Agencies that want to meet you ?

[northernladuk]

What's the end client and who is the agency?

Teksystems will insist on it for some of their end clients but it did mean I was the only candidate and the interview was "am I human" rather than crappy technical questions...

As NLUK, Cojak and Simonmac will all confirm I'm not sure how I passed that bit however....

We are still trying to work that one out

[northernladuk]

I've met agents twice and don't regret doing it. Saying that I have turned down many more requests.

In both cases it wasn't too far and I was benched so absolutely no skin of my nose. Both cases the agent was collecting information about a big transformation piece of work that was kicking off at their clients so I thought it would be worthwhile to bleed him for information about the work, client and so on. Could have been work something for networking or if I got an interview.

Neither came to anything in the end and the time but I still have my eye on a one of the clients so a bit of history could still be useful if I can get in to talk to them.

If it doesn't cost and you've got sod all to do I wouldn't be so quick to turn it down personally but don't come out all rose tinted spectacles and the like.

[CoolCat]

mostly its a complete waste of time.

some of the bigger agencies seem to set their junior agents the challenge of meeting as many people as possible, in order to start building their network up, understand some of the issues from face to face chats, and so on. so a lot of it is driven by that. not all bad, and if you are free and in the area can be ok. some are genuine and just want contacts that can be built on longer term. and some of us hire from time to time and are not just resources.

sometimes its genuinely a senior role and the want you check you out (although mostly the agencies are a lot worse at this that they imagine), or they have placed people recently who turned out to be a poor match and they are trying to recover and being specially careful.

and yes sometimes they just want to pump you for contacts, obviously don't fall for that...

[TheFaQQer]

I've only met an agent a handful of times.

1) Interview with the client was taking place at the agent's offices

2) Agent took me to lunch first week of a new contract

3) Agent took me for a drink since he was in the area and I was working through that agency

4) Meet and chat with a few agents when I'm at different conferences because they are there and it's good to have a quick catch-up.

Never had an agent ask to meet me before I went for an interview - unless it was local (or I needed the work), I'd not bother.

[dty]

mostly its a complete waste of time.

some of the bigger agencies seem to set their junior agents the challenge of meeting as many people as possible, in order to start building their network up, understand some of the issues from face to face chats, and so on. so a lot of it is driven by that. not all bad, and if you are free and in the area can be ok. some are genuine and just want contacts that can be built on longer term. and some of us hire from time to time and are not just resources.

sometimes its genuinely a senior role and the want you check you out (although mostly the agencies are a lot worse at this that they imagine), or they have placed people recently who turned out to be a poor match and they are trying to recover and being specially careful.

and yes sometimes they just want to pump you for contacts, obviously don't fall for that...

I think your shift key might be broken.

[TheFaQQer]

I think your shift key might be broken.

Seriously? Can't you just comment appropriately or move on?

[MyUserName]

I have had it twice. Both times for permie jobs.

Once was to go through my experience and explain what the role was about. Then he gave me advice on how to tailor my cv as he knew what the manager looked for, I turned down the interview when I got a different offer. The agent was furious and phoned me up to call me unprofessional and demand I sent an email apologising for the trouble I had caused.

The other time was rather a bland chat with generic comments about the role. I proceeded to blow the interview by mixing up the definitions of two asset classes so it did not matter.

[ronanm]

I have had it twice. Both times for permie jobs.

Once was to go through my experience and explain what the role was about. Then he gave me advice on how to tailor my cv as he knew what the manager looked for, I turned down the interview when I got a different offer. The agent was furious and phoned me up to call me unprofessional and demand I sent an email apologising for the trouble I had caused.

The other time was rather a bland chat with generic comments about the role. I proceeded to blow the interview by mixing up the definitions of two asset classes so it did not matter.

Doubt the agent knew the difference in any case.

[MyUserName]

Doubt the agent knew the difference in any case.

Nah, he would not have known. He was very happy that I explained the difference between C# and C++ though!

The technical interviewer spotted my mistake though :-) When I apologised and corrected myself I could see in face I was wasting my time from then on.

[Batcher]

I've done this twice at different offices of Hays IT over the years. It wasn't for any particular contract at the time, they just wanted to meet to discuss what I was looking for and to go over my CV.

I wasn't asked for references or any other sales leads. It was just general chatting about what was available and the clients they had that might be interested in my skillset. They said that it would save time if something came in to be filled immediately.

Both times I was on the bench anyway so it was worth doing. I was aware they might try to mine me for contacts but it didn't happen. As it happened, nothing came of it but one of the clients they mentioned was where I got my next contract but through a rival agency.