Was I rude to Computer People?

[NotAllThere]

Emails from agencies go straight to junk. If they really want to contact me, they'll phone.

[d000hg]

I don't really get why they bother chasing contractors for perm roles, when it's some regular java/C#/etc developer role. I think I'm pretty good but on paper I'm just another half-decent developer, and I'm certain there are lots of half-decent developers out there looking for permie jobs.

[nomadd]

Today I got an email from an agent at Computer People with one web developer contract at the other end of the country and various permanent jobs for skills I don't have.

Your biggest mistake was to reply. I used to, and got in the same kind of pickle you did. I now find my spam-filter and delete-key provide me with a far less stressful existence.

If the mail is polite and does slightly match your skillset (not that it did in this case), then simply reply with an updated CV and availability date - and then forget about it. Go have a beer and watch some sport.

[darrenb]

Dies anyone actually get roles with these people? Have never found cp any use or any good.

To the OP, move on and ignore this most of these agents are 12 year olds straight out of uni. They are really not worth wasting your time on.

If she graduated from uni at 12, she's probably a genius. Ask her first if she's legal, then if she'd like to go out on a date with you. No doubt you'll find she knows more about Java than you do.

More realistically, what is staggering here is the assumption that an agent went to uni at all.

The arrogance of these know-nothing goons (as displayed in this email correspondence) is part of what drove me out of England.

[Taita]

Like most people I get loads of calls from agents who are my best friend, listen carefully to my requirements for a contract say they will contact me when they have something relevant and then spam me with loads of irrelevant permanent jobs. Sometimes I just delete the emails, sometimes I reply and ask if they could correct the contract/permanent setting against the details they hold for me.

Today I got an email from an agent at Computer People with one web developer contract at the other end of the country and various permanent jobs for skills I don't have. I'm a java contractor and have had a few emails about permanent jobs from Computer People recently which I've deleted so I replied this time:



The reply I got was:



I should probably have left it there but as she had said she carefully selected the recipients I thought it worth pointing out that something might need fixing in their system:



The reply sounded was a little less professional than I expected:



She'd not mentioned the java contract before. Anyway I didn't intend to be rude so:





Very magnanimous. It's interesting to be reminded at the valued role agents provide.

Was I rude? Are my expectations of agents too high?

If you can get hold of an email address for the Sales Director you should send the emails there. No wonder agents get such a bad press! Fortunately, I have not had such an infuriating experience yet.

[northernladuk]

If you can get hold of an email address for the Sales Director you should send the emails there. No wonder agents get such a bad press! Fortunately, I have not had such an infuriating experience yet.

You are kidding right? That is more likely to get you removed which is worse than the odd junk mail. You think they care about complaining contractors who are not even earning them anything? No wonder contractors get such a bad press.

[darrenb]

You are kidding right? That is more likely to get you removed which is worse than the odd junk mail. You think they care about complaining contractors who are not even earning them anything? .

No they don't care. I think the point is, they should care. They should care about wasting the time of the people upon whose existence their own livelihoods are completely dependent.

Contractors can survive without agents. Agents cannot survive without contractors. Never forget the dependency relationship.

[javadude]

Contractors can survive without agents. Agents cannot survive without contractors. Never forget the dependency relationship.

My current contract is an example of this: direct and arranged through personal networking. One agent did try to muddy the waters and interpose himself and offered to provide "payroll" for the usual cut but the customer was not having any of it.

Good agents are sometimes useful. I've a good relationship with one agent who got me three contracts in a row with different customers. One was without an interview and based on the fact that he knew my work and he had a track-record of providing suitable contractors to the customer. Having worked with the best I despair at the antics of the worst.

[RobertRice]

they should care

They fulfil a sales role and eager for commission and their slice of the pie.
Caring doesn't come into the equation.

[SueEllen]

More realistically, what is staggering here is the assumption that an agent went to uni at all.

Some do, some don't. Even fewer have even worked in the IT industry.