Interesting Tactic From Agencies...

[itsInTheData]

Hi,

Just looking around for a new contract and as the market is quite good I have had a few offers - which is a always a good place to be and does not always happen - but came across some new behaviour for me which caused me to stop and think.

In the past (been doing this a fair few years now) I have waited until the contract has been in my hand before I stopped looking at other opportunities. I have been bitten too many times by last minute client changes of mind - 'the budget has been pulled', 'the manager has asked his mate to do it', 'they found an internal resource to fill the role etc'. So I often compare when I have the contracts in hand and make a decision at that point.

I have noticed this time that some agencies are asking you to 'confirm that you have told all your other leads that you are not continuing, and have stopped looking for other contracts' before they will prepare the contract...

I understand that this makes the agent feel better but this essentially means that if there is a term in the contract, such as the 'contractor has no notice period' that you cannot accept, as an individual you have severed all your other leads and are now committed to either starting from scratch or accepting a below par contract.

Has anyone else noticed this and what are other people's thoughts, am I being over cautious?

Cheers

[cojak]

I would confirm and then carry on regardless.

Cheeky feckers.

[northernladuk]

Has anyone else noticed this and what are other people's thoughts, am I being over cautious?

IMO you aren't been cautious enough. You don't stop looking until you are sitting at your laptop on clients time (or at the clients desk in the old days). We've got plenty of examples of the gig evaporating even when one contractor was standing in reception for their first day.

I have noticed this time that some agencies are asking you to 'confirm that you have told all your other leads that you are not continuing, and have stopped looking for other contracts' before they will prepare the contract...

I'd respond with, Yes I can confirm I have done that, to keep them happy but continue doing what I want. An agent isn't telling me how to run my business. I'll give backword on any irons in the fire when I'm logged in at the new client on the first day as per above.

[eek]

I would confirm and then carry on regardless.

Cheeky feckers.

I would confirm that if the contract arrives within x hours and I start within x days than I will tell the other agents.

And then ignore it completely because until you are actually sat at the desk with first invoice paid everything can still go wrong.

[northernladuk]

I would confirm that if the contract arrives within x hours and I start within x days than I will tell the other agents.

And then ignore it completely because until you are actually sat at the desk with first invoice paid everything can still go wrong.

Good point. That should be the new norm as it's not unheard of now for a contract to suddenly switch inside just before this.

[eek]

Good point. That should be the new norm as it's not unheard of now for a contract to suddenly switch inside just before this.

Switch to inside is any point up to the point the end client pays the first invoice not the agency - and I wouldn't go that far but it's essential you don't assume everything is fine on day 1.

[PCTNN]

I have noticed this time that some agencies are asking you to 'confirm that you have told all your other leads that you are not continuing, and have stopped looking for other contracts' before they will prepare the contract...

Agents have no issue nor remorse in lying to us so why should we behave any different?

Tell them of course you confirm that and then keep exploring your options.

[WTFH]

I have noticed this time that some agencies are asking you to 'confirm that you have told all your other leads that you are not continuing, and have stopped looking for other contracts' before they will prepare the contract...

I'm never "not looking", but I might go from actively looking to passively looking. The difference is whether I am phoning agents, former clients and other contractors, or I have told agents that I am not currently looking unless XYZ (which normally involves location, rate and role)

You could always say that you have applied for other roles but not heard anything, or if you really want to push back, ask them to pay your first month's time sheet up front from their own pockets, then you'll stop.

[ladymuck]

Sounds like a fine Mexican stand off!

We won't issue the contract until you say you've stopped looking for work.

I won't stop looking for work until you issue the contract.

Ditto what others have said, never stop looking until you've got a contract and your bum is on the seat. How you put that across to the agent to give them that warm and fuzzy feeling is a different matter.

One thing: do not feel guilty when agency B pips agency A to the post with a better deal after you said "of course I'll withdraw from all these other opportunities while I wait three weeks for you to copy and paste my company name into your contract template"

They will not lose an iota of sleep over you, don't go developing some nonsense concept of loyalty to them.

[TheDude]

They will not lose an iota of sleep over you, don't go developing some nonsense concept of loyalty to them.

Don't dehumanise them - agents need to pay for teeth whitening and shiny suits like the rest of us.