Newbie needs an agent

[solutions]

I'm trying to get my first contract in testing and have so far been getting loads of calls from smarmy, pushy agents all promising me the world and then never calling back. Which ones can I trust, if any? The only ones who keep me updated on anything are Lorien and Pathway but I've read bad things about them too!! Any advice???? And does it matter that I'm in testing? are some agencies better at some fields than others?

[MarillionFan]

They aint there to get you a contract. They are there to make themselve money. A newbie is more difficult to get a contract for.

So

Receipe for success

www.jobserve.com
look
send CV
ring
wait

Repeat until interview

[DaveB]

The best agent is the one with the right contract at the right rate.

Beyond that treat them all as if they were the dodgiest lowlife car salesman you have ever met and you wont go far wrong.

Agents are not in business to help you, they are in business to help themselves to as much of the clients wonga as they can get away with. Thats all.

[Sockpuppet]

The best agent is the one with the right contract at the right rate.

Beyond that treat them all as if they were the dodgiest lowlife car salesman you have ever met and you wont go far wrong.

Agents are not in business to help you, they are in business to help themselves to as much of the clients wonga as they can get away with. Thats all.

I've always wondered...how much do these agents make?

[HankWangford]

I've always wondered...how much do these agents make?

a couple interviewed on S3's own corporate pages rekon 100K plus for 5yrs plus experience

[VectraMan]

so far been getting loads of calls from smarmy, pushy agents all promising me the world and then never calling back.

Welcome to contracting.

[TheMonkey]

You only get that if you're tulip!

[tim123]

I've always wondered...how much do these agents make?

A decent agent makes about the same as you do. If he didn't, he would be off selling something else.

So, if he has a continuous placement of 15 people (which is about the norm for someone not placing people under a Preferred Supplier Agreement), he gets 6-7% of the billing, before the agency's other expenses.

IMHO you have to get used to this little state of affairs.

tim

[XperTest]

I'm trying to get my first contract in testing and have so far been getting loads of calls from smarmy, pushy agents all promising me the world and then never calling back. Which ones can I trust, if any? The only ones who keep me updated on anything are Lorien and Pathway but I've read bad things about them too!! Any advice???? And does it matter that I'm in testing? are some agencies better at some fields than others?

An "agency" (well, they do more than that I believe,but this is one of their activities) specifically for testing is Mission Testing. A few people I know have gone through them and seem happy enough. Also, if you're North East based you might want to check out New Kite: they're a bunch of contractors in testing working together and also occasionally look for contractors for roles that they get asked to look out for.. Also, the big agencies have testing desks I believe. If anybody knows any more I would also be interested to hear.

[Ardesco]

I get fairly regular calls from centre 4 testing but haven't actually got a job from them yet, partly due to me finding another role by the time they get back to me with an interview date, or not being available when they ask if i am free.

Overall I have never had more than one contract from one particular agency, don't limit yourself to agents, they won't limit themselves to contractors. Best way is to apply for everything that matches you skill set and then wit for the interviews to come rolling in.

The most important thing to remember is don't stop looking until the contract has been signed, lots of agents will screw you around and offer you the world, secondly don't fall for the "you worked at XXX place does XXX still work there? No who did you work for then..." rubbish

HTH