Anyone else suffering from a holiday lull?

[northernladuk]

No surprises there. Nowadays any role paying more than 500/day with common skillset attracts hundreds of application. Most of the time i dont even hear back from the agents after applying for such roles. God knows what criteria an agent will apply to pickup some lucky cv from that lot.

Some guy is bunging the agent £500 to get the gig IMO

If my recent interviewing contractors experience is anything to go by 90% of them will go straight in the bin.

[oliverson]

It's about networking and building up a list of known agents. The stuff that appears on Jobserve is the stuff they advertise if their known 'hot list' of candidates draws a blank. Plenty of stuff over £500 but you need connections.

[GJABS]

'hot list' of candidates

How do you get on an agent's "hot list" of candidates? Most of my contracts last between 6 months and 2 years, and I only contact them when I'm looking for a new gig. I just look for new roles on Jobserve as they come up. I guess I have no need to contact agents more often than that. Does that "minimal" contact prevent me from being on this list?

[northernladuk]

How do you get on an agent's "hot list" of candidates? Most of my contracts last between 6 months and 2 years, and I only contact them when I'm looking for a new gig. I just look for new roles on Jobserve as they come up. I guess I have no need to contact agents more often than that. Does that "minimal" contact prevent me from being on this list?

Exactly what I thought.

[GJABS]

Exactly what I thought.

Ooh harsh

[Sam Sung]

No surprises there. Nowadays any role paying more than 500/day with common skillset attracts hundreds of application. Most of the time i dont even hear back from the agents after applying for such roles. God knows what criteria an agent will apply to pickup some lucky cv from that lot.

That buys you an expensive DBA or a cheap Java Developer.

That said I've noticed rates firming up, I just passed 1st interview for an all-time high rate. There's life out there, not quite the glory days of last year but it's picking up.

[northernladuk]

Ooh harsh

No it wasn't meant to be sorry. Maybe I read your post wrong. I was indicating I didn't think there was such a thing as a hotlist for the reasons you said.

[oliverson]

Exactly what I thought.

Most of the London agents I know have a list of their preferred candidates for certain types of roles, candidates that they know and have dealt with for a few years, candidates they can trust to do well in interviews and get offers. Makes sense when you think about it. Thought this was common knowledge.

[MrMarkyMark]

Most of the London agents I know have a list of their preferred candidates for certain types of roles, candidates that they know and have dealt with for a few years, candidates they can trust to do well in interviews and get offers. Makes sense when you think about it. Thought this was common knowledge.

I have to agree with this. I work mainly with only one or two agents these days, who both get access to all the roles, are on the PSL and have a good reputation.

The guy who I mainly deal with is a lot different to those I have dealt with in the past. He knows me and most of my peers well and is frank and honest.
He realises reputation is everything and does try to do a good job for both client and contractor.

That having all being said, in most cases, as rare as unicorn poo.

[northernladuk]

I have to agree with this. I work mainly with only one or two agents these days, who both get access to all the roles, are on the PSL and have a good reputation.

The guy who I mainly deal with is a lot different to those I have dealt with in the past. He knows me and most of my peers well and is frank and honest.
He realises reputation is everything and does try to do a good job for both client and contractor.

That having all being said, in most cases, as rare as unicorn poo.

Yeah but the chances of you being on the bench when a small number of agents get the gig you want is going to be pretty small. If you are an end to end contract guy it will be very difficult for an agent to place you even if he thinks you are the dogs danglies so he's not going to waste his time and just go out to market surely? Which agent get's which gig is a bit random so putting your eggs in to just a few agents baskets isn't the best plan surely?