Best agencies

[rmjames]

Who do you use for finding contracts, which ones are the best (most honest, if I dare say it!)? Seems to be hundreds out there...

[chicane]

There are no good or bad agencies - there are only good or bad agents.

Besides, there's no point in contacting an agency and asking them to find you suitable contracts. Do what everybody else does and scan Jobserve (every day if necessary) for appropriate contracts, and make sure you're one of the earliest applicants for each one.

[Swiss Tony]

The one that finds you the gig!

[NickFitz]

I agree with chicane; it's all about the individual agent.

FWIW, in 8 years contracting, I've never been found a gig by an agent. Every single contract I've had I found on Jobserve et al, and contacted the agency myself. The only times agencies have contacted me, it's been with something ridiculously inappropriate, either requiring skills completely unrelated to mine, or offering a lousy rate for a junior post - yes, after 25 years as a software developer, I'd love to sit on your help desk for a pittance.

I've never yet been able to see any reason why they should get a single penny of my money, as they've never done anything but call me back in response to an email, but that's just the way of the world

[timh]

Vivamex. The ONLY brilliant agency experience I've ever had. However, the agency side of their business is tiny. Miniscule. Microscopic.

[LordF]

More recently I've been relying on agents getting in touch and trying to lure me away to a juicier contract, rather than ploughing through Jobserve or Jobsite. I cant praise Badenoch & Clark enough for getting me on to 2 contracts in 2006/07. Even when I left the first one and went to another role with another agent, the B&C chap kept in touch and got me another better contract. I find that he treats his candidates like a friend.

[DodgyAgent]

More recently I've been relying on agents getting in touch and trying to lure me away to a juicier contract, rather than ploughing through Jobserve or Jobsite. I cant praise Badenoch & Clark enough for getting me on to 2 contracts in 2006/07. Even when I left the first one and went to another role with another agent, the B&C chap kept in touch and got me another better contract. I find that he treats his candidates like a friend.

I take it you are one of their recruitment consultants then?

[LordF]

Nope - If you care to read my other posts I am a contractor, not a pimp!

[TheFaQQer]

Who do you use for finding contracts, which ones are the best (most honest, if I dare say it!)? Seems to be hundreds out there...

Ntrinsic are very good, I've found.