Local candidates only and evidence of 'long' assignments on cv.

[Brussels Slumdog]

In those cases I am guessing they are looking for repeat business. Solved one problem well in a few weeks, got offered the next problem and so on...

My last 5 contracts have been with the same agency and I am currently on the bench. I am in regular contact with another 4 agencies and try my luck with the other agencies
I have a mental database of agencies who offer reasonable rates and which agencies are quoting Bob rates for the area
I have started to compile a list of Idiots that ask for references before the interview
Local Candidates in Belgium usually means French + Dutch + with the right accent. Long term in other EU countries means working over the 183 day limit which is suicidal

[Earl Purple]

The long contract thing is just a crude way to ensure you have face fitting skills and the ability to stick on a good thing. I have two contacts that regularly manage to get sacked instead of renewed. Reason is they are fantastic techies who love pissing people off. I won't give them references anymore because I know they will get on at least one senior managers tits in 3 months. They are technologically sound and can do the work in their sleep.

My current client told me they would not expect me to stay very long as contractors don't stay. I pointed to my CV and said what like 2 years and 15 months then one that was 3 years... They are coming round now and starting to talk about next year....

Oh here we go the "face fit" tulipe, that used to be limited to permies and now us contractors have to face too.

I don't believe that they "love pissing people off". I believe they think they are being hired due to their technical expertise, and are being paid a rate to reflect it.

So they come along and give their technical expertise, which as you say, is sound. That means telling certain senior managers that things are currently wrong and should be done better.

Senior manager hates this outsider "threatening" his ego and wants them out, caring more about his ego than the business.

The contractors are probably aspies too.

They need to be found the right role. The reason contracts end early is often because they should never have been hired in the first place. Not because they are incompetent. Just the work isn't there for them. You wonder why therefore they were hired. Of course they took the role, either because they were lied to at the interview stage, or because they needed the money.

I could give a list of my roles and reasons they ended. Most of the time, there genuinely was nothing useful for me to do at the time of leaving, i.e. I had either done it or it was never there in the first place. Other times it is a political decision from upstairs, because I am an "overpaid" resource. (I have no idea if I am, because I don't know what the agency is charging them for my service. Perhaps if they wanted to pay less they wouldn't use agencies).

[Taita]

Agree there but some agents don't see it that way simply because they can't read.

Illiterate agents...... you have to be joking!!!!