First post for a newbie - whinge about agencies

[norrahe]

You just have to ignore the crap and move on, I'm benched myself and you do get to the point where nowt happens with your cv and nobody gets back to you and you get disheartened.

It's not you, it's the pimps.

Keep applying, keep chasing and when you look at this website you'll realise there are a lot of people in the same boat.

[Flubster]

I've got some gardening that needs doing if you're kicking your heels. How about a bit of dog-walking?

[suityou01]

that's better!

Made I larf. Well, honey I'm home.

After having read on here how to deal with agencies on here I am having better success. Sent one packing this morning with

"Nice chatting, but have you actually got anything"

Another one tried to screw me down on rate to a ridiculous level quoting Robert Pestonisms about the gloomy economy and I hit out with

"Well that seems to be the average rate for all the other contracts I have been put forward for, so I would think this is well below the average. Good luck finding someone"

I certainly have my confidence back as far as agencies go, and if that comes across on the phone then can only be a good thing.

Its good to be able to send the time wasters packing early, and politely as it leaves the line clear for the real prospects I guess.

The phone has been dead all week, but I seem to get most calls on a Wednesday. Weird.

[Jaws]

Chasing does seem like a pointless activity. It's taken weeks sometimes to hear back about an interview after an agent has put my cv forward. I can't see how chasing it up will make you more likely get an interview.

[DaveB]

Welcome to CUK

You may not be doomed.

are probably

[Bear]

Erm......it is traditional for all Newbies to throw a gigantic great party round at their place to which all members are invited and get to know you.

It won't get out of hand, promise!

I mean, remember the last one chaps....tame, very tame

[expat]

It's not you, it's the pimps.

Yes, they're panicking too.

[Spacecadet]

Hi,
New to this forum, but not to contractoruk or contracting. I went about looking for a forum for IT contractors and ended up here. Not a bad place to end up.

Trust me, there are better places to end up than with a bunch of doom mongering geeks.

Been out since November 08, and stood little chance of getting anything before Christmas. Most agencies just ringing up to chat about the weather, and to tell me that their clients weren't hiring until the new year.

Same for everyone else

Now the new year is here. the same agencies are calling. This time not to chat about the weather, but to try and pitch me on a bogus contact with no job spec, and to try and take two references up front. Not falling for that one. Find your own leads.

Part of the game, agencies need leads to generate and work on clients.
Just fob them off

Then, and most recently, they call with real contracts (I think), decide I am the perfect candidate, put me forward and promise to get back to me whatever the outcome. Then I wait, and wait, and wait a few days. Then I chase, and chase and chase.

The contract will be real but they won't be the prefered agency and are just chancing their luck in the hope that they get better candidates than the preferred agency.
Chasing agents is wasting your time, phone bill, breath and patience. When they have something they'll be on the phone to you in seconds. In the meantime keep looking.

I've had every excuse under the sun. In a meeting. On the phone. Away from his / her desk. On a client visit. Funny how they all only know said agent's whereabouts AFTER they have taken my name, put me on hold, and then come back to me.

Top 5 worlds biggest liars:
1. Agents
2. Drug Addicts
3. Labour Cabinet Ministers
4. Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf (comical ali)
5. Metropolitan Counter Terrorism Police

Feeling a bit low as I have had "numerous" false starts where the CV has gone to the client and I haven't even had a sniff of an interview.

I'd estimate that it takes me 100-150 applications before I get an interview, out of those 10 might be real.

I've been coding for 12 years, have MCP qualifications and bags of good hard faught and won war stories of projects come good. And have usually been ok at stringing contracts together.

So have a lot of other contractors

Why am I benched? Why am I so convinced its just me. Does weeks of being stuck at home mean I am now my own worst enemy?

Yes

I think I am just looking to swap stories with other contractors, maybe get some advice on how to stop these agency types from mucking me around so much, and get a lift as after all these weeks I am finally starting to slide into the abyss.

Pretty verbose first post huh? Please don't pan me first time out of the gate. I know there are people out there who are just as frustrated as me, I just don't want to suffer alone and in silence any more.

Just relax and enjoy some time off (if your wife lets you)

[BrilloPad]

Erm......it is traditional for all Newbies to throw a gigantic great party round at their place to which all members are invited and get to know you.

It won't get out of hand, promise!

I mean, remember the last one chaps....tame, very tame

And we all dispensed lots of good advice.

Beer and a cheesy snack anyone?

[strawberrysmoothie]

Like you I'm in the same position. I'm a Test Analyst and been on the bench for a few weeks. There are no magic potions you just have to suck it up and keep going - things do change.

I agree with another poster don't watch the news and frankly full of negative b*llocks anyway and just focus on that are going well in your life right now. This will make the contract hunting process a little less stressful while your sitting on the bench till the next gig.

Are there any courses you want to do and now have the time to do them?

You do have a choice to let your situation control you or you find a way to control your situation so you feel good regardless of what happens.

It's totally up to youl