Employment Agents... bad experiences?

[Xil3]

I wouldn't have let him get that far.

"I've told you what my decision is. Goodbye"

Yeah, that's what all my current co-workers said. They were also the ones that suggested that I send a formal complaint.

And in response to all the agents that responded to this thread... I don't believe anyone deserves verbal abuse just for going for the better offer. At least I actually called the agent and was up front with him about it... I could have just came up with some bs story saying that I was moving to North America or something, but no... I was honest and for that I get more bs.

I did what I believe was right for myself. I'm not going to live pay cheque to pay cheque just so an agent can get his commission. I'm going to take the job I want and that's that. After all, it's me that's going to be working this job NOT the agent.


Jon

[Xil3]

If I were the client or the agents boss I would be pleased with the agent for giving you a hard time, so if I were you I would keep my head down and slide off to your better paid job, unless you want a second helping of abuse.

Take it on the chin, you deserve it and you are getting off lightly. Typical hypocrisy though, having let the client down because you have been offered more money elsewhere and then having the gall to sneer at the agent for only being interested in his commission, is pathetic.

The agent is angry because he has let the client down and so have you. Although the commission is important (as you should understand perfectly having done what you have), it is the relationship with the client that is likely to be of greater concern to him.

I've got one today who has gone to ground and is due to start work tomorrow. My money is on him not turning up as there is no sign that he has resigned from his current job. at least you had the balls to call the agent.

Well, your input is bias considering the fact that you're not a contractor and you're obviously going to stick up for your fellow 'agents'.

We're obviously going to look at it from different perspectives, but the point is that I didn't deserve any sort of verbal abuse. That was not called for! I admit that what I did was wrong and I felt really bad about it, but not after all the tulip that he said.

Sometimes you need to do what you know is right for you even though you're not too sure about. And believe me, I made sure to consult a lot of my close friends before doing this, and they all gave me the same answer, so I went with it and was brutally honest throughout the whole thing, only to be greeted by disrespect and ignorance, which is hardly professional (and yes I know what I did was no professional either, but verbal harassment is a lot worse).


Jon

[BoredBloke]

I used to say that I would do the first contract offered. I'm changing that now. From now on I'll do the first contract i sign. Signing depends on the Job, the rate, the location and the T&C's in the contract. After the interview, you usually know about parts 1, 2, 3 but not 4. Until I get a contract which meets all 4 I will consider myself still available.

[oraclesmith]

Yeah, that's what all my current co-workers said. They were also the ones that suggested that I send a formal complaint.

I don't suggest you complain though. I would simply tell them that my mind is made up and terminate the conversation. That way neither side gets emotionally involved and there is no opportunity for mud slinging which can get out of hand.

[DodgyAgent]

Yeah, that's what all my current co-workers said. They were also the ones that suggested that I send a formal complaint.

And in response to all the agents that responded to this thread... I don't believe anyone deserves verbal abuse just for going for the better offer. At least I actually called the agent and was up front with him about it... I could have just came up with some bs story saying that I was moving to North America or something, but no... I was honest and for that I get more bs.

I did what I believe was right for myself. I'm not going to live pay cheque to pay cheque just so an agent can get his commission. I'm going to take the job I want and that's that. After all, it's me that's going to be working this job NOT the agent.


Jon

Fair enough, but spare us the peity about the agent only being interested in the money after you have just gone back on your word for more money yourself.

[thunderlizard]

I've got one today who has gone to ground and is due to start work tomorrow. My money is on him not turning up as there is no sign that he has resigned from his current job.

we'll that's hardly something to be so high and mighty about. Isn't it basically your job as a recruiter to make sure he or somebody else does turn up?

By analogy, if I had some equally flaky software going into release tomorrow I'd hardly be on here saying "my money is on it failing spectacularly, as there's no sign that we ever bothered to test it".

Unless of course you've been down to William Hill, and you literally have put money on him not turning up. That would be a natty hedge, and you would have my admiration.

[lukemg]

Jon, try to forget about it. You found yourself in an awkward situation and did what everyone else would. With the exception that you phoned the first agent instead of emailing or turning your phone off.
Agents act in their own interests everyday with no qualms at all. If they can talk the market down to squeeze your rate, or put a similar candidate in for a better margin for them, they will do it without a thought.
It's business, the guy lashed out because he knew he was about to start all over again and let the client down. all he could do was make you feel bad. Why do you think they never phone/get someone else to answer if your CV/Interview is rejected - To avoid giving you bad news. You let him down, he lashed out to get even - it's a human reaction.
Forget it, follow the money, he will.

[Ardesco]

Recently I was offered a job, which I accepted and had a start date setup for. A few days after I had accepted the first job I was offered another job which was paying twice as much... now I thought to myself, which would be in my best interest, and after a lot of thought I decided to tell the first agent that I did not wish to pursue the first job anymore. The only reason it required a lot of thought was because I felt bad since I had already accepted the first job.

IMHO you got what you deserve. You agreed to do the contract and arranged a start date, and i'm betting the agent has it in writing somewhere (e-mail counts as writing) which means you have a written commitment that you would do this job.

If the job is only half the money that you can get for your skill set why did you accept it in the first place? IMHO you have been unprofessional, left the agent in the tulip and probably pissed the client off as well. Also bear in mind that the agent could probably take legal action against you if he really wanted to (although he won't as it's not worth the hassle).

Once you have accepted a role that is it, you should can everything else. I have previously accepted roles and then had a better offer come around later, but I have always had to refuse it because i'm a professional and my word is my word and i value my companies reputation. It is people like you that reinforce the idea that contractors are money grabbing scum with no professional ethics, and that really pisses me off.

If you had been offered the role and not accepted because something better had come along that would be fine, but the fact that you accepted and gave your word that you would start on a set date and then turned round and changed your mind because of the lure of a bit more cash is what turns you into scum IMHO!!!



As for all of you defending this person and saying anybody that doesn't is an agent, shame on you. Your lax professional ethics are not only dragging yourselves down, but the rest of us as well!!!

[Burdock]

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And in response to all the agents that responded to this thread...

Only one of us is an agent...the bulk of the criticism is from contractors.

[XTC]

If I were the client or the agents boss I would be pleased with the agent for giving you a hard time, so if I were you I would keep my head down and slide off to your better paid job, unless you want a second helping of abuse.

Take it on the chin, you deserve it and you are getting off lightly. Typical hypocrisy though, having let the client down because you have been offered more money elsewhere and then having the gall to sneer at the agent for only being interested in his commission, is pathetic.

The agent is angry because he has let the client down and so have you. Although the commission is important (as you should understand perfectly having done what you have), it is the relationship with the client that is likely to be of greater concern to him.

I've got one today who has gone to ground and is due to start work tomorrow. My money is on him not turning up as there is no sign that he has resigned from his current job. at least you had the balls to call the agent.

Surely you know that this is the nature of contracting. You apply for a number of roles, interviews etc you get offered a 3 month on ok money and you accept, then the next day you are offered twice as much for twice as long. What fool is going to show loyallty to a company and agency he has yet to start work for? I think you're being a little bit naive if you think that's the way the market should work. I don't think you do though, I think you're probably miffed at the OP's attitude. He did the right thing and copped some abuse for it, but that's part and parcel (unfortunately) of the contract market. You've f**cked over the two parties, you get some stick for it, you move on. No complaints..