agency tactics?

[P1mpAndPr0ud]

Aaaaaaameeeeennnnnn

Snap!

Look, we're just trying to make money like you lot. There's absolutely no reason why an agent should p**s you about, it does no-one any favours, ESPECIALLY the agent. If you think they are (pi**ing you about), tell them so. There could be a perfectly good reason why he's not got in touch, and he'll probably front up and tell you he forgot or something..

[serverlad]

whaddya know the ip addresses are the same but u never know they may use the same workstation at different shifts. feck knows. they are dragging their feet , I have a direct number to the client would be any good for me to ring em on monday to get a definate answer?

hate not knowing a definate result like rejected or second interview etc. the agent said temporary on hold. but will want to speak to me about another one and will get client to speak to me about it.

will get to the bottom on of it on monday.

[serverlad]

so should i ring the client? to find out the right answer or will that put the client off future consideration of other live roles?

[TheVoice]

whaddya know the ip addresses are the same but u never know they may use the same workstation at different shifts.

Orrrr...everything could just be NAT'ed behind a single IP on the public interface, most likely as agencies arent known for spending out on decent connectivity.

You are a server engineer, right?

[RichardCranium]

so should i ring the client? to find out the right answer or will that put the client off future consideration of other live roles?

Hassle the agent once more today then write it off and move on.

If I had a quid for every time I had been promised a role and heard nothing more, I'd have, well, quite a few quid actually.

The agent is probably just stringing you along preventing you from applying elsewhere until they do get a support job in.

Remember: if an agent is communicating with you, they are lying. If they are not, you do not even exist in their thoughts.

[TykeMerc]

Hassle the agent once more today then write it off and move on.

If I had a quid for every time I had been promised a role and heard nothing more, I'd have, well, quite a few quid actually.

The agent is probably just stringing you along preventing you from applying elsewhere until they do get a support job in.

Remember: if an agent is communicating with you, they are lying. If they are not, you do not even exist in their thoughts.

Like Mr Cranium here if I had a quid for every time agents stop communicating because they think telling you no is bad practice I would have quite a lot.

I would very strongly advise you NOT to contact the client directly, the reason they employ the pimps is to avoid numerous calls from contractors punting or seeking feedback.

Accept the fact that out of any 100 roles you're "put forwards" for by agents they will very rougly break down into:-

20 that are Agent vapourware, they never existed and the agents are fishing for leads.
30 that are clientco optimistic possible projects which they can't get a budget for so will never amount to anything
20 are projects that they have budget for but due to whatever circumstances they get pulled
20 are roles that get filled internally or by other agencies
7 that have candidates that are more suited to the role than you are
2 you get interviews but they pick someone else
1 BOOMED

Obviously your mileage will vary, but in all of the circumstances above the agents will prevaricate over saying no to you and in all of the real or future possible roles that aren't pure vaporware they will hang on hoping to place one of their candidates.

Very few pimps have any morals about stringing you along, the vast majority are salesmen who don't care who they sell so long as they get a sale and hit their targets.

[DodgyAgent]

Very few pimps have any morals about stringing you along, the vast majority are salesmen who don't care who they sell so long as they get a sale and hit their targets.

Whilst you so disdainfully sneer at agents, maybe you should take a little look at your own back yard.

Agents don't earn money by spending their time searching for and giving feedback. They will earn some goodwill and some brownie points if they do, which may lead to future business, but it is not an activity that will bring them the sales that they need. With some agents it is a matter of common decency to make some effort to give feedback, but many are deterred by the fact that some contractors cannot take no for an answer, or simply cannot be bothered. I for one will not allow my recruiters to spend too much time on giving feedback. One call, "you didnt get the job" willl do. If a reason is given that is not offensive , such as they found someone better/cheaper, or skills not quite right then pass it on, otherwise move on.

Likewise it can be argued that a contractor is interested only in his time sheet being signed and will string whoever they need along in order to achieve this. The "key performance indicators" may be different but the "route 1" money motive is no different between a contractor and an agent.

[NotAllThere]

I'm not just interested in getting my timesheet signed. I'm also interested in your money getting into my bank account as quickly as possible.

If I've met the client, and don't get feedback, then I'll get a bit tetchy. Otherwise I couldn't care less.

[TykeMerc]

Whilst you so disdainfully sneer at agents, maybe you should take a little look at your own back yard.

Agents don't earn money by spending their time searching for and giving feedback. They will earn some goodwill and some brownie points if they do, which may lead to future business, but it is not an activity that will bring them the sales that they need. With some agents it is a matter of common decency to make some effort to give feedback, but many are deterred by the fact that some contractors cannot take no for an answer, or simply cannot be bothered. I for one will not allow my recruiters to spend too much time on giving feedback. One call, "you didnt get the job" willl do. If a reason is given that is not offensive , such as they found someone better/cheaper, or skills not quite right then pass it on, otherwise move on.

Likewise it can be argued that a contractor is interested only in his time sheet being signed and will string whoever they need along in order to achieve this. The "key performance indicators" may be different but the "route 1" money motive is no different between a contractor and an agent.

Your company may be the exception Dodgy, but in 17 (almost 18 years now I think about it) of contracting and dealing with agents the overwhelming majority simply will not communicate a NO to a contractor.
I certainly don't want chapter and verse on why I haven't got a role or what's the matter with ClientCo's hiring managers dog that's delaying things, but what I really DO appreciate is a concise "Sorry the role's been filled/cancelled on indefinite hold" (delete as appropriate) call or email.

The typical scenario is complete silence and while I came to accept that as the norm years ago you can see from the thread starter many people don't. It's even a risk to the agency if the contractor tries to contact ClientCo directly for feedback since that makes both the contractor and the agent look like unprofessional pillocks.

[DodgyAgent]

Your company may be the exception Dodgy, but in 17 (almost 18 years now I think about it) of contracting and dealing with agents the overwhelming majority simply will not communicate a NO to a contractor.
I certainly don't want chapter and verse on why I haven't got a role or what's the matter with ClientCo's hiring managers dog that's delaying things, but what I really DO appreciate is a concise "Sorry the role's been filled/cancelled on indefinite hold" (delete as appropriate) call or email.

The typical scenario is complete silence and while I came to accept that as the norm years ago you can see from the thread starter many people don't. It's even a risk to the agency if the contractor tries to contact ClientCo directly for feedback since that makes both the contractor and the agent look like unprofessional pillocks.

Fair enough. I do like to think that my recruiters do infact give feedback, but on the other hand we dont get too many yes's either so we tend to have plenty of time to explain the "no's"