Agencies giving the runaround.

[gingerjed1]

First post, first whinge!

I have been contracting for the past 2 years (mostley rollout and support on MoD sites) , I except that it doesn’t have the security of a permy position and that is reflected in the rates.

The trouble is I finished my last contract on the 1st of April (no joke) and haven’t found anything since, normally this wouldn’t worry me but I have had a lot of interest from the agencies but no firm offers, on 3 occasions I was assured that it was a question of waiting for a start date only to be told a week later (after constantly ringing them I might add) that there was no longer a requirement?? I thought that this time of year would be great to start something new, what with the financial year just starting and account managers with full coffers.

Is this a common occurrence or am I just getting frustrated too early in the day?

[WouldBeEntrepreneur]

In my experience this is quite common. Given the runaround by many agencies while they try to milk you for potential leads and contacts at old clients and then finally you get a couple of REAL contracts turn up. The whole process typically takes between 4 to 8 weeks for me but that is on a sample size of only 4 occasions spread over the last 7 years or so.

It will depend upon many factors including demand for your skillset, whether you are prepared to travel, level of experience, rate asked for, etc.

The looming election may be having a dampening effect too.

[mailmannz]

Got my first fishing call this morning from some one from a company called MSI.

Never heard of them before and never applied for anything through them either so instantly I became suspicious. Then he started asking questions about interviews with prospective employers and references I could give him and so on to which I said "for someone with possible contracts on offer you seem to be asking all the wrong questions".

So basically he wasted 5 minutes of my time and in the end got nothing more than what was already in my cv.

Mailman

[NoziParker]

Just give them loads of false company names and contacts and waste their time just like they waste ours.

:lol

[MarillionFan]

". The whole process typically takes between 4 to 8 weeks for me but that is on a sample size of "

Nah. The true turn around for a contract can be as little as 2 days. If it goes more than a week more than likely nothing will happen.

[thunderlizard]

Spring is a good time for looking for contracts,but it does take a while for departmental budgets to filter down to project level, and if you're a rollout and support person the starting times of projects probably affects you even less. Just keep plugging away - 3 weeks is nowt.

[SupremeSpod]

I have been contracting for the past 2 years (mostley rollout and support on MoD sites) , I except that it doesn’t have the security of a permy position and that is reflected in the rates.

Mostly

Accept

Which school did you attend?
'coz you obviously learned feck all!

[gingerjed1]

Duh!.. i blame the toryz cos they woz in last time i woz at skool!

I have noticed you take great pleasure in spotting other peoples mistakes, do you work in support??

[SupremeSpod]

I have noticed you take great pleasure in spotting other peoples mistakes, do you work in support??

Nope, development.

It's not really a pleasure, more of a calling!