Hoaxley. Priceless

[phonemonkey]

My technical knowledge is of a very high standard, having on several courses related directly to my specialism, and I act as a 1st round of interview process for my clients.

The problem is the HR people that we have to deal with are not technical and therefore cannot always see who is best, and will often simply opt for the CV with the most buzz-words which is ineffective.

The more help we can give them the better – this is where a clear and frank reference that they can understand helps.

In terms of suggesting people are lying – surprise, surprise people often do. I have lost count of the times someone has initially claimed they could pick up loadrunner in a day or two as they are a fast learner and therefore deserve 500/day despite the fact they have never used an automated tool in their life.

I’m not saying all contractors lie but a lot do, as do agents admittedly, but enough do to make us wary.

[meridian]

My technical knowledge is of a very high standard, having on several courses related directly to my specialism, and I act as a 1st round of interview process for my clients.

The problem is the HR people that we have to deal with are not technical and therefore cannot always see who is best, and will often simply opt for the CV with the most buzz-words which is ineffective.

The more help we can give them the better – this is where a clear and frank reference that they can understand helps.

In terms of suggesting people are lying – surprise, surprise people often do. I have lost count of the times someone has initially claimed they could pick up loadrunner in a day or two as they are a fast learner and therefore deserve 500/day despite the fact they have never used an automated tool in their life.

I’m not saying all contractors lie but a lot do, as do agents admittedly, but enough do to make us wary.

How does a reference that states "X contracted here and we can confirm he did [insert technical description here]" help the client? It still uses the technical jargon, and you're still not getting off your ar$e to translate the requirements and cv's for the client.

Just do what you always do - pick the three that want the lowest daily rate so you maximise your profits.

[phonemonkey]

thats not the type of reference I'm talking about. I talking about a description of how they affected the team, their general attitude, performance, achievments etc - than just start dates and end dates.

But then I think you knew that really.

With regards to just sending off the cheapest so I make the highest margin - that's ideal as long as they can do the job of course.

[wendigo100]

Just do what you always do - pick the three that want the lowest daily rate so you maximise your profits.

That doesn't always work. In some of the arrangements I've come across, where big organisations use a preferred body shop, the client dictates the agency cut. So the more I earn, the more the agent earns.

[meridian]

thats not the type of reference I'm talking about. I talking about a description of how they affected the team, their general attitude, performance, achievments etc - than just start dates and end dates.

But then I think you knew that really.

With regards to just sending off the cheapest so I make the highest margin - that's ideal as long as they can do the job of course.

Get with the real world - nobody gives references like that anymore, particularly on shorter-term contracts.

[Cliphead]

thats not the type of reference I'm talking about. I talking about a description of how they affected the team, their general attitude, performance, achievments etc - than just start dates and end dates.

Permie shit

[The Lone Gunman]

thats not the type of reference I'm talking about. I talking about a description of how they affected the team, their general attitude, performance, achievments etc - than just start dates and end dates.

But then I think you knew that really.

With regards to just sending off the cheapest so I make the highest margin - that's ideal as long as they can do the job of course.

Considering I have spent a lot of time in Germany and it is illegal to write a bad reference there, how are you going to know.
More and more in the UK managers are reluctant to write honest references.
I know a manager who wrote a glowing reference to get rid of someone, and a tulipe one to keep someone.

Many managers hate contractors so will only ever write "he was crap".

The only way ypou and your clients can be sure is by you engaging with the client and the contractor to provide the right person for the right role.

[TheFaQQer]

thats not the type of reference I'm talking about. I talking about a description of how they affected the team, their general attitude, performance, achievments etc - than just start dates and end dates.

But then I think you knew that really.

With regards to just sending off the cheapest so I make the highest margin - that's ideal as long as they can do the job of course.

Try seeing who they have worked with rather than for - agent that got me my current job had a chat with me beforehand about where I was working, who with (found some common contacts) and then rang some of them before considering putting me forward for the role.

Nothing formal as a reference, but you might get a better feel - he's asked me about people that I've worked with that he has on the database, to see what they were like before putting the CV forward.

Of course, it relies on contractor honesty - but why should that be better/worse than honesty from a client?

[darmstadt]

Considering I have spent a lot of time in Germany and it is illegal to write a bad reference there, how are you going to know.

Kind of true but what you are allowed to do is word it so that you thought that the employee was a bag of dung. You can even buy books which tell you how to do it.

[stackpole]

Try seeing who they have worked with rather than for - agent that got me my current job had a chat with me beforehand about where I was working, who with (found some common contacts) and then rang some of them before considering putting me forward for the role.

Nothing formal as a reference, but you might get a better feel - he's asked me about people that I've worked with that he has on the database, to see what they were like before putting the CV forward.

Formidable, faqqer! How often is there one born?