What makes a good agent?

[clearedforlanding]

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.

[DimPrawn]

The only good agent, is a dead agent.

[BrilloPad]

The only good agent, is a dead agent.

I thought the offer of sex sounded good. Though if they have to be dead first - that is fine too.

Okay okay. Seriously. I think an offer of lunch is enough. Oxo tower suits me fine.

[MrMarkyMark]

Yep all of those.

+ Does not lie.
+ Provides drinks and dinners out.
+ invites you to the Christmas do.
+ Gets you in there for interview.

In fact my agent ticks all those boxes, however, I have known him for 5-6 years.
He actually runs a team and all of them are sound.

The only really sound one I have known in 15 years+ though.

[SlipTheJab]

I thought the offer of sex sounded good. Though if they have to be dead first - that is fine too.

Okay okay. Seriously. I think an offer of lunch is enough. Oxo tower suits me fine.

I imagine you've been taken up the Oxo tower more than once

[MrMarkyMark]

I imagine you've been taken up the Oxo tower more than once

I thought he would be a permanent resident

[BrilloPad]

A large overcoat. Sunglasses. And a walkie-talkie. That always blends in well.

HTH

[DodgyAgent]

The only good agent, is a dead agent.

I just wondered who was going to be first to say that

[FatLazyContractor]

I just wondered who was going to be first to say that

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

[clearedforlanding]

I just wondered who was going to be first to say that

It was expected.

As I didn't enjoy cold calling clientcos day in day out, agent's were valuable to me in my contracting career. In an ideal world I would call up Mr. CEO at Bluechip and ask him for a job. He would have one and say yes.

On the flip side, finding an agent that I am confident is not going to piss of my contractors is proving challenging, but advertising directly is one hell of an overhead. LinkedIn and hiring all my mates seems to be the way to go. Bring guns, whiskey and hookers.

Wow, just reread my post and what a priceless statement of the obvious it is.