Contractors - Your Turn!!

[Town&CityConsulting]

I think the main points are said from reading MrsGoof. Understand the regulations for the business you work in and don't mis-quote them like a Sayed. Honesty is the main thing - too many recruiters think they can just lie their way through but you will never get repeat business that way.

I concur, i find to many agents 'cut off their nose to spite their face', they go for the short term gain as opposed to long term 'investment'. The contracting market is a very close knit community and one to be respected.

It might take slightly longer to get you placed but the idea is to place you in a role you are suited for at a good rate as opposed to trying to force a square peg into a round hole. I'll be honest, if you are making money then so am i, so its in my interest to keep you working alongside me!!

[Gold Dalek]

Hi all,

I have been working with contractors for some time, and now (please dont swear at me!) decided to set up my own Recruitment business for contractors, I have been reading this site for a long time and know most views of agencies are not that great, so its your turn to have a say, this is a fresh venture of mine and i am fed up with people saying that agencies do not 'work for the contractor' so i plan to work along side with you guys and girls as much as possible to ensure your getting the 'plum contracts' .. so post as much feedback as poss please detailing what you want from an agency! (and please try and keep constructive)
If you want to provide feedback off-line, then: ideas@townandcity.co.uk

Are you male or female?

[IT contract agent]

2/Client pay us on Wed, you rec money by Friday. (if client pays late, we still pay you.

So your contract will say that candidates are paid two days after you are due to be paid by the client????

[Churchill]

This has got to be a wind up!

As an agent, part of the "Added Value" you supply is the factoring of the invoices. I don't give a tulipe when you get payed just so long you pay me according to the terms of the contract - I don't have a fiscal relationship with the client, you do!

[errorista]

If anyone else has some mature comments to make then please post away. Alternatively, ideas@townandcity.co.uk

How about this for a USP:

1. NEVER post 'fake' jobs. EVER!

2. NEVER forward candidate details to anyone without specific permission.

3. NEVER request a Word format CV when an Acrobat file has been provided.

4. NEVER database a CV unless the candidate specifically requests this.

If you can manage to adhere to the above then I can personally say that I would read your posts and forward my CV when I saw a suitable role. I would also take seriously your posted details and consider your rate details a yardstick by which to measure the 'cowboy' posts.

On the other hand, one hint of departure from any the above will get you tagged in my filter system and I will not read any further posts. Time wasting is the issue.

Hope this helps.

error

[IT contract agent]

.

3. NEVER request a Word format CV when an Acrobat file has been provided.

4. NEVER database a CV unless the candidate specifically requests this.

you'll only ever work with Muppet agencies or one-man bands then! Any decent agency will have your CV on a database as soon as you reply to a job ad

why would you have an issue with sending your CV in a word format??

[Spacecadet]

This has got to be a wind up!

As an agent, part of the "Added Value" you supply is the factoring of the invoices. I don't give a tulipe when you get payed just so long you pay me according to the terms of the contract - I don't have a fiscal relationship with the client, you do!

Suddenly i'm very glad i read all of this thread Been struggling with this one for a couple of weeks.

[errorista]

you'll only ever work with Muppet agencies or one-man bands then! Any decent agency will have your CV on a database as soon as you reply to a job ad

why would you have an issue with sending your CV in a word format??

Chances are there is no job, just a job ad. It usually means that a script is being used to harvest CV data in bulk. (Data is dollars)

I dont believe such a script exists for Acrobat, hence the reason some 'agencies' request Word format having been presented with a perfectly serviceable pdf. I wonder if this makes them vulnerable to macro attack? I imagine they require macros enabled in order to execute their script. Remember its your data.

In a world where Acrobat is far more available than Word, why would anyone want you to send a Word file? Afraid I cant see any good reasons right away.

Anybody know a good reason for Word over Acrobat?

2c
error

[Spacecadet]

Anybody know a good reason for Word over Acrobat?

I know they edit CV's before sending them on to clients.

Personally I don't really care how many databases my CV is on, in fact the more the better. If i'm busy i tend to leave most agency calls to go through to voice mail.

[DodgyAgent]

I know they edit CV's before sending them on to clients.

Personally I don't really care how many databases my CV is on, in fact the more the better. If i'm busy i tend to leave most agency calls to go through to voice mail.

we do edit them, especially if you start bleating on about your model railway in the attic. we also like to sometimes put them onto our headed paper in order that the client knows who to contact. And in some cases we do not trust the client to approach the contractor directly, or call his mate who will give him a backhander.

Dont send them in acrobat