To be fair, they do sometimes get tentative requirements from clients, and may need to advertise on that basis. Obviously if they said there was only a 50% chance of the role actually becoming live, not many people would respond. By all means name and shame though - we love a bit of that on here.
- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Why do they do it ?
Collapse
X
-
-
*** at ***
*** at ***
Both have told me the most whopping great lies...avoid if you canComment
-
Had some **** of a contractor applying for a role the other day. SlapmyBacksidewithahairbrush or something. Offered him £65.50 per hour for 15 months excel vba. When the client backed off to £65.25 , the git started having a go at me
****
*** - ***(\__/)
(>'.'<)
("")("") Born to Drink. Forced to WorkComment
-
-
Personal view is to try to not let this bother me in the slightest. I can easily pick out the leads fishers, everything else - adapt CV, write brief cover note, fire and forget. If they get in touch and it sounds genuine, express interest, then forget once more.
There are so many points at which you can fail to get the job - it never existed, client removes/delays vacancy/changes requirements, better qualified/located/available people apply and push you down the list, client decides they don't want to see you, agent is keeping you on the reserve list in case his first team gets a knockback etc etc etc.
You will drive yourself mad waiting for the call/chasing agents (a call straight after applying is advised by some, to push you up the list, I don't do this though). You can only influence the process to a small degree, mostly by being a 99% match for the job and making sure your cv shows this. After that, kick-back or you will spend a lot of time frustrated and angry.
HTHComment
-
Thanks, you are right.
I'm reasonably new to the UK and the salespeople are different here, ie more tricks, lies etc etc
I'd never been phoned and asked about 'my availability' before I came here, stupid me never realised it was a way of them trying to tee up their candidates and undercut me.
What would I do with £88M?Comment
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- IT contractor demand cools in June 2026 amid UK heatwave Yesterday 08:18
- How could zero hours contract reform create unexpected problems for contractors? Jul 8 06:40
- Three Loan Charge conflicts of interest show Labour ministers knew the McCann Review was compromised from the start Jul 7 05:44
- What’s happening with HMRC off-payroll working enforcement? (IR35 update) Jul 6 08:20
- HMRC abandons PGMOL football referees case: Are contractors and IR35 hit? Jul 2 05:09
- Crypto tax and contractors: What HMRC’s new cryptoasset research really means Jul 1 04:03
- Crypto Tax and Contractors: What HMRC's New Cryptoasset Research Really Means Jul 1 04:03
- Profit and loss accounts set for public filing at Companies House from 2028 — what it means for your contractor business Jun 30 03:38
- UK IT Contractors: How to land Forward Deployed Engineer roles beyond Palantir, Anthropic and OpenAI Jun 29 05:52
- The 3 highest-paying software contractor jobs right now, and what they actually pay Jun 25 03:52

Comment