Why don't the agents reply? I mean come on ... !

[SueEllen]

be nice to agents and hope for the best.

Agents have thick skins.

Just be polite but firm with timewasters.

[The Agents View]

Agents have thick skins.

Just be polite but firm with timewasters.

Just make sure they are timewasters before you're too firm - burnt bridges and all that.....

[contractorcontractor]

Dont take it personally...

Neebz...The contract market is very tough at the moment.

In old days, if you had the right basket of skills you can find work. These days, clients are getting very fussy. Interviews I have had recently show they want gurus.

So permie work is best for the moment. They are more likely to accept a worker's potential rather than proven ability.

It can be very frustrating when agents dont reply. It can come across as rude and can be very frustrating. It is the same for everyone. Agents only call when they want something - mainly money but they also fish for contacts.

However, while most will tell you to forget about an agent that doesnt call back, sometimes it is worth chasing the agent. Sometimes they say they will submit you but are limited to 2 cvs -and if you know that fact, you can get submitted from another agent.

Finally, I did once get a contract where the agent forgot to consider me - and it led to 3 years of work.

Having said that, your experience is a bit thin for this market - unless you have specialist knowledge or a contact. Dont take it too hard, just focus where you can get best results.

[neebz]

even thin when I charge less? like to one agent (just to check), I said I'll even work for £120/day. I mean that`s a very low rate for a 3 year experience ASP.NET guy. In times of recession, I find it hard to believe that companies would splash £400 on a guru when they can get most of the work done by a slightly lesser mortal for one-third of the price.

..unless the situation is so dire that 10 year experience guys are working for £150/day. ofcourse I don't have a chance then.

[ItsQuickerAntiClockwise]

even thin when I charge less? like to one agent (just to check), I said I'll even work for £120/day. I mean that`s a very low rate for a 3 year experience ASP.NET guy. In times of recession, I find it hard to believe that companies would splash £400 on a guru when they can get most of the work done by a slightly lesser mortal for one-third of the price.

..unless the situation is so dire that 10 year experience guys are working for £150/day. ofcourse I don't have a chance then.

Why would you work for 120 a day and not want to go permanent????

For 120 a day, I'd at least expect them to provide the lube for what you are allowing them to do to you.

[Zippy]

even thin when I charge less? like to one agent (just to check), I said I'll even work for £120/day. I mean that`s a very low rate for a 3 year experience ASP.NET guy. In times of recession, I find it hard to believe that companies would splash £400 on a guru when they can get most of the work done by a slightly lesser mortal for one-third of the price.

..unless the situation is so dire that 10 year experience guys are working for £150/day. ofcourse I don't have a chance then.

Don't go there. Yer average Bob will be charged out at 150+.

[monobrow]

even thin when I charge less? like to one agent (just to check), I said I'll even work for £120/day. I mean that`s a very low rate for a 3 year experience ASP.NET guy. In times of recession, I find it hard to believe that companies would splash £400 on a guru when they can get most of the work done by a slightly lesser mortal for one-third of the price.

..unless the situation is so dire that 10 year experience guys are working for £150/day. ofcourse I don't have a chance then.

There is also such a thing as being too cheap, too desperate... charge what you are worth not what you think will get you the gig or what you can "get away with".

hate to kick a man when he's down, but 3 years experience s nothing, nadda. like someone else said, if money isn't the issue, try perm, you may get more luck.

[neebz]

calm down guys. I wasn't planning to work for £120/day. I was just checking how things work and I was dumbfounded that I still couldnt even get an interview for such a low rate. Of course at that rate its better to work permanent.

[ItsQuickerAntiClockwise]

calm down guys. I wasn't planning to work for £120/day. I was just checking how things work and I was dumbfounded that I still couldnt even get an interview for such a low rate. Of course at that rate its better to work permanent.

Actually the answer is very simple. If you have a job that needs doing, you already have in your mind the calibre of person you need and the approx rate he will charge.

By going so low, they know that you are not up to scratch, and its not a case of 'well Im cheaper', cause usually they have timeframes to get things done by. So saying 'Well I'll do it for half the rate, but instead of taking me 6 months to do the work, it will take 9 cause im not as good, but you'll still be better off overall' isnt going to cut it. Because while your fiddling around still 'learning on the job', theyve got products to deliver.

[neebz]

Guys,

What does it means when an Agent calls you and says that he will be forwarding your resume to XYZ client? Is this for real?

He said he will charge me around £30 if the placement goes through. Also he says that I have to use one of the 14 umbrella companies, their agency authorize.

I kept saying ok. Seemed like another 'We will get back to you as soon as the client contacts and go away forever' thing.