Agent who hasn't even read her own e-mail/advert

[Zippy]

I've just downloaded an article on TPI. Be up and running in hours.

I'll do it for 95 Euros.

Oi! You've got a job.

[darmstadt]

No; MBA

MBA Holland perchance? I get at least 3 mails from them a week with positions that have absolutely no relevance to my skills. Last week I replied to all of them with a current copy of my CV and pointing out that the positions they're sending me are not at all relevant but that hasn't stopped them.

Did a gig for them once and the agent flew over to Germany, ostensibly to meet up with me and a couple of other contractors here. Did she ****! Spent the time schmoozing the client and then buggering off. Who is this Michael Bailey anyway, Swiss Tony?

[norrahe]

I've got used to agents who don't bother looking at the CV or finding out something about the acronyms they're asking for, but this takes the biscuit.

Agent sends e-mail asking for a 'TPI Consultant', with 'TPI Consultant' as title and TPI named 5 times in the description. TPI in this case stands for 'Test Process Improvement'. So I phone her.

She asks me what experience I can bring, and among other things I name TPI. Tells me I need > 10 years experience in organisational change, managing large test teams, reporting to senior management etc. Which I have. And TPI experience.

Agent; 'sorry, what is that?'

MTT; 'TPI'

Agent; 'Yes I heard that, but how is it relevant to the role?'

MTT; 'You asked for a TPI consultant'

Agent; 'did I? What's TPI?'

MTT; 'Test Process Improvement'

Agent; 'Oh; erm, you mean you can improve test processes? Is that a methodology?'

MTT; 'yes, it's a structured approach to improving test processes'

Agent; 'oh, that could be quite useful in this role; what's your hourly rate?'

MTT; 'what are you offering?'

Agent; 'maximum 60 euros'

MTT; 'best of luck! I'll do it for 100'

Agent; 'I've promised the client I'll get someone for 67.50'

MTT; 'Oh no you won't. There are only about 20 people in this country with the experience you need for this and only one is available right now; that's me'

Agent: 'I'll see what I can do and call back'

Is this just a thinly veiled attempt at boasting about your rate and skillset again?

[Mich the Tester]

MBA Holland perchance? I get at least 3 mails from them a week with positions that have absolutely no relevance to my skills. Last week I replied to all of them with a current copy of my CV and pointing out that the positions they're sending me are not at all relevant but that hasn't stopped them.

Did a gig for them once and the agent flew over to Germany, ostensibly to meet up with me and a couple of other contractors here. Did she ****! Spent the time schmoozing the client and then buggering off. Who is this Michael Bailey anyway, Swiss Tony?

They're notorious in Holland for taking huge margins. Trouble is, they're on the PSL at some major clientcos.