Inspired Recruitment - experiences

[Svalbaard]

I've read your posts and tip my hat to your stirling and eloquent defence TAV but agree with the others that no 1st or MBA is worth 22% of my 22 years of accumulated work experience - which also includes a first btw.

Luckily, I am generally in a position where I can pick and choose, the advantage of this to me is that if you approached me quoting 22% I'd laugh you off of the telephone.

[scooterscot]

I've read your posts and tip my hat to your stirling and eloquent defence TAV but agree with the others that no 1st or MBA is worth 22% of my 22 years of accumulated work experience - which also includes a first btw.

Luckily, I am generally in a position where I can pick and choose, the advantage of this to me is that if you approached me quoting 22% I'd laugh you off of the telephone.

WHS + Scooter Msc Bsc CEng -

[Evil Hangover]

If your career has led you to become an agent for crying out loud, then face facts - you just didn't cut it in the business world.

I am sure the education profession would weep were they to learn that thay had expended their efforts on someone with such a dull future.

Money well spent on the MBA! you muppet

[The Agents View]

So if you saw the opportunity to make 50% or more on top of a contract ... would you take it?

What about 100% markup?


Greedy agent in the past has lost me a role and I am bitter about it unfortunately. He was after around 100% and client thought I was too expensive whereas I had actually reduced rate to about two thirds of what rate is now as I wanted the role.

Sorry to hear you've been stitched Conned Tractor - in answer to your first question - no. There are several reasons for this - firstly, it would ultimately price the service provider out of the role. More importantly, the level I operate at has budgetary responsibility - if they found out that my margin was any higher than I'd told them, they'd hit the roof!! Ultimately that's damaging to the relationship with my contractor, who more often than not, turns out to be my client shortly afterwards as well (at the very least they're a potential client!).

From my point of view, what would I prefer? A short term contractor, on a huge margin, with a big argument that I would ultimately lose? Or 5 people at a fair rate to the client and the contractor?

It comes down to integrity - OK, I'm expensive - but I'm honest about it, and I get the contractor the rate they want - if I charge 22% on top for my services, that agreement is between me, and my client....

TAV

[BolshieBastard]

'Invested so much of my time' 'spent 2 hours getting to know her strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes' blah, blah, blah.

Oh FFS! I think Im going to cry!

[Grinder]

If a contractor is able to pick up contracts without help of course 22% is a lot to pay for a bit of admin & factoring each month.

But some contractors prefer to 'outsource' their hunt for contracts rather than go through the frustration of pounding the job boards, finding fake job opportunities, and so on.

The alternative to paying a margin on top of your ongoing rate would be to pay the agent an hourly rate until he/she finds something - that's potentially hugely expensive! Quite often when you are looking you have no money coming in, hence the notion of paying a higher % throughout the course of the contract.

Like everything in life, if you pay peanuts you get monkeys. TAV is saying he's good at what he does, and if that is the case although its a big % it probably is worth it if you need his help. You don't have to take the service if you don't want to.

[conned tractor]

I like your honesty TAV. Hope the "slow down" (insert current media buzz word here) doesn't affect you too much. You sound very much like my current agent. Only a small outfit but there expectations are not astronomical (in terms of margin), very freindly, up front and for me the greatest factor honest. (As I was honest with them when they tasked me with a job I couldn't do without a steep learning curve initially - but still put me forward to the client - can see why now, it turned out to be a jack of all trades type development problem requiring a few skills - which I am good at - blows own trumpet).

I'm sorry to say TAV, althgouh you seem a nice chap, you are tarred with the barrow boy/ wide boy/ trader/ get what you can gov'ner/ car saleman/ sharp suit/ flash car stereotype which so many in your profession represent.

I wish you all the best anyhow. Which area are you based and in what skillset.

Tractor.

[The Agents View]

'Invested so much of my time' 'spent 2 hours getting to know her strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes' blah, blah, blah.

Oh FFS! I think Im going to cry!

Would you really like a breakdown?

1 hour initial conversation - is she someone I want to have working through me?

1 day - travel to the east midlands, 2 hours meeting, travel back.

2 Hours collecting references to back up my claims that she's outstanding at what she does.

3 hours (of non company time) developing a pro-active approach which goes through email

approximately 4 weeks at a rough guess, of hitting 10 carefully selected director level individuals per day, these conversations generally last for about 20 minutes each.

2 hours - Prepping, writing up my thoughts, and presenting the CV to the client.

Paperwork for interviews, interview preparation, interview feedback, negotiation of rate, negotiation of contract details and terms.

In addition to this, remember that not every person I do this for ends in placement - so you have to offset this cost against the ones that do.

does that give you a little more perspective on things?

cheers
TAV

[FarmerPalmer]

All my previous agents have been adding 25% on top - so getting 20% of what the client pays - but I get paid regularly - and they don't - so as long as I get the rate I want/need I'm not really bothered.

If clients were better payers then maybe they could force the agency cream down.

[The Agents View]

If your career has led you to become an agent for crying out loud, then face facts - you just didn't cut it in the business world.

I am sure the education profession would weep were they to learn that thay had expended their efforts on someone with such a dull future.

Money well spent on the MBA! you muppet

In the business world?? Define business world for me? From where I'm sitting, I make a living dealing with business and commerce on a daily basis.

I'm sure that the education profession would weep if they were to learn of my plight - but to be honest they're not the ones who are growing, even in a recession.

I am of course certain that the education world would be proud to be associated with a contractor that spouts off at one of their potential revenue streams over the internet though - it's definately what all of those hard earned years of experience were meant for.

cheers
TAV