Answer to the question "what have you been doing since your last contract"

[JamJarST]

Please do tell me, how you believe we gain new contracts from knowing who your previous employer was??

Is it magic??

Because agents phone up my previous line manager/client/employer and say that they know I used to be there but there is now a vacancy and they have the perfect candidate. Every agent I have given these details to has done it, I dont begrudge them it but I don't like my name being used as if I had given the lead on purpose.

[darrenb]

If you are Ltd company then you continued to be employed by your company as MD or whatever. In short none of their nosey business! This is a sign of an Agency or Agent that doesn’t understand the Contractor Market and the fact that even in buoyant markets we all have time on the bench. Who are they to draw conclusions about what you get up to when you are not on contract?

WHS.

Clients and agents know this has nothing to do with how good you are, but sometimes they will try and make a big deal of it in order to beat down your rate. As an independent, you should have a tough skin, see these questions for what they are, and not let yourself be intimidated.

[escapeUK]

Smile happily and say "Whatever I wanted."

[Wanderer]

Please do tell me, how you believe we gain new contracts from knowing who your previous employer was?? Is it magic??

I do laugh at how agents come out with this stuff and keep a straight face.

Mate, have a good long read of this thread and see how the magic works....

[SueEllen]

I do laugh at how agents come out with this stuff and keep a straight face.

Mate, have a good long read of this thread and see how the magic works....

You should be nice to TAV he is really an innocent amongst agents.