Good and Bad IT agencies..recommendations?

[Boolean]

Hi all,

I am new here, and indeed to new to the world of IT contracting. I thought I would get some general advice on agencies.

Having spent the last few weeks taking calls from all sorts of IT agents (after putting my CV on jobsite). I have realized how infuriating some agency recruiters are; e.g transparent lies, ignoring phone calls, been rude on the phone (they called me!??!), obvious cowboy callers etc...I have spent too much time (& money) chasing red herrings.

Anyway, I just wonder If anybody had a list of good IT agencies and ones I should avoid when they call?

I have read some of the posts on here & elsewhere , and I understand that S3 Group consisting of:

Progressive, Computer Futures, Huxley Associates, Pathway, Orgtel, Real IT, JP Gray, StratRG, HRSS, ITJB, Madison Black, Banking People

are ones to avoid.

I would add SEC Recruitment (part of RDL group) to this also. They really don't care about candidate care (in my experience) - I have finally decided to ignore them. Nasty people.

On a positive note, anybody heard of Veritas? I went for an interview through them and the whole process was okay, the recruiter was quite helpful even though I turned down the opportunity of a second interview (then again as far as I know he might have binned my CV as a result etc..)

Any ideas?

Many thanks,

[Cowboy Bob]

Add Xansa to the don't touch with a bargepole list too. Completely unprofessional and they questioned my contract lawyers' knowledge of the law when they made some legal points about their contract. Then stopped taking calls or replying to e-mails. Feckers...

As for good ones that I've experienced:-

Syntax Recruitment - http://www.syntaxco.co.uk/
DP Connect - http://www.dpconnect.co.uk/

[DaveB]

Second the opinon on any realted to S3, on the plus side Abraxus have been good to me so far.

[DodgyAgent]

Second the opinon on any realted to S3, on the plus side Abraxus have been good to me so far.

Abraxas

[DaveB]

Abraxas

Heh, yeah, I keep doing that and wondering why the email I send to them bounces

[cojak]

You'll not find bad agency lists for legal reasons. Just spend an evening on the various contractor forums (even Motley Fool has one) and you'll get a feel for them.

[DimPrawn]

When I hear the word "agent" I reach for my gun.

[chef]

i think agencies are great, they phone me up at perfect times in the day, never waste my time with dud offers, offer me contracts at the exact rate im hoping for, always look out for my best interests when dealing with end clients... and most importantly pay me on time, with no excuses...

richard ashcroft lies, they do work..

[Denny]

There's really no such thing as a good or bad 'agency' plus they are not 'agencies' but employment businesses (they act for the client not for you and it is worth bearing that in mind at all times). If they were agents - they wouldn't be putting up other candidates against you, they would on the phone seeking out specific opportunities tailored to your requirements, and you would pay them for that service. EBs do none of those things. They take their brief from the client and their role is to source suitable candidates to fill those roles. Your own particular needs are no bearing on the matter - either you are worth putting forward or you're not. That's why I get annoyed when contractors say that 'agents find them a job.' They do no such thing.

In answer to your question, everyone is different. What one contractor would find acceptable, another may not. A lot is down to the particular account manager (recruiter) you are dealing with and the particular role you are performing and their level of understanding of the skills and market concerned. The only thing to watch out for is solvency - clearly if an EB is going under or is not doing well and could go under receivership then that is definitely one to avoid as you may or probably won't get your money.

By listing certain EBs as 'good' it's like suggesting that M&S is a great store for everyone to shop in and that everyone will always like the clothes.

[cojak]

Reference-wise you can't really go on the experiences of one agent - they maybe the bad apple in the company. Two or three doing the same thing though...