References for agency

[JustKeepSwimming]

'You were just pipped at the post' absolutely enrages me, few years back I had a string of the exact same comment.

tulipting heck, we aren't meant to be wearing shirt and tie?

TBH, 'vibe' is just as important as experience IMO. Hiring someone who won't fit with the team for whatever reason can be a real headache. Unfortunately that can often creep into unlawful discrimination (in all directions).

Too much experience can also be problematic, many bosses are insecure and don't want someone outshining them or coming in and rocking their boat.

[northernladuk]

tulipting heck, we aren't meant to be wearing shirt and tie?

To be fair even face to face I wouldn't have worn a tie. Nice suit and white shirt so dunno why I thought a tie was a good idea. I know ties died a long time ago and now can be more of a detractor than a positive. Noob mistake. Look back at convos on here, most will interview in a teeshirt and whatever. Just feels wrong but it's a good point they make about interviewing for your audience as per your comment below.

TBH, 'vibe' is just as important as experience IMO. Hiring someone who won't fit with the team for whatever reason can be a real headache. Unfortunately that can often creep into unlawful discrimination (in all directions).

Too much experience can also be problematic, many bosses are insecure and don't want someone outshining them or coming in and rocking their boat.

A few interviews were people in their 30's very casual and I'm sure an old bloke in a suit won't help. I do try ask the agent about dress culture and back in the office days you could get a gauge but now it's WFH anything goes. Guy in a shirt first interview of the morning, 2nd one at lunch has a gen Z with a tee shirt saying Home is 127.0.0.1 on it. Hard to get it right sometimes.

[JustKeepSwimming]

To be fair even face to face I wouldn't have worn a tie. Nice suit and white shirt so dunno why I thought a tie was a good idea. I know ties died a long time ago and now can be more of a detractor than a positive. Noob mistake. Look back at convos on here, most will interview in a teeshirt and whatever. Just feels wrong but it's a good point they make about interviewing for your audience as per your comment below.


A few interviews were people in their 30's very casual and I'm sure an old bloke in a suit won't help. I do try ask the agent about dress culture and back in the office days you could get a gauge but now it's WFH anything goes. Guy in a shirt first interview of the morning, 2nd one at lunch has a gen Z with a tee shirt saying Home is 127.0.0.1 on it. Hard to get it right sometimes.

Yup it's one of those things where really it should be stated on the interview invite or even on the job advert. It will cause a lot of needless anxiety for some people. Equally, forcing someone by omission to go buy shirt/suit which they don't have (thinking school/grads etc) when it's not needed seems almost cruel.

Pre covid I didn't feel out of place in a suit and tie, even if the interviewers were varying degrees of 'smart casual'. Now on teams it does feel a little weird as 'smart casual' has become very much 'casual'.

[Cookielove]

Back in the day when I started work it was wearing a suit every day and carrying a briefcase! That was v early 90s.

They don’t seem to want oldies with experience …experience counts against you I’ve found ..

[Cookielove]

They have sent me a list of umbrella companies to consider if I am successful, they use a small list of 4 they won't entertain anyone not on the list. I've used Danbro in the past but that is not an option I have been told...

[northernladuk]

They have sent me a list of umbrella companies to consider if I am successful, they use a small list of 4 they won't entertain anyone not on the list. I've used Danbro in the past but that is not an option I have been told...

svs
So they've picked the four with the biggest kick backs. What a shoddy bloody set this company is. Stupid requests, greed vs quality with umbrellas and god knows what else. I assume they've not mentioned opt out or anything yet? Just from what you've told us it's enough to want to avoid them like the plague.

Call Lucy at Clarity and have a word. See if she'd be willing to speak to them to try change their mind. Sadly I doubt they will as it sounds like the only people they looking after is themselves, which I guess every agency does but this one obviously takes it one step further than most.

[Cookielove]

The umbrella list is set in stone they won’t budge…so yes must be who is giving the biggest kick back.

Also, they only do monthly payroll too I’d prefer weekly and have been mostly weekly paid until now. Got burnt before on monthly.

They’ve not mentioned opting out …I’ve had that with another Agency opt out of working regs…

[JustKeepSwimming]

The umbrella list is set in stone they won’t budge…so yes must be who is giving the biggest kick back.

Also, they only do monthly payroll too I’d prefer weekly and have been mostly weekly paid until now. Got burnt before on monthly.

They’ve not mentioned opting out …I’ve had that with another Agency opt out of working regs…

IME monthly is the norm. Red flags would be how long after the end of the month they pay.

Banks will pay agencies first few days of the following month. I've seen some agencies pay around the 7th, others try and do something absurd like the 25th.

Now interest rates actually exist I would be especially annoyed if they were dragging it out.

[hobnob]

Also, they only do monthly payroll too I’d prefer weekly and have been mostly weekly paid until now. Got burnt before on monthly.

Ouch - this is starting to sound familiar. Check the payment terms: if you submit your timesheet at the end of November, will you be waiting until the end of December to get paid?

[Cookielove]

I can’t fathom it …they want timesheets submitted and approved weekly …so by midday Monday have the previous week’s time sheet approved ns sunmitted.

But, they won’t pay weekly only monthly.