Agencies

[Bee]

Hi,
Just wondering how people here go about dealing with agencies and the jobs posted on the boards by the agencies. Do you ever contact them or just apply via the boards.
Cheers

I apply and wait for their contact, I don't know if the best approach because I'm new in contracting.
I don't know if it's a good idea to contact them.

[malvolio]

I apply and wait for their contact, I don't know if the best approach because I'm new in contracting.
I don't know if it's a good idea to contact them.

I have mainly got gigs two ways: either they have called me based on a CV in their system (or increasingly LinkedIn these days) or after I have sent in the tailored CV and then called them. There have been one or two when the CV has been sent in and they've called me back, but that is a case of being a very strong match for a difficult requirement.

However that is the good agencies; the increasing numbers staffed by ex-estate agents or where the first sift is done by either an AI or some newbie intern (there is little difference in selectivity either way!) means it is increasingly a lottery for any non-specific role.

And I only ever call the agent once. I used to keep going but eventually worked out that 90% of the time they aren't there and 95% of the time they don't call back. I figure that's their loss, not mine.

[northernladuk]

I apply and wait for their contact, I don't know if the best approach because I'm new in contracting.
I don't know if it's a good idea to contact them.

Great input. Thanks.

[Harvy]

Hi.
Thanks for the input. I've worked as a programmer and sys admin I did send in a CV out of the blue to a recruiter and got a call from them asking if they want to put me forward for a mssql DBA job. But I said no.

[SueEllen]

Hi.
Thanks for the input. I've worked as a programmer and sys admin I did send in a CV out of the blue to a recruiter and got a call from them asking if they want to put me forward for a mssql DBA job. But I said no.

Ahh the rookie whose unable to work out what the technologies on your CV mean.

Sometimes I'm nice and tell them exactly the kind of person they are looking for.