Questions to ask the agents when they ring?

[PinkPoshRat]

1 - Are they on the clients PSL?
2 - Has the role been signed off?

I'm starting to learn that not all agents are even on the PSL and that it's possible to have an interview for a role which hasn't been signed off from HR...!

[northernladuk]

I am always interested to know how many other contractors they manage for the client. If he has a lot he has some serious business with that client so would hope there is more chance of the role coming to fruition and know what the client is after. If he only has one or two and is just body shopping the odd need I would be a little more nervous. Saying that it wouldn't stop me applying for it, just might help if you end up with two contracts in the bag.

The only other things I would ask are what is the rate and when can I start.

I work in a team with around 6 contractors who have been placed by 3 different agents so I don't think PSL comes in to it to much unless you find 3 or 4 jobs the same but diff agents. It is also highly likely all 3 or 4 agents are on the PSL so doesn't help. Worth asking for nothing though. Roles signed off is a funny one. A) Do you care? You are going to apply anyway B) It can be signed off by the hand of god but it can still get pulled right up to the point you walk in the front door on your first day so again I don't think this would really help in your quest. If you are stupidly busy with interviews it might help you prioritise but unfortuantely I haven't been in that situation!!

[PinkPoshRat]

Unfortunately I have had several interviews only to find the hiring manager hadn't waited for permission to fill their positions.

I have also heard on the grapevine, that some persuasive agents have called prospective clients and convinced them to meet a handful of their contractors (money is also exchanged from agent to prospective hiring manager) This is done in an attempt to convince the prospective client that the super-duper agency has the ability to find amazing contractors who, no doubt, would be very beneficial to the client's business... er, EDS recently hired someone from their HR for taking cash payouts from an agency

[northernladuk]

Unfortunately I have had several interviews only to find the hiring manager hadn't waited for permission to fill their positions.

I have also heard on the grapevine, that some persuasive agents have called prospective clients and convinced them to meet a handful of their contractors (money is also exchanged from agent to prospective hiring manager) This is done in an attempt to convince the prospective client that the super-duper agency has the ability to find amazing contractors who, no doubt, would be very beneficial to the client's business... er, EDS recently hired someone from their HR for taking cash payouts from an agency

How one letter can mean the exact opposite to what you wanted to say

[Wanderer]

1 - Are they on the clients PSL?
2 - Has the role been signed off?

3 - What are your payment terms?
4 - Can I have a draft copy the contract?

Both of these will prevent you wasting time dealing with agencies who want to act like a

And if you're bold

5 - What margin are you looking at taking on this contract?

[PinkPoshRat]

Thanks, that's an interesting idea to ask for a draft version of the contract and I like it! How to agents normally respond to queries like that though?

[thunderlizard]

it's possible to have an interview for a role which hasn't been signed off from HR...!

I don't really like the assumption that contractors have to fit into a predefined "role". For one thing, you get more chance of adding value to a client when they're at the stage of having identified a problem that needs solving, not when they've already done all the hard work and whittled it down to a staffing requirement. Our larger competitors who get the big bucks will be in there pitching from the first sniff of a problem, not refusing to get out of bed until the client has dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's. When would you rather see a client - when you've got a chance to convince them to take you on before a requirement's even gone out to market, or when it's been packaged up by HR and sent out to half a dozen agencies?

[SueEllen]

Thanks, that's an interesting idea to ask for a draft version of the contract and I like it! How to agents normally respond to queries like that though?

You can get the contract renegotiated very easily especially if you bother getting a solicitor to rewrite it for you so that one is a waste of time.

Agencies are more willing to negotiate once you have met the client, made sure the client actually wants you and you have got the client's direct contact details. This is because if they piss off the client they aren't going to get anything.

[SueEllen]

3 - What are your payment terms?

You may be able to renegotiate payment terms once you have the contract.

However you are better of particularly with agencies or clients, direct or indirect, you never heard off:
1. Googling to get an idea of how big the agency or client is - you may have to use a few simple google search tricks to get the required information but it's not hard
2. Checking how solvent they are for example by going to Companies House and downloading a copy of their annual report. You may also find information by simple googling as some companies will announce their annual turnover and profit in online trade websites. It's not worth doing a simple credit check of companies as I've been screwed by a company that was credit checked and fine.

[SueEllen]

I don't really like the assumption that contractors have to fit into a predefined "role". For one thing, you get more chance of adding value to a client when they're at the stage of having identified a problem that needs solving, not when they've already done all the hard work and whittled it down to a staffing requirement.

I have to agree with that.

If I had waited until the budget had definitely been signed off before I was interviewed I would not have had any work in the last 12 months.

As a contractor you need to take the risk that the client doesn't know exactly what they want and be prepare to spend a bit of time going to interviews and keeping in contact with people even if the budgets haven't been signed off. You may get the contract then, or the client may contact you in months or years time because it looks like you fit a requirement they have. And yes you may be told to go through a particular agency if the client is a big one.

One of the points of being is a contractor is that you are flexible which means you have to live with some uncertainty.