Agency Percentage. Does it matter or not?

[MarillionFan]

You're either trolling, or being unprofessional and rude to long-term members in a serious forum. Calling agents parasites is inflammatory, go do so in General if you must.

He's right though they are parasites.

[Lolas Cat]

You're either trolling, or being unprofessional and rude to long-term members in a serious forum. Calling agents parasites is inflammatory, go do so in General if you must.

Describing agents as parasites is depicting the correct nature of their business.

I'm not gonna repeat what I already said in this thread earlier about who depends on whom in the agent-contractor/permie relationship.

It is not rude to call a parasite parasite, it is calling things their real names.

[monobrow]

/Troll On

parasite

"A parasite lives in a close relationship with another organism, its host, and causes it harm. The parasite is dependent on its host for its life functions. A common, well-known type of a parasite is a recruitment agent. They target FTSE 100 companies then attach themselves to the lining of the Hiring Manager, and cause an increase to costs, ear ache and wear oversized watches, particularly Breitling's & Rolex's"

Can't Argue With That!

/Troll Off

[d000hg]

He's right though they are parasites.

It's fine for you to say lightly tongue in cheek. But a few posters in this thread seem to think it's OK to attack specifically our members from agencies and that's not professional behaviour. I think it's valuable having a few such people here.

I don't care if people think agents are parasites, but they should say so in General where it can be a proper fight. People come to the serious forums looking for serious answers and help, not to hear some idiot spout their views on the validity of an industry they never worked in.

[The Agents View]

It's fine for you to say lightly tongue in cheek. But a few posters in this thread seem to think it's OK to attack specifically our members from agencies and that's not professional behaviour. I think it's valuable having a few such people here.

I don't care if people think agents are parasites, but they should say so in General where it can be a proper fight. People come to the serious forums looking for serious answers and help, not to hear some idiot spout their views on the validity of an industry they never worked in.

I'm not being funny - all of the above is very true.

The main fact is, that recruitment is a £5 billion industry in this country - there must be SOME need for it - parasite industries simply don't survive.

Whilst I hate the comparison, we do have some parities with Estate Agents - if you're looking for a house - where do you go? If you're selling your house, where do you go? That's right, estate agencies - because the chances of getting what you want is higher. You might get lucky and get a private sale, but realistically, you start at the agent, because they know who's looking and who's selling.....sometimes......

[craig1]

parasite industries simply don't survive.

I give you the legal sector as an example to prove you're wrong. Almost as old as prostitution but you get substantially less for your money while still getting screwed.

I think recruitment agencies are highly valuable. I can contact one reputable agent and be effectively marketed to a number of hiring managers far more easily than if I were to simply approach those managers. Almost all of my new client contracts have been through agencies calling me after I've stuck my CV on a job portal, I've not had to do anything beyond get my CV right. For that, the agency deserves their "cut" and gets no grumbles from me.

There are a number of highly disreputable agencies out there though that drag the reputation of the entire industry down. I suppose every industry has their bottom feeders.

[jmo21]

There are a number of highly disreputable agencies out there though that drag the reputation of the entire industry down. I suppose every industry has their bottom feeders.

This is the crux of it for me.

Also, individual agents inside the more decent agencies.

[The Agents View]

This is the crux of it for me.

Also, individual agents inside the more decent agencies.

So why then, do those who have made their feelings known, not got the intelligence to differentiate?

[monobrow]

So why then, do those who have made their feelings known, not got the intelligence to differentiate?

Moi?

if so, probably for the same reason that [up until this point anyway], all *you* have been doing is spouting the company glossy brochure BS about what agents do for their hard earnt commission rather than talking about the reality that candidates and hiring managers face every day.

My vent is about agencies generally, and no matter what grandiose view you have of yourself or that other regulars have of you on this forum; to me, you are and will remain to be just another parasite sucking as much as you can from my services. I'm entitled to this view and nothing you can say or do is likely to change this, it has been built up over 20 years of experience as a candidate and a hiring manager.

This is not a competition that you are not trying to "win". And baiting contractors on contractors boards about "lack of intelligence" is really not likely to help your cause - if you had an nano-ounce of intelligence maybe you'd understand that.

[d000hg]

I give you the legal sector as an example to prove you're wrong. Almost as old as prostitution but you get substantially less for your money while still getting screwed.

Solicitors provide a valuable service. When your client tries to screw you over or someone claims they own your house, it's pretty necessary. Poor example IMO.