TEK Systems again.

**nomadd** · 1 May 2013, 16:10

Originally posted by BolshieBastard View Post

Got a call from them again although a different 'drone' this time.

After the usual guff about are you looking, how you finding the market blah, blah, blah, they then start going on about a 'virtual bench'! This wonderful idea means that you are their 'best picks' for any contract opportunities that come in.

To be on the 'virtual bench,' they just need to have two references from the last 12 - 18 months so when the next contract comes up, they can present the references to the potential client. Oh, and they also like to know who you 'reported' to in your last 2 roles. So that's 4 references then!?

Once they have all this, they then want to meet face to face over a coffee(!) so they can get to know you and you get to know then.

Kinell, does my head in, this lot. I find them to be like a bunch of ex double glazing salesmen desparate to get a sale. Pushy, pushy, pushy.

Yeah, got the same (attempted) call from them yesterday.

Mind you, he got cut pretty short by me, "Yes, I'm looking... Role similar to my last one... Phone or email if anything suitable comes in." Click.

No point wasting his or my time listening to the tripe he wanted to come out with.

**northernladuk** · 1 May 2013, 16:33

Wish I would get one of these calls so I could have a bit of fun with them.

Shouldn't the PCG be looking at stuff like this and try to get the REC guidance changed to try and stop this. At best it is devious at worst there has to be some law against using information given inappropriately to the reason it was requested.

**BolshieBastard** · 1 May 2013, 19:50

Originally posted by nomadd View Post

Yeah, got the same (attempted) call from them yesterday.

Mind you, he got cut pretty short by me, "Yes, I'm looking... Role similar to my last one... Phone or email if anything suitable comes in." Click.

No point wasting his or my time listening to the tripe he wanted to come out with.

Hahaha! I like your style! Im a little too polite for that kind of thing but, I can definitely say they'll get a bit more like that from me next time they phone up.

**BolshieBastard** · 1 May 2013, 19:51

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Wish I would get one of these calls so I could have a bit of fun with them.

Shouldn't the PCG be looking at stuff like this and try to get the REC guidance changed to try and stop this. At best it is devious at worst there has to be some law against using information given inappropriately to the reason it was requested.

Just apply for a role via them. They'll soon zoom in on ya

**GB9** · 2 May 2013, 06:57

Had a similar experience with them a few weeks ago when I applied for a role. It was a bit tedious, although to be fair I did end up with an interview out of it. In the current market seems like the carp you have to go through at times.

**sunflower** · 2 May 2013, 10:23

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Wish I would get one of these calls so I could have a bit of fun with them.

Shouldn't the PCG be looking at stuff like this and try to get the REC guidance changed to try and stop this. At best it is devious at worst there has to be some law against using information given inappropriately to the reason it was requested.

I could not agree with you more on that one Northern Lad. These sorts of calls and strategies to gain business contacts for their own sales under the guise of contract applications just wastes our time. The PCG would be a good professional organisation to put pressure on official bodies to have these strategies stopped. Also the ficitious project adverts for cv harvesting. If a shop advertised goods on sale which it did not stock, the retailer would be in trouble for violating the trade descriptions act, but these agents get away with it.

**malvolio** · 2 May 2013, 10:53

Originally posted by sunflower View Post

I could not agree with you more on that one Northern Lad. These sorts of calls and strategies to gain business contacts for their own sales under the guise of contract applications just wastes our time. The PCG would be a good professional organisation to put pressure on official bodies to have these strategies stopped. Also the ficitious project adverts for cv harvesting. If a shop advertised goods on sale which it did not stock, the retailer would be in trouble for violating the trade descriptions act, but these agents get away with it.

Happy to raise it as a point for discussion. However you have to understand why it happens: agents get paid by meeting targets. Actually filling a role is only one of them, most are about getting contact points from both potential clients and potential suppliers. Also, of course, the bottom feeders who make these pointless calls aren't the ones that get the credit for filing the role, that's goes to the account manager so make-work is how they get their performance related pay..

It's a £27bn a year business model: it's not about to change.

TEK Systems again.