Employment Agents... bad experiences?

[XTC]

"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."

Words cannot begin to describe how incredibly dull and naive you are.

[Ruprect]

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..

XTC, I think Dodgy's point was more about the fact that the OP was complaining about the abuse he was getting... personally I wouldn't have hung on the phone to hear it, but then again I probably would have managed the expectations a little better, esp when there was another iron in the fire that was worth a lot more. My experience (generally) is that as soon as I've accepted there has been a contract in front of me quicker than I can say "money grabbing sheister" so I'm committed anyway.

[Bright Spark]

In the short term you may have got a little extra money, but
this strategy doesn't work in the long term. Thinking in terms of
a quick buck will lead you into changing contracts regularly and
you won't be able to develop the longer term relationships with clients
and agents, which results in repeat business.

HTH

[Muttley08]

Sorry put gotta speak up here...

Yes if you give your word, you should stick to it...but if the agent was taking the pi$$ with the rate to start (as it sounds as if he is, if the xil has been offered double somewhere else), then fair play...

It's dog eat dog....a lot of agents play games like this if they can undercut you...

[The Lone Gunman]

"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."

Words cannot begin to describe how incredibly dull and naive you are.

So you are saying it is OK to renage (sp?) on a deal? I hope you feel the same after the client bins yoou on the day you are due to start because they have found someone cheaper, or your builder doesnt turn up because he has found a more lucrative job. What about when you get gasumped on your next hous purchase.
A deal is a deal.
Just imagine if all businesses started to do this.

[XTC]

XTC, I think Dodgy's point was more about the fact that the OP was complaining about the abuse he was getting... personally I wouldn't have hung on the phone to hear it, but then again I probably would have managed the expectations a little better, esp when there was another iron in the fire that was worth a lot more. My experience (generally) is that as soon as I've accepted there has been a contract in front of me quicker than I can say "money grabbing sheister" so I'm committed anyway.

I see your point. There have been occasions when I've been in this situation and to be honest the agencies have been ok about it. I've told them I have had a better opportunity, apologise profusely alls goods. At the end of the day I have a mortgage to pay off and you need to be a bit ruthless. The various companies you work for, wouldn't think twice about getting rid of you as soon as the work dries up. They are certainly not going to show you any loyallty, yet you are expected to be loyal to them before even working for them?

[Ardesco]

Words cannot begin to describe how incredibly dull and naive you are.

Not at all, I just don't accept a contract unless I am happy with the rate. I know what i'm worth and I hold out for it.

Jobs worth twice the money don't just pop up, why the hell do you accept a rate of £300/day if you are worth £600/day. I am shocked at the lack of professionalism that some people are showing here, I cannot begin to descibe how sickening it is to read through all of this tripe.

Are tha majority of contractors really a bunch of unprofessional scum who don't keep thier word, care little for the reputation of thier business and will happily drop a client in the tulip the second they sniff a change to make and extra £5/day.

Next you'll be saying it is perfectly acceptible to stop turning up half way through a contract when a better offer comes along (which is exactly the same as accepting a contract and setting a start date then turning round and saying you aren't going to turn up because somebody has waved an extra £20 under you nose)

[XTC]

So you are saying it is OK to renage (sp?) on a deal? I hope you feel the same after the client bins yoou on the day you are due to start because they have found someone cheaper, or your builder doesnt turn up because he has found a more lucrative job. What about when you get gasumped on your next hous purchase.
A deal is a deal.
Just imagine if all businesses started to do this.

Well yes. I'm talking about reneging on a verbally accepted contract, not reneging on a signed contract. I don't know if there is a difference ethically?

[XTC]

Not at all, I just don't accept a contract unless I am happy with the rate. I know what i'm worth and I hold out for it.

Jobs worth twice the money don't just pop up, why the hell do you accept a rate of £300/day if you are worth £600/day. I am shocked at the lack of professionalism that some people are showing here, I cannot begin to descibe how sickening it is to read through all of this tripe.

Are tha majority of contractors really a bunch of unprofessional scum who don't keep thier word, care little for the reputation of thier business and will happily drop a client in the tulip the second they sniff a change to make and extra £5/day.

Next you'll be saying it is perfectly acceptible to stop turning up half way through a contract when a better offer comes along (which is exactly the same as accepting a contract and setting a start date then turning round and saying you aren't going to turn up because somebody has waved an extra £20 under you nose)

Ok I was being a bit harsh. But this has happened to me. I was on abround £300/day for quite a while, got offered a role with an investment bank and rate went up to £500. I didn't f**k over anyone to get the role, but financially I would have been a chump to turn it down over some sort of misguided loyalty. I try and be as professional as I can and have turned down other opportunities which would have been more beneficial. But when we are talking about doubling your money.... every man has his price.

[Ardesco]

Sorry put gotta speak up here...

Yes if you give your word, you should stick to it...but if the agent was taking the pi$$ with the rate to start (as it sounds as if he is, if the xil has been offered double somewhere else), then fair play...

It's dog eat dog....a lot of agents play games like this if they can undercut you...

If the agent was taking the piss why on earth did you accept it in the first place?? At the end of the day it doesn't matter what the agent is getting, you take a job that pays you a rate that you are happy with. If you are not happy to work at half of your normal rate why the hell did you agree to do it in the first place????