Agencies to avoid....

[MyUserName]

In the past 5 years I have only used one agent. He contacts me with roles that He already knows I am suitable for, and Only those roles, and Only when I have let him know that I am looking.
He is the only agent I am linked to on linked in and 5 of my past colleagues are now working the same way with him (exclusivity). He does not fish. he is not pushy and he always looks for the best deal for us. Because of this, he now has a loyal and marketable following.

Other agents need to take a leaf out of his book.

Do you fancy sharing his details?

[BolshieBastard]

I would have told you to whistle. The agent decides who goes forwards to the clients, not you.

And I decide who has my exclusivity, not an agency drone or account manager who generally knows sweet FA about my specialism.

What agency do you work for BTW so I know to avoid them? Come on, tell us all!

[Diver]

I would have told you to whistle. The agent decides who goes forwards to the clients, not you.

Then why contact the contractor in the first place if they weren't considered suitable for the role?

And the statement "The agent decides who goes forwards to the clients, not you" is rather sweeping and rather arrogant!
To be perfectly frank here, and I know it is only semantics, but; You (If indirectly) work for the contractor as well as the client. YOU ARE AN AGENT NOT AN EMPLOYER. If the agent decides who goes forwards to the clients is an absolute, then what if the contractor, after vetting the potential client, decides he does not want to be put forward for the position. are you going to tell the contractor that he/she Is still going to be put forward?

Watching this thread I have come to two conclusions;

1. Contractors do overestimate their self worth and their ability to micro manage their own destiny.
2. Agents who's entire career and financial well being rests on the backs of the contractors, are too often arrogant and too often overconfident in their ability to "Select" candidates for roles they know nothing about other than some the terminology used.

In the past 5 years I have only used one agent. He contacts me with roles that He already knows I am suitable for, and Only those roles, and Only when I have let him know that I am looking.
He is the only agent I am linked to on linked in and 5 of my past colleagues are now working the same way with him (exclusivity). He does not fish. he is not pushy and he always looks for the best deal for us. Because of this, he now has a loyal and marketable following.

Other agents need to take a leaf out of his book.

[The Agents View]

Jumar - yesterday they asked for exclusivity to put me forward for a role. TBH, I wasnt that arsed about the role but sent them a mail saying before I agree to your exclusivity clause, here's my requirements including not having a Jumar account manager 'consider' my suitability for the role, this must be solely the client etc.

Sent me a mail back saying oh, erm, we've found someone else more suitable.

Fair enough!

I would have told you to whistle. The agent decides who goes forwards to the clients, not you.

[BolshieBastard]

Jumar - yesterday they asked for exclusivity to put me forward for a role. TBH, I wasnt that arsed about the role but sent them a mail saying before I agree to your exclusivity clause, here's my requirements including not having a Jumar account manager 'consider' my suitability for the role, this must be solely the client etc.

Sent me a mail back saying oh, erm, we've found someone else more suitable.

Fair enough!

[AnonAgent]

Yeah, give Penta Consulting a massive swerve.

Put me forward for a role with Company X. Interview scheduled. Someone from Company Y does the interview (onward selling no doubt). All goes well. Company Y then decides to change the scope of the role after the interview because they want a Widgets XYZ guru AND a Widgets ABC guru (think of these as competing, you'll have one but not the other). Did Penta know what was going on in all this ? No way....slippery shoulders time for them.....wouldn't go through them again if they can't be bothered fixing the problem with their 'client'. Time wasters.

Sounds like a problem with the client not penta...! But clearly they werent clear enough with you about what was going on.

[AussieDigger]

Yeah, give Penta Consulting a massive swerve.

Put me forward for a role with Company X. Interview scheduled. Someone from Company Y does the interview (onward selling no doubt). All goes well. Company Y then decides to change the scope of the role after the interview because they want a Widgets XYZ guru AND a Widgets ABC guru (think of these as competing, you'll have one but not the other). Did Penta know what was going on in all this ? No way....slippery shoulders time for them.....wouldn't go through them again if they can't be bothered fixing the problem with their 'client'. Time wasters.

[AnonAgent]

I keep a list of recruitment agents (not necessarily agencies) that I will not do business with due to being messed around by them before.

If the agent submits my CV to the client and then I hear absolutely nothing, there is just no excuse as to why they cannot tell me either A- Not successful or B- Waiting on client.

I applied for a gig that paid between £300 - £500 per day that I can do with my eyes closed (and agency agreed), but when I said I'd want £450, the agency grumbled about a little (I assume it eats into their margin) and then I heard nothing. Not even sure she put my CV forward.

Cheers Reed Global, I won't be doing business with one of your "consultants" again

Did you call or email them? I am genuninely useless at giving candidates feedback. In such a time pressured environment, calling up a candidate and saying "you have no feedback" or "you were rejected, I dont know why". If I am sending 15-20 CVs to jobs a week and 10 of those are rejected (often without the manager telling the agent themselves) then it doesnt always get passed along.

[AussieDigger]

Anyone ever dealt with an agency called 'SAPSys' ???

[dynamicsaxcontractor]

Are they? My last 4 contracts have all paid weekly. Timesheet by Tues/Wed and payment on Friday.
Positive rep goes to:

Timothy James Consulting
Fine Green Associates
Badenoch & Clarke
Fruition IT

+1 on Fruition IT