Ask the agent. The Good, the bad and the ugly

[SofaKingdom]

The problem you then have, is marketing it is. Every agency that has ever been invented markets themselves as specialists in delivering the best in technical, consultative or whatever, skillsets.

The issue then is that nobody takes any notice because they've heard it all before.

I've been headhunted before. Some agencies therefore definitely deliver the best in their field

[MaryPoppins]

I don't experience half the things that a lot of contractors here appear to suffer, with agents. I'm not sure why that is - I'm not a technical resource, not sure if that is anything to do with it.

I'm also not sure I agree with a lot of the above.

They'll be many contractors on here who've heard pleas from their agent that they haven't been paid so they can't pay you.
Luckily for me, I've never experienced this. I don't know of anyone else (IRL) who has experienced this either actually. Not to say it isn't true, just that I guess I usually work through large agencies.

in their view it is in fact the contractor---who does the real work---that is taking a cut out of the business the agent has won. I was absolutely livid when I read this.
I took that to be a joke.

they could get contractors in without the contractor having to take a day off for interview, and be sold on the strength of their CV alone...It's the contractor's performance at interview that gets the agent the money. There's no getting away from that.
In general, the only reason you're sitting in that interview is because the agency has enabled it, like it or not. In most cases, you would not get close enough to the client by yourself, to secure a role.

Agents don't even put the effort in to differentiate their advert on JobServe: you can recognise which agents are trying to fill an individual contract by the level of copy-and-paste that's going on from the client's original requirement. It's a small thing but agents don't even take the time to put any effort into that.
It does get my goat when spelling mistakes/crap grammar from the client's jobspec isn't even corrected, that is lazy. However it probably makes sense to show exactly what the client wants.

My good friend owns an accounting recruitment agency, and her incredibly hard work in trying to build a positive reputation for her business has been interesting to see.

I have a lot of respect for a small number of agents I speak to, as it is a horrible, ruthless industry. I do have a certain amount of disdain for the wide boy, clueless types - but I aim to keep them all on side, as I too, need work.

I'm sure that the pleasant, savvy contractors are those that are remembered when new roles come in.

[MaryPoppins]

I've been headhunted before. Some agencies therefore definitely deliver the best in their field

Wrong login, SAS.

[The Agents View]

I'm sure that the pleasant, savvy contractors are those that are remembered when new roles come in.

Holy cr4p - that's two things in a week that we've agreed on. Either I'm becoming a contractor, or you're becoming soft....or maybe a bit of both

We remember the nasty contractors - for sure. We avoid their telephone calls, we discount them out of hand, and we try not to have anything to do with them. We're human beings (believe it or not) - if someone punched you in the face, you wouldn't ask them if they want a beer the next time you got a round in, would you?

[MaryPoppins]

Holy cr4p - that's two things in a week that we've agreed on. Either I'm becoming a contractor, or you're becoming soft....or maybe a bit of both

We remember the nasty contractors - for sure. We avoid their telephone calls, we discount them out of hand, and we try not to have anything to do with them. We're human beings (believe it or not) - if someone punched you in the face, you wouldn't ask them if they want a beer the next time you got a round in, would you?

When's your contract starting then? Because I am certainly not going soft.

I recognise we've all got a job to do, and like Mal said - I am no salesperson, so I leave the agents to do that on my behalf.

I suspect I'm also lucky in that I've only ever had one serious issue with an agency - I simply now avoid them completely.

I am interested in one thing though TAV.

Why do you all have the same hairstyle?

[The Agents View]

When's your contract starting then?

Why do you all have the same hairstyle?

Funny you should say that - I've just been approached for an internal resourcing post on a contract basis....money's OK as well....hmmmmmm


Re: Hairstyle: In our office there's two things. The first being that there's only one hairdresser in the town who is any good. So we all go there.

The second, is that we all drive hairdresser cars (mine's the Honda S2000) - If we didn't all have Jedward style hair, We'd all have Afro's by the time we arrived in the office (it's all about the Gel!)

[MaryPoppins]

mine's the Honda S2000

[Cenobite]

A new agency model

What I think we all need is a new agency model. I'm really daydreaming now but here goes...

It's the screening of CVs that really gets my goat and I assume this is what clients think they are giving an agent a cut for. I work as a programmer and it's very easy for good programmers to spot blaggers. It's not so easy for someone who's never done the job to know. To be honest, I think this sixth-sense can only be gained by someone who's done the job.

I think agents need an incentive to properly screen contractors and not waste their clients' time. Clients are generally bigger concerns than agents and maybe they should push back and go: "I want you to pay me £100 for each CV I have to consider. You'll make your money back if I take one of your contractors on." In this way it would not be in the agent's interest to pass the buck of screening back to the client.

Also why is it the status quo that the contractor puts in a free half-day to attend an interview? There's no way a client could enfore an agent to pay a contractor for attending an interview but if an agent was paying the contractor's rate for them to attend, I'm sure they'd start screening contractors better. But then again, as a contractor, imagine trying to get your money out of an agent if you don't even get offered the gig.

I mean that's just it: there's no financial penalty for agents wasting the time of clients or contractors.

Start a new agency that offers clients and contractors the financial incentives I've outlined here and you'll definitely differentiate yourself. I think these elements at least show risk-taking, entreprenurial spirit and a conviction in the people you're putting through for interview. Even if you ultimately pass the costs onto contractors and clients, at least all parties will think they've got something.

[The Agents View]

OI!!!! I love my car - it's killing me that I've got to get rid of it!

If anyone wants to buy my baby, let me know - I've got to buy something big (kids planned shortly), German, and Diesel....

[The Agents View]

OI!!!! I love my car - it's killing me that I've got to get rid of it!

If anyone wants to buy my baby, let me know - I've got to buy something big (kids planned shortly), German, and Diesel....

For the sake of clarity - the plan is to sell the car, not the baby.....