Separating real and fake calls....

[Gym beast]

It's been my experience that p*mps with REAL contracts will open the call with a quick, "Hi how ya doing?", wait for your answer, and dive into the specifics of the spec fast. Ask you a quick couple of questions about your cv and boof, you're cv's off.

Anything more, or anything more than 5 minutes yakking, they're a fake.

What do you lot reckon?

[northernladuk]

I think such a simplistic blinkered approach is going to cost you in the future..

Go in with an open mind, be aware of the tricks, and deal with every case on it's own merits.

Agents do the same job with the same goals but they are still people which makes them different.

Don't get sucked in with all this pimp hating crap that is often sprouted on here. It's business, deal with it as that, not a war.

[Mephisto]

Out of countless calls to/from agents over the past few years of contracting I can honestly say I suspect maybe a handful were fakes. Most seem to be legit (though I have no evidence either way of course).

I'm certain it exists and I'm certain it happens on a daily basis but it isn't something I feel impedes my ability to find contract work. In fact I have bigger problems with short contracts and location really causing the most problems at the minute!

[DimPrawn]

Gut feel.

If your gut says fishing exercise, it usually is.

[Antman]

I think such a simplistic blinkered approach is going to cost you in the future..

Go in with an open mind, be aware of the tricks, and deal with every case on it's own merits.

Agents do the same job with the same goals but they are still people which makes them different.

Don't get sucked in with all this pimp hating crap that is often sprouted on here. It's business, deal with it as that, not a war.

WNLS

[Dominic Connor]

It's been my experience that p*mps with REAL contracts will open the call with a quick, "Hi how ya doing?", wait for your answer, and dive into the specifics of the spec fast. Ask you a quick couple of questions about your cv and boof, you're cv's off.

Anything more, or anything more than 5 minutes yakking, they're a fake.

What do you lot reckon?

Speaking as someone who makes the calls, I think that's a crap filter.

I can see why you think that because of the way some firms operate, but you'll miss out on assignments where the recruiter is actually doing some filtering, these can often be the better ones.

[flipFlop]

I think such a simplistic blinkered approach is going to cost you in the future..

Go in with an open mind, be aware of the tricks, and deal with every case on it's own merits.

Agents do the same job with the same goals but they are still people which makes them different.

Don't get sucked in with all this pimp hating crap that is often sprouted on here. It's business, deal with it as that, not a war.

On "it's" own merits? Often "sprouted"?

[SueEllen]

On "it's" own merits? Often "sprouted"?

Some of the pimps particularly those who offer roles in locations that most contractors don't want but you actually do, or have rates that are low will start of in a similar style to those that are fishing.

Hence as NLUK stated treat hear every agent out and as soon as they stated something that makes it clear you aren't interested in the role tell them so.

[mos]

Go in with an open mind, be aware of the tricks, and deal with every case on it's own merits.

Very very true

Besides - your '5 minutes' rule will not work a'priori - only after you already wasted time and maybe even provided the pimp with valuable leads for milking.

[eek]

Very very true

Besides - your '5 minutes' rule will not work a'priori - only after you already wasted time and maybe even provided the pimp with valuable leads for milking.

Never answer the phone unless you know the agent. If its a contract they will leave a message, a fishing exercise and they'll move on to the next person on their list.