Can't give out Rate, Location or Client.

[nomadd]

...but apart from that, everything else is OK.

Just thought I'd come and vent my first bit of "Monday morning talking to an Agent" steam!

Sent cv for a job on Jobserve via Spencer Rose. Just taken call from agent. He refused to say what the rate was, who the client was, and where the job was located (would only give the nearest county!). Also wasn't prepared to send out the "detailed job spec., in my hands right now."

He wanted me to write and send him a letter asking me to "justify" him considering me for this role. Bloody cheek. I pointed out the 15 years of prior experience in the same type of role on the cv I'd just sent him! Seemed reading the cv was too much effort...

In the end, I just told him: "The job will be on Jobserve via 10 different agencies by the end of the day; I'll put my cv forward to one of those, in the hope that they are far more professional and much less deceptive than yourself. Thankyou for you time." And then I put down the phone.

Agents, eh. Make this contracting lark a dream.

Nomadd

[zamzummim]

I think the job doesn't exist !

[weemster]

Blimey !! What was up with the guy !! I can understand not wanting to disclose the client but what with all the other stuff

[original PM]

Ok admittedly the bit about not dislosing much of the detail is abit out of order.

but what is wrong with asking you for a covering letter - which in effect introduces your skills to the client ok you may be wasting your time given the above but hey - if it takes you an hour to do and you get the gig then it will be time well spent.

maybe you need to be a touch less up yourself?

[Not So Wise]

Asking for cover letter (which is basically agent asking contractor to do his work for him because he does not know enough about sector to "sell the contractor" based on his CV) without revealing client is pretty pointless as what you could put would have to be so generic as to be useless.

And really, no location or ball park rate is just taking the piss. They are two of the most important things that would inform the contractor if he even wanted the role

Highly doubt role exists* , more likely newbie agent looking for "product" to sell to clients (had a few calls over last few months from agents with a "great contractor skilled in X looking for a position"), something I don't object to per say, as long as they are honest about it to the contractor.

Some contractors would love an agent that really acts like their agents, others would have a problem with their CV going all over the place

*Another possibility is role does exist but agent has not got "rights" to it and is trying to muscle in on another agents gig

[deckster]

Ok admittedly the bit about not dislosing much of the detail is abit out of order.

but what is wrong with asking you for a covering letter - which in effect introduces your skills to the client ok you may be wasting your time given the above but hey - if it takes you an hour to do and you get the gig then it will be time well spent.

maybe you need to be a touch less up yourself?

No nothing wrong with asking for some more information than is shown on your CV, that's far from unusual - but how can you do that without knowing what the job is? Either a more-than-usually dense agent, or the job doesn't exist.

Having said that, having interviewed (unsuccessfully) through Spencer Rose a couple of times recently they're on my - very short - list of 'generally quite decent' agencies.

[weemster]

Nomadd - How 'pukka' did the detailed job spec look ?

[DaveB]

Nomadd - How 'pukka' did the detailed job spec look ?

I think the point was that he never got to see it, despite the agent having it in his hand has he spoke.

[weemster]

I think the point was that he never got to see it, despite the agent having it in his hand has he spoke.

Read it again, Yarp !!!

Sorry

[minestrone]

Anyone that tries to get me into a cover letter/skills+time list conversation gets the phone call ended on them.