What makes a good agent?

[clearedforlanding]

Honest and fair, it's enough for me.

You need to be a lot more granular than that.

[vetran]

By the way, do you offer sex to your contractors? Taking, that is.

Why do you think his avatar is supporting himself on the car? Last week was NLYUK's renewal!

[vetran]

I was quite impressed that they described the job correctly, did the paperwork before I arrived and remembered the renewal was due. Free lunch once a year was quite nice too.

[psychocandy]

After a week of many boozy luches and implied offers of sex from agents I am starting to get a bit blurry as to what makes a good agent from a contractors perspective.

All I'm coming up with is:

1. Pays on time.
2. Does not go belly up.
3. Realises they are not fooling contractor that they are friend but a necessary tool, in both senses of the word.
4. It's not afraid to present valid contractual changes to contractors ClientCo.
5. Returns phone calls and emails promptly.
6. Positions and treats contractor as an expert in their field.
7. Doesn't mine me for references.
8. (Understands IR35 - not applicable to my territory).
9. Arbritrates clientco contractor disagreements.
10. Proactivley manages renewals.

Same or different gender? In line with your sexual preference?

Must admit I've never had that - sure they get some of the girlie agents in so they can put pretty pics on linkedin though.

[psychocandy]

Oh, we got passed the implied part. I feel slightly sorry for all the applicants she is having to tell she can't get hold of the client at the moment to, but hey, it's a dog eat dog world.

Come on full story.....

[MrMarkyMark]

Same or different gender? In line with your sexual preference?

Maybe he's greedy and likes both

Must admit I've never had that

Why does that not surprise me?

[clearedforlanding]

Come on full story.....

There is not really that much to tell. 2 out of 3 female account managers have made comments such as "I am sure we would have a lot of fun" while gently touching my elbow etc and displaying body language compatible with yoiu are going to get laid. One offered to take me out for drinks that evening, suggesting we met at her hotel bar.

I am CxO level and had heard stories from collegues, and have been the hiring manager many times, but the dynamics with female account managers now I am the decision maker for agency selection and looking for several hundred contractors is an eye opener. Albeit on a very limited sample size.