Hard times create the worst agents I have ever experienced

[Brussels Slumdog]

Early yesterday afternoon an agent from a UK based agency ,who I have spoken to regularly over the years, phoned to enquire whether I was available as he might have a suitable contract for me in Belgium.
About 3 hours later I found a suitable position advertised on Jobserve in the Netherlands which was advertised by the same agency but from their Dutch office.I then phoned the agent direct and told her that her collegue from the UK already has my up to date CV and could we discuss the position.

Her reply was as follows," Apply through jobserve like everyone else and when I have filtered through the 100s of applicants I will get back to you and If I think you are suitable I will get back to you"

I have never experienced this before.

I guess with some agencies there is no point in building up a human relationship as they don't think like humans.

Most of the positions advertised on Jobserve these days seem to be by agents that I have never heard after 15 years of contracting in the same field. They must spend the whole time filtering through CV not knowing exactly what they are looking for.
I guess the well known agencies don't need to advertise as they already have
a database of possible contractors

[PaulCD]

Sign of the times...

I had a call on friday from an agent to tell me that his client really wants to interview me / take me on but his project has just been pulled so no point interviewing me until another role comes along!

About as much use as a chocolate fire guard!!

[uky kozak]

Would'nt it be nice if the tables could be turned around and that the contractor, once he/she got the job offer from clientCo, could choose which agency to represent him/her for the contract duration. Wow could you imagine how nice your pimps would be, fighting each other for contractors by dropping their percentage. Is it a dream?????

[BrilloPad]

Would'nt it be nice if the tables could be turned around and that the contractor, once he/she got the job offer from clientCo, could choose which agency to represent him/her for the contract duration. Wow could you imagine how nice your pimps would be, fighting each other for contractors by dropping their percentage. Is it a dream?????

Then why would agents bother finding you a gig in the first place?

[uky kozak]

Then why would agents bother finding you a gig in the first place?

In my "FANTASY" world they want the finders fee and if they have a good relationship with the contractor then they may get hired to represent the contractor.

[cojak]

Early yesterday afternoon an agent from a UK based agency ,who I have spoken to regularly over the years, phoned to enquire whether I was available as he might have a suitable contract for me in Belgium.
About 3 hours later I found a suitable position advertised on Jobserve in the Netherlands which was advertised by the same agency but from their Dutch office.I then phoned the agent direct and told her that her collegue from the UK already has my up to date CV and could we discuss the position.

Her reply was as follows," Apply through jobserve like everyone else and when I have filtered through the 100s of applicants I will get back to you and If I think you are suitable I will get back to you"

I have never experienced this before.

I guess with some agencies there is no point in building up a human relationship as they don't think like humans.

Most of the positions advertised on Jobserve these days seem to be by agents that I have never heard after 15 years of contracting in the same field. They must spend the whole time filtering through CV not knowing exactly what they are looking for.
I guess the well known agencies don't need to advertise as they already have
a database of possible contractors

This has nothing to do with agencies. That's the Dutch for you. They do not see the point of 'frilly' conversation and have no desire to waste time with it. I worked for a Dutch woman for 3 months and for most of that time I was sure she despised me. It wasn't until just before the end of my contract when I praised some work she'd done for me, that I was astonished when she puffed up like a little bantam and told everyone that I liked her work...

But it does mean that you can talk back to them in the same manner - they won't take offense, they don't understand the concept of 'politeness'.

[NotAllThere]

...
But it does mean that you can talk back to them in the same manner - they won't take offense, they don't understand the concept of 'politeness'.

If they're like the Germans, then it's not so much 'politeness', as 'courtesy' that they don't even have a word for.

[cojak]

If they're like the Germans, then it's not so much 'politeness', as 'courtesy' that they don't even have a word for.

True - Germans get straight to the point as well, I just find the the Dutch are more brusque.