Top 15 Recruitment Agency tricks...!!

[Taita]

I don't think it would work like that, and I would never do that anyway. I only know one guy who found a client without an agency, and even he was forced to choose an agent as the clientco refused to pay him directly.
Also it happens that clients only make contract payments quarterly, so when you are being paid by the agent it's from their own money for a while.

I have heard some wild, yet verified, stories but even US firms don't stretch contract terms to agencies beyond 60 days. Never heard of quarterly terms by a company using European based agencies!

[SueEllen]

I have heard some wild, yet verified, stories but even US firms don't stretch contract terms to agencies beyond 60 days. Never heard of quarterly terms by a company using European based agencies!

I had an agent who was paid quarterly by the end client. I only know because I had to sort out the confusion over the days I worked so they could bill the client.

There is always some truth in these wild stories especially as I know a certain retailer and large entertainment company who were even worse.

[BigRed]

I once had a client who asked me if I was being paid as the agency hadn't invoiced them for 3 months. They had been paying me weekly.

[wogewwabbit]

No idea where we are with the count, so let it be #20:
- What did they ask you on your interview? - Then the more you remember and tell, the more the next candidate will be prepared.
It does happen, if you are the last candidate to interview from the same agent you have a better chance. You should never tell the agent what questions they asked on the interview. NEVER!

[northernladuk]

Hmm has anyone else actually been asked this? I certainly haven't. I've been asked how the interview went afterwards which I thought was pretty good of the agent to bother as usually you don't hear a thing. I've also never been prep'd by an agent before an interview either. I'd like to hear that others have seen this before I believe it.

[wogewwabbit]

Hmm has anyone else actually been asked this? I certainly haven't. I've been asked how the interview went afterwards which I thought was pretty good of the agent to bother as usually you don't hear a thing. I've also never been prep'd by an agent before an interview either. I'd like to hear that others have seen this before I believe it.

Yes, it happened to me. And my contractor fella too, who was brought on board the same time as me. Agent told us the questions in advance, what to expect. And exactly those questions were asked. Tbh, they were still so simple questions that I could have won the contract even if I wasn't warned, but also there is a chance, that my quick answers put me in front of the other candidates.
"Fortunately" the agent had other shenanigans too, lied to us and the client, so the whole agency was just dismissed by the client as a result.
And since then I had this experience from the other side too - agent having an hour long conversation with me on the phone just after the interview, trying to find out some information about what exactly they asked me.

[Major Hassle]

Yes, it happened to me. And my contractor fella too, who was brought on board the same time as me. Agent told us the questions in advance, what to expect. And exactly those questions were asked. Tbh, they were still so simple questions that I could have won the contract even if I wasn't warned, but also there is a chance, that my quick answers put me in front of the other candidates.
"Fortunately" the agent had other shenanigans too, lied to us and the client, so the whole agency was just dismissed by the client as a result.
And since then I had this experience from the other side too - agent having an hour long conversation with me on the phone just after the interview, trying to find out some information about what exactly they asked me.

Me too

[BigRed]

+1

[ContractorScum]

Happened to me a couple of times also (agent asking what technical questions the client asked me etc) I always give them false information

[fuzzypenguin]

Hmm has anyone else actually been asked this? I certainly haven't. I've been asked how the interview went afterwards which I thought was pretty good of the agent to bother as usually you don't hear a thing. I've also never been prep'd by an agent before an interview either. I'd like to hear that others have seen this before I believe it.

Been on both sides of this, had agents give me lots of questions which were asked to previous candidates and also been asked specifics about the interview for the next candidate.

As with everything agents say, treat with pinch of salt as the previous interviewee could be giving duff info. I was certainly vague with my replies to the agent, as I didn't want to help my competitors get the gig.