agencies

[andyb99]

Hi Guys, i'm new here and new to the world of contracting. i'm about to get made redundant (i'm a cisco infrastructure and IPT engineer based in the north west CCNA-v, CRMCS and SC cleared) and contracting might be an option for me. can anybody point in the direction of some decent agencies to register with please??
preferably some that can not only help me with placements but also give me a guiding hand with regulations etc.

thanks

[Sausage Surprise]

Just put your cv on Jobserve, Jobsite, Technojobs, etc and they'll find you. You don't need to register with them per se......

[Sausage Surprise]

Hi Guys, i'm new here and new to the world of contracting. i'm about to get made redundant (i'm a cisco infrastructure and IPT engineer based in the north west CCNA-v, CRMCS and SC cleared) and contracting might be an option for me. can anybody point in the direction of some decent agencies to register with please??
preferably some that can not only help me with placements but also give me a guiding hand with regulations etc.

thanks

Sorry I missed that bit....

[SueEllen]

Hi Guys, i'm new here and new to the world of contracting. i'm about to get made redundant (i'm a cisco infrastructure and IPT engineer based in the north west CCNA-v, CRMCS and SC cleared) and contracting might be an option for me. can anybody point in the direction of some decent agencies to register with please??
preferably some that can not only help me with placements but also give me a guiding hand with regulations etc.

thanks

You are asking to be screwed by agencies. You need to do the research yourself now.

For starters:
1. Go to CUK Navigation (It's over there on the right) and select "First Timers" click on it and have a read of all the links under it.
2. Then when you have a question come back here and use the "search" facility. Nearly every question that you would think to ask about contracting in the UK has been asked and answered on here more than a few times.

[explorer]

i'm about to get made redundant

Sorry to hear that..

and contracting might be an option for me.

Welcome

decent agencies

Oxymorons..Sorry, no such agencies exist..

to register with

As some of the replies stated, apply for some jobs matching your skillset and exp, and you will be auto-registered.

(Agency) regulations

1. Lying
2. Misrepresentation
3. Holding back CVs (promising, but not forwarding CVs)
4. badgering

I could go on..

Oh, yes not to forget two (or more) references

[malvolio]

As well as the CUK one, download the Guide to Freelancing from www.pcg.org.uk and have a very careful read.

[rsingh]

Agencies are not there to help you - they are there to make money for themselves.
Agencies will screw you and the client for every penny they can get.
Agents are not your best friend, although they may act that way. They will screw you for everything they can get until you are no longer useful.
Read the top thread above (Sticky: I just need to get two references ...) in regards to agencies and references.
Read the thread by Richard Cranium in regards to agency behaviour - can't find it - it will be an eye opener.
Learn to do things for yourself - contractors are supposed to have a high degree of independence.
You are fresh meat to an agent. Prepare to learn some very harsh lessons very quickly.
I only know three decent agents out of the hundreds that I have dealt with.

Good luck

[lukemg]

WTAS, get your CV looking good, forget the waffle, break it down into projects if you mostly worked at one place.
What difference did you make ? extra revenue generated, reduced outages, more stable platform etc. detail this.
Get on the job boards twice a day, post your CV on minus address, setup your linked-in profile and contact anyone you can think of, send tailored CV that is an exact match for the role in the advert - 80% will not cut it these days.
Go junior to get a stepping stone.
Good luck.

[mall]

good luck

Join the pcg.
Home | PCG
Check out Business support, information and advice | Business Link and Companies House

Do not trust agencies as far as you can kick them. Even worse now as some agencies have merged, into larger more ruthless ones.

I bet you end up back at the place you are being made redundant from, but as a contractor.

[The Agents View]

Further advice:

Don't listen to everything on CUK, you'll never get an agent to work in your interests with alot of the advice given out on here.

Everytime you hear the word "Agency or agent" in a slagging match on here, reverse it, and realise that we see contractors in the same way - it's easier if everyone understands that all parties have their eyes on one prize..... Money.

Don't expect all agencies to be good - but don't be closed minded enough to think we don't want to place you - ultimately, without contractors working, an agency or agent, makes NO MONEY.