Interviewing and consequences of being flexible with recruiters

**northernladuk** · 10 March 2010, 16:14

Nope that is just life. There is another post here about applying for job after job and not hearing a thing back from the agents.

This is contracting life. Someone said they have a 10% rule if you apply for 20 jobs you might get feedback from 2 so the fact one agent isn't getting back to you seems to be the normal.

I am afraid if you are expecting every agent to treat you well and come back to you with roles and help you through the process you are going to be very disappointed.

I see from previous posts that you are new to contracting. Looking at these posts I would suggest having a think about talking to another contractor. I don't wish to be rude but you don't seem to have a very good grasp of your situation, i.e. not knowing an agent takes a cut and expecting every agent to call you back. Best thing to do is to try and get mates with a contractor at your site and stick to him like glue. He will give you the nitty gritty of the situation which will make things seem much much clearer.

Without this you are going to be back on here posting a lot more questions and at times gettnig a bit of a roasting for it...

Sorry.

**northernladuk** · 10 March 2010, 16:30

Originally posted by frankjj View Post

Then he says he will send me the description of the positions but several times I don't hear them anymore.

Ah didn't spot this first scan...

You sent your CV to an agent for a particular role or just in general? Agents will fish for info and then tell you they will keep you in mind for roles. If you are lucky they will add you to their database with the notes on it but I find that they NEVER refer back to this database. This type of general questions/answers very very rarely comes to anything even to the point that people won't go to agents for interviews as it is a total waste of time.

Just thought I would make this point as there is a subtle difference between an agent fishing and not getting back to you and you applying for a role he says he will put you forward for and not getting back to you....

The end result is the same, no contact, no role... but for slightly different reasons.

**frankjj** · 10 March 2010, 16:53

Indeed I have a lot of questions and by the way I found the search engine not very useful.

However for the one I've done, I know recruiters won't call back in 90% of the case. And basically after 1.5 month I'd say I have a 20% callback rate but what is missing is the follow up after the 1st call. I know that some are fishing, but my impression is that they "value" devs from the rate/salary. The higher the better somehow and lowering it during the interview shed doubts about the candidate and could lead recruiter to reject him.

Just my impression stemming from the fact I have a lot of 1st calls, show flexibility on everything but no client so far .....

jj

**TheFaQQer** · 10 March 2010, 16:59

Originally posted by frankjj View Post

Indeed I have a lot of questions and by the way I found the search engine not very useful.

If you meant the CUK search, then use google instead.

Just add "site:forums.contractoruk.com" at the end of your search terms, and it will only look on here.

**northernladuk** · 10 March 2010, 17:07

Originally posted by frankjj View Post

. I know that some are fishing, but my impression is that they "value" devs from the rate/salary. The higher the better somehow and lowering it during the interview shed doubts about the candidate and could lead recruiter to reject him.

I very much doubt this (unless you are doing something ridiculous but lets assume not) as the amount you drop goes straight in to the agents bonus. If he has a £500 gig and you say you will do it for £450 he gets more money, in fact it is his job to try and lower your rate and make more cash. For this reason the fact he will reject you if you accept a lower rate seems unlikely.

What I am thinking more I am afraid is the following ....

1) Your naivety and inexperience is showing to the agent as well which scares him off
2) You lack of experience is going to be a real issue in a very difficult market
3) Maybe you are in a tight area and lots of applications so you are in the pure luck game.

They all seem much more likely than your initial thinking... erm... particularly number 1 sorry...

**NeverBeenNorthOfTheM25** · 10 March 2010, 17:10

... and the fact there arent that many £550 a day jobs going around.

**northernladuk** · 10 March 2010, 17:14

Originally posted by NeverBeenNorthOfTheM25 View Post

... and the fact there arent that many £550 a day jobs going around.

Well I didn't want to mention that but as you have started the ball rolling...

I use to ask 75K or 550 pd (based on comparable) but then recruiter

I am sure these are NOT comparable!!

And was 550pd a number for discussion purposes or is that genuinely what you are asking for? Surely a role commanding that right now needs someone who is pretty sh!t hot at what they do.. These questions are giving me that confidence... Maybe the recruiter is picking up the same.

**TheFaQQer** · 10 March 2010, 17:20

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

I very much doubt this (unless you are doing something ridiculous but lets assume not) as the amount you drop goes straight in to the agents bonus. If he has a £500 gig and you say you will do it for £450 he gets more money, in fact it is his job to try and lower your rate and make more cash. For this reason the fact he will reject you if you accept a lower rate seems unlikely.

Unless he is on a fixed-rate margin, in which case his job is to get the maximum for you so he gets the maximum commission.

**MarillionFan** · 10 March 2010, 17:33

Originally posted by NeverBeenNorthOfTheM25 View Post

... and the fact there arent that many £550 a day jobs going around.

I interviewed for one last week which was for a grand a day.

Didnt get it though.

Interviewing and consequences of being flexible with recruiters