Sticky Suggestion

[Bluebird]

Agennts are just looking after their own intrerests the same as you are - you can't call them names without looking at yourself, facing a few home truths and then call yourself the same names...

[ratewhore]

With some experience under your belt you will soon be able to sniff out the little sh1ts who firstly, are fishing for leads with no contract behind the advert and secondly, those who haven't got a fecking clue about IT (like the useless little barrow-boy who spelt out LDAP to me phonetically yesterday).

Then of course there are the good guys like my last agent who communicated well and also bought me beer and curry.

They're a necessary evil at the end of the day.

Finally, I reserve the right to dislike many of the pimps I talk to...

[bennyboy]

Well I did eventually get some good advice

To those of you that actually gave me an intelligent response, your advice is greatly appreciated and is taken on board. I am a shameless newbie and am still learning everyday.

To those of you who told me to stick my comments up my @rse and called me a tw@t... I am a shameless newbie and I'm still learning everyday.

[DodgyAgent]

I have no problems using agents whatsoever.

These guys on here who bang on about 'going direct' wish they were always in work because they're not.

Yes, you can go direct but it's difficult to always be in work. Use agents where possible and go direct where possible, but dont listen to these ****** who reckon agents have nothing to add. They do.

Still don't trust bastards. Dodgy wheres that tenner I leant you?

I invested it for you

[DodgyAgent]

Finally, I reserve the right to dislike many of the pimps I talk to...

and I have the right to be hated by as many of contractors as I like

[errorista]

Well I did eventually get some good advice

To those of you that actually gave me an intelligent response, your advice is greatly appreciated and is taken on board. I am a shameless newbie and am still learning everyday.

To those of you who told me to stick my comments up my @rse and called me a tw@t... I am a shameless newbie and I'm still learning everyday.

Dont forget 'jobjock'!

It allows you to filter S3 and iProfile (just click the checkbox) and lets you create your own filters.

Most importantly it allows you to see the posting history of agencies/agents.

Only for contracts posted in London so far but the db is nearly a year old and its nearly time to expand its capabilities to include the whole of the UK.

Why not make it a sticky?

[lukemg]

It's not personal - it's business. You find yourself exposed to all the harshness out there which you are insulated from in a cosy permie role.
You are a commodity, the agents are not your friends, no matter how much they are calling you when you are up for a job.
If they don't call, you didn't get the interview or the job, or they found someone better to send in and you never made the list (this is the hardest one to take).
All my work has been through agencies, I don't want much from them - some flexibility on contract terms, pay-up promptly when invoiced and only take a reasonable cut.

[rootsnall]

It's not personal - it's business. You find yourself exposed to all the harshness out there which you are insulated from in a cosy permie role.
You are a commodity, the agents are not your friends, no matter how much they are calling you when you are up for a job.
If they don't call, you didn't get the interview or the job, or they found someone better to send in and you never made the list (this is the hardest one to take).
All my work has been through agencies, I don't want much from them - some flexibility on contract terms, pay-up promptly when invoiced and only take a reasonable cut.

Pretty much sums it up !

You've just got to play along with the game and look after yourself as best you can. You can't really stick to hard rules either as you'll lose out on work if you insist on certain things up front. If you treat all agents as scum you'll certainly struggle. You'll find the ones who've been around a while are usually OK.

I used to put quite a bit of effort into getting direct contracts but its not practical to even bother trying anymore in my game where I'm dealing with big companies.

[Mordac]

Sorry guys. Not all of us are in sectors where going direct is an option. Law firms and banks for example rarely (in my humble and limited experience) will not deal direct particularly if you are lowly little helpdesk pleb.

There's your clue. Still, must be nice for Milan to have someone to look down on, finally...