So what agencies CAN you trust...?

[Brian Potter]

You can't trust any. Some individual agents you can trust, more or less
But the more aggressive agencies you can't trust at all. Worst experience with progressive

I don't see how trust comes into this? It's a business deal, so exercise due diligence and stick to one's guns.

They have the balls to run roughshod over you so grow a pair and be ready to run roughshod over them. They'll respect you more for it. That's the key word: respect.

[malvolio]

In terms of trust, would you trust an organisation that sends you the following (red bits are my comments):

Project Manager I'm a Service Architect required by leading Oil & Gas Never worked in O&G giant based in Aberdeen I live in Bristol, to work on a range of exciting yeah right... new programmes, across a range of disciplines

Job Role

Managing all project work in accordnce to specific requirements sure that's not methodology? What kind of a PM doesn't work to requirements? : PEM, RACI Chart sure that's not RAID? and TEM where appropriate; Reporting into the General Manager and Senior Project Manager; Controlling budget and procurement; Ensuring implementation of and adherance to the client client what, exactly;


Permanent position; I'm a 17 year freelance

EXCELLENT salary + bonus; So give us a clue...

Start ASAP.

I get two or three like this every week. When was the last time you saw an agency that doesn't claim to provide focused services aimed at securing the best candidate...

[I just need to test it]

Yes, I've had a few emails describing permie roles but missing out details such as where the job is based.

We've probably all spent periods of time in jobs we weren't passionate about. This is an example of an agent who in my view just doesn't really care.

[SussexSeagull]

I just deal with agents on a transactional basis, i.e. they put my CV forward, hopefully leading to an interview then a contract where they pay me on time.

So long as they do this I am happy but I don't expect to have any dealings afterwards.

Might be different in more niche markets but in my experience the days of having long standing relationships with agents have gone.

[RasputinDude]

RACI Chart sure that's not RAID?

Normally I agree with you Mal, but there is such a thing a RACI matrix.

[tractor]

..

If you get food poisoning, you don't stop eating forever.

It's about how you manage your own relationships. Yes, from experience there are agents that I would never have any dealings with but just because Joe Poster here didn't read his contract and got screwed doesn't mean I wouldn't deal with the same agent/agency.

I have had the opportunity to work with some excellent agencies in the past who having been taken over 56 times since 1990 and have an entirely different business model or operating practices now, I would never deal with again. I have had excellent experiences with some very small enterprises and indeed sometimes they have been better than larger ones even though the financial risk may have been marginally higher.

Some excellent ones I have had recent experience with are Lorien and LaFosse even though the latter are more rigid in their contract negotiations.

Much of the problems with agents would be mitigated into oblivion if contractors were to gain an acceptable level of both business and legal know how before opening a £50 company and calling themselves businesspersons! At least with a car you are supposed to pass a test!!!

[NickNick]

We all treat agencies with healthy dose of suspicion, but they can't all be bad...can they?

Here's a couple I've had good experiences with:

Harvey Nash (Edinburgh)

Sanderson (Bristol)

It's all about the individual (i.e. you) that counts here though. So whilst you've had good experiences with Sandersons, I've not. In the same way that I find the agent basing threads of little use, I treat the positive ones like this the same. That said there are instances where you just can't ignore what others are saying, such as recent posts on here have shown.

[kal]

One word Progressive... stay away, oh and Hoaxleys obviously, all other agencies it really depends on the agent.

[Tasslehoff]

Managed Resource

Managed resource.

Very small outfit. Best experience I have had with a "Agency" so far. Hard to call them an agency as they go against all the normal rules.

Chap who runs it is, straight talker no guff, works hard for you. Good example, over the Xmas period it was a 6 week month they gave us the option to submit our timesheets and get paid the same day. Gave me a bottle of Port for xmas too.

Thoroughly recommend. Wish I could go through them for all my contracts.

[Boo]

...They are a necessary evil ...

FTFY.

Boo