Sticky Suggestion

**_V_** · 1 February 2007, 20:52

When dealing with agents don't. Just go direct.

**boredsenseless** · 1 February 2007, 21:01

My advice is anyone who thinks their main customer is a pr1ck is obviously a completely stupid little tw@t and they don't deserve listening to.

As the guiy before, and I say all the time, if you can;t get your own contracts don't complain about the guys who give you work.

**bennyboy** · 1 February 2007, 21:42

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.

Don't complain about recruitment agents? Sorry man but after spending a month in between contracts dealing with them being bullied, threatened and lied to I'm gonna complain. That second contract is always the hardest. Found that out the hard way to.

If you're not willing to share tips and advice I'm sure you can expect plenty more posts like this from newbies just like me in the future.

C'mon you've all started out and been hood winked by the cowboy recruitment agents. The S3 Group has a bad rep for a reason. I only found this out after I'd been bullied, threatened and lied to. If I'd been on this forum for longer or if there had been a sticky for new and naive newbies then I would have been saved a lot of stress.

Cheers
Ben

**PrinceNamor** · 2 February 2007, 10:52

bennyboy - you will grow to learn that there are plenty of experienced contractors on here who offer no useful advice to newbie’s but just like to feel superior by being obnoxious.

**Agent_Orange** · 2 February 2007, 11:18

"Always ask for a job spec before you agree to an interview."

With a number of my clients this isn't always possible. The fact that they need to take on contractors is quite often because of an added work load, the off shot of this being that they don't always have time to produce a spec.

**malvolio** · 2 February 2007, 12:07

Originally posted by PrinceNamor

bennyboy - you will grow to learn that there are plenty of experienced contractors on here who offer no useful advice to newbie’s but just like to feel superior by being obnoxious.

There are also quite a few who think it wise to point out to newbies that life is not as easy as they may think and that contracting is a serious choice, not something you do for fun... All we try to do is make them think a little before they make big decisions, but then there are always those who can't cope with a dose of reality.

FWIW agency margins are mostly not your concern unless they are losing you work (unlikely at your level), job specs are nice-to-haves but as someone said they are not always going to be available, and come to that you are selling the ability to leap into the breach and do useful work so they are partly irrelevant anyway. Finally nobody should sign any kind of legally binding document unless they know exactly what it contains.

I would add to stay away from the agencies that have a seriously bad vibe on these boards (you know who you are) even if it apparently costs you work and remember who your customer is (and it's not the agency)

**boredsenseless** · 2 February 2007, 12:09

Originally posted by PrinceNamor

bennyboy - you will grow to learn that there are plenty of experienced contractors on here who offer no useful advice to newbie’s but just like to feel superior by being obnoxious.

Strange I thought the implied advice of "Treat your customer with respect!" was actually worth more than any number of responses saying yeah go on screw them over they are just scum.

Are you a business or just a disguised employee. If the former then my advice is good, if the latter then you aren't really a contractor anyway, if you disagree just phone up HMRC and describe your working practices to them.

**DodgyAgent** · 2 February 2007, 13:21

Originally posted by bennyboy

Title: Dealing with Pimps

Perhaps someone of my miniscule post count is being a bit presumptuous in suggesting a sticky but what newbie wouldn't read a sticky full of tips on what to look out for when dealing with these pr*cks...

CUK has a massive wealth of contracting experience within it's members and if we can bring together a list of do's and don'ts on dealing with recruitment agents we are one step closer to keeping the b@stards honest.

Things I've learnt the hard way and I'm still a newbie:

Always try to find out what their percentage is.

If they're more interested in what interviews you've been to lately than in what experience you have they're fishing for leads and there is no job.

Always ask for a job spec before you agree to an interview.

Never sign a contract unless you understand absolutely every clause in it.

I'm pretty sure most of you hardcore CUK members have much more useful tips than that (I'm pretty sure most of you have 3 or 4 golden rules that you contract by). Even if this doesn't become a sticky I would be grateful to hear what you've got to say and I'm sure other newbies would be to.

Cheers

Ben

here's a sticky for you:

Stick it up your a*se

here's a tip:

If you dont like agents find you own contract.

**MarillionFan** · 2 February 2007, 13:24

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?

Sticky Suggestion