Linkedin.com - Client - Agency triangle. FFS!

[jmo21]

part of the reason some clients use agencies is to keep 'tractors 1 step furher away from being able to claim employee rights.

[kal]

Same here but as you say it's very small, 4-5% I think, basically only doing payroll duties.

Ditto, applied for a role via an agency, didn't even make the fist cut as the recuitment 'consultant' decided I wasn't suitable.
So... applied direct, got the role (15% more that the top end on offer before) but had to go via an agency they use for all directs, 4% is all they take and pay weekly, had no problems and am happy with the deal. Did enjoy going back to the waste of space recruitment agent and informing him he'd missed out... very satisfying

[kingcook]

Lots of clients require that you use an agency even if you want to engage with them directly. Find out which agencies are on the preferred suppliers list for the client and approach one of those ones.

The problem is the agent's margin. The agent's rate on offer is mid-300's (per day). Due to the location (i.e. it's very far away, i'd need to stay over) this rate is crap.

If it were in the 400's (which is what the agent will no doubt be getting) then it would be worth doing.

[BolshieBastard]

The problem is the agent's margin. The agent's rate on offer is mid-300's (per day). Due to the location (i.e. it's very far away, i'd need to stay over) this rate is crap.

If it were in the 400's (which is what the agent will no doubt be getting) then it would be worth doing.

Yes, but, mid 300's a day less stay away costs, say £85 a day for hotel, breakfast and lunch is better than an illusionary 400+ which wont materialise.

I agree about clients but, too many of them just dont want the 'hassle.' Have you seen these client's HR \ hiring departments?

At my very first client over 15 years ago, the 'boss' told me there was no further work but he wanted me to stay on so, he said 'let's go to HR and have a word there and see what I can arrange.'

Well we walked in the office and he went to the top 'woman.' She was an absolute witch. She said to him 'Im not here to find your contractors work. What do you think I am, some form of agency?'! This was in an open office. My jaw hit the ground at such unprofessionalism.

Made me realise these HR types have no fracking idea.

[Wanderer]

The problem is the agent's margin. The agent's rate on offer is mid-300's (per day). Due to the location (i.e. it's very far away, i'd need to stay over) this rate is crap.

If it were in the 400's (which is what the agent will no doubt be getting) then it would be worth doing.

The agents will always take a margin, it's just a question of how much.

If you go with the wrong agent it will be high but if you can find one on the preferred suppliers list then the margin should be reasonable and hopefully the rate a bit higher to match your expectations.

Agree that this is a frustrating situation though...

[BolshieBastard]

Ditto, applied for a role via an agency, didn't even make the fist cut as the recuitment 'consultant' decided I wasn't suitable.
So... applied direct, got the role (15% more that the top end on offer before) but had to go via an agency they use for all directs, 4% is all they take and pay weekly, had no problems and am happy with the deal. Did enjoy going back to the waste of space recruitment agent and informing him he'd missed out... very satisfying

How do you know it was the exact same role though? Did the agent tell you who the client was when applying as most will only tell you if you're deemed 'suitable' for the role?

Seems strange to me that a client will put a role out to agencies, disregard them all and take on a direct contractor then insist that contractor uses an agent on their PSL.

[kal]

How do you know it was the exact same role though? Did the agent tell you who the client was when applying as most will only tell you if you're deemed 'suitable' for the role?

Seems strange to me that a client will put a role out to agencies, disregard them all and take on a direct contractor then insist that contractor uses an agent on their PSL.

There were a few roles going and they were having difficulty in filling them. Agent let the company name slip as it was on the job spec, once I got the brush off I approached the HR resource at the company (via LinkedIn) and applied direct. I know it was same role as the job specs matched. As for going via an agency, that only reared its head at the 11th hr and like I say paying 4% to invoice and get paid weekly is worth it in my book (as otherwise I was looking at quarterly invoices...)

[quackhandle]

I've done similar to above, there's so many permie roles in my field (SQL) but not much contract roles so I've tried to go direct via LI and say if you can't find anyone, please keep me in mind. Not heard anything so far, but nothing ventured and all that..

qh

[yasockie]

It's a tulipe state of affairs though. I'm sat here looking at a rate, thinking i'd go for it if I could get the agents margin as well.

So in this case, the client's act of wanting to go via an agency means that I'm not interested.

Unfortunately, I was in the same position a few months ago - I didn't want to go via crap agency the they have been using as a sole PSL and in the end didn't get the role.
Next time I played nicely - although this time via an agency of my choice and got the role, no probelm.
Both times I have been tipped directly by the hiring manager.
It does irk me a bit, but it's better to get a role via agency than no role at all.

[logozz]

You must be

..more persistent and let the end client know that you consider turning the contract down if you are forced to go through an agency!

But even if you have to, it is better that you find your own gigs which will lower the agencies margin, and eventually they will go out of business if enough contractors show some spine!

This ridiculous "industry" must come to an end - end of the day, everyone is unhappy with the nonsense-service and now value agencies are providing in IT; it's just bad habits that keep clients do it. LET"S CHANGE THAT HABIT.

In the ages of social media, agencies should self-die. It's just nonsense business - we all know that agencies are low educated, low skilled maggots who should be sent back to the hamburger stall they came from.

Show some balls, for Christ sake - it's YOUR skills the clients need - not some underperforming, low skilled middleman!

Check this out: ww w.roleconnect.com/ - RoleConnect | Connect with leading contract software developers, designers, testers - locally, nationally and internationally and much more services

We need to transform the IT industry in the UK, so that skilled people are able to grow their businesses, and contribute to the growth of the overall economy in this nation!

Cut that useless middleman OUT!