, you have to fall for a few scams. Luckily, as long as you are prepared to get your contracts reviewed professionally and have a modicum of business and common sense, agency fishing tricks are not too expensive for the contractor unless you travel from Glasgow to Bournemouth at your own expense just so they can 'meet you'.

[TheFaQQer]

Read this for starters...

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...eferences.html

Read this for starters...

http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...ent-speak.html

[Avalonia]

Does anyone have any pointers in what to look out for when dealing with these lovely, helpful people

If their lips are moving they are lying.

[DodgyAgent]

If their lips are moving they are lying.

I have to say that you may well find the more trustworthy they are the less inclined they are to win clients.