If you were HIRING a contractor...

[northernladuk]

I avoid agencies, because they only seem able to supply the calibre of contractor that uses agencies.

Eh? not sure I understand what this means? Are you implying contractors working via agencies tend to be worse than one that go direct?

[thunderlizard]

Yes.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

The company I am currently contracted to I applied to work for directly but they rejected me. I went through an agency and they were desperate for me to join. Can somebody explain that one to me? Couldn't they have just saved themselves 5k or so and just gone with me initially?

[northernladuk]

The company I am currently contracted to I applied to work for directly but they rejected me. I went through an agency and they were desperate for me to join. Can somebody explain that one to me? Couldn't they have just saved themselves 5k or so and just gone with me initially?

There could be a whole host of reasons for this and judging by some of your posts in the last few months could some really obscure things we can't even begin to imagine, sorry.

Could it be the way you approaced them? Your sales pitch, the fact they don't take on direct, the fact they prefer an agent? If a hiring manager has a budget to spend he won't be doing himself any favours saving the company a few K but opening himself up to a tulip storm should it all go wrong and you are directly contract. Remember this is your first contract so you are a huge risk and maybe showed him a bit of the naivity you showed on the forum so he put you through an agent to lessen the risk on him?

Did they reject you or just turn down your application direct and went through agent as that is their process which is totally different. Your use of the word reject might not be the right word

ad infinitum....

[Tarquin Farquhar]

The company I am currently contracted to I applied to work for directly but they rejected me. I went through an agency and they were desperate for me to join. Can somebody explain that one to me? Couldn't they have just saved themselves 5k or so and just gone with me initially?

What northernladuk said, plus:

the agent lied to the client about your CV and/or experience, to get you in.

[Growernotashower]

I avoid agencies, because they only seem able to supply the calibre of contractor that uses agencies.

Can't believe you letting him get away with this! I make a grammatical error and get my bot bot spanked, he calls the majority of you rubbish and nothing!

No Justice in this world

[Not So Wise]

The company I am currently contracted to I applied to work for directly but they rejected me. I went through an agency and they were desperate for me to join. Can somebody explain that one to me? Couldn't they have just saved themselves 5k or so and just gone with me initially?

Some companies just have a policy not to hire direct, many reasons for this, some invalid, others not so much.

But simplest rule of thumb to know is ask the question

"do they view and treat contractors as companies they do business with or as a flexible labour force?"

If the latter they generally go though agencies, if the former more likely to accept direct (but certainly not guaranteed as they might not for other reason's like simplified invoicing)

Can't believe you letting him get away with this! I make a grammatical error and get my bot bot spanked, he calls the majority of you rubbish and nothing!

No Justice in this world

Because he is just being a general troll and you should not feed trolls

As to the OP's question, if i did not know someone who could fill the role would go agency route, especially in todays market. Post a decent role at decent rate and the amount of CV's you get would crush a grown man to death. Agencies are the "first line of defense"

[northernladuk]

Can't believe you letting him get away with this! I make a grammatical error and get my bot bot spanked, he calls the majority of you rubbish and nothing!

No Justice in this world

Cause you were the only person that rose to it! I had a bit of a nibble of the bait but managed to back off with my dignity intact

[northernladuk]

What northernladuk said, plus:

the agent lied to the client about your CV and/or experience, to get you in.

<GASP> They would never.............. would they?!?!? The rotten scoundrels lol