Agents, I love them...

[markinbrussels]

Agent = the only idiot around with a black suit, a black BMW and a Blackberry.

[norrahe]

Nah, not all of them are actually but recently things have been going downhill pretty badly. I had a conversation with one this week and I had to explain to him all the TLAs for the position and what it would entail work wise, basically telling him what he should be telling me! Its not so much that but the mails that are sent with no disregard as to their content in relation to your skills. Last week I received a number from one of the big agencies for positions with medical, clinical and health knowldege but with no mention of any IT skills, WTF! Not only are they wasting me time (well, it takes me a couple of minutes to read it and then hit the delete key although I do reply to some) but its also wasting their time and resources. If they knew how to do their jobs properly and efficiently then I'm sure people would be more appreciative, not only us but also the client and not forgetting doing this type of crap is costing their company time = money and getting them a bad reputation into the equation. Perhaps instead of replying to the agent I should also find out some senior management and CC them so they can see why their company is thought of as lower than a reformed paedophile...

Well I had someone ring me about Solvency 2 roles, only to demonstrate his complete an utter ignorance of what it is.

And he also didn't know what "Lloyd's of London" is either...

Apparently he's the recruitment "expert" for the insurance sector.

I rest my case.

[darmstadt]

Today's beauty (the agent had a rare old name as well)

Drug Safety Physician – xxxxxxx - Freelancer

If this project is not relevant to you, feel free to forward this message to someone who might be.

Our client is looking for an experience Drug Safety Physician to support his team effectively.
Tasks:

• Contributes to the organisation and maintenance of the drug safety system (including global database for collection of the adverse events and standardised procedures)
• Medical support of clinical trials and post-marketing products
• Create relevant reports
• Literature Research
• Safety Signal Detection and ICRS
• Update of the Company Core Safety Information
• Assessment and review of SAEs/ AEs

Qualifications:
• Preferred a degree as a medical doctor but holder of a degree in pharmacy or natural science is possible
• A minimum of 2 years experience in the field of Drug Safety/Pharmacovigilance
• Sound knowledge of EMEA Guidelines
• English proficient/fluent, French or German are of a benefit
Start:
• Asap

Yep, got all that and COBOL too

[MaryPoppins]

Well I had someone ring me about Solvency 2 roles, only to demonstrate his complete an utter ignorance of what it is.

And he also didn't know what "Lloyd's of London" is either...

Apparently he's the recruitment "expert" for the insurance sector.

I rest my case.

I think I spoke to them, too.

[norrahe]

I think I spoke to them, too.

I hope you messed with their heads, I certainly had fun

[markinbrussels]

I've been thinking for a while how to bypass those
illiterate useless vultures.

In the same way that websites like zillow.com are undermining
the business of real state agents, a proper website that
directly matched clients and contractors would force agents
to redefine their business practices (if they have any other
than copy&paste the ads provided by the client).

The website should be run by a respectable professional organization
run by contractors, maybe linked to the BCS. To become a member of
the organization you would need a college degree, 2 years in
contracting and at least 50 posts in CUK. The client would post
the opening, and the contractor would reply with the CV. It's then
up to the client to organize interviews, etc. Once a contract is
signed, the website would get a small fee to be paid 50-50
between client and contractor (let's say 300 quid).

This system would improve efficiency and cut the fat out of the
meat. Agents, bah, salesmen bring no added value to the deal
between client and contractor.

[alreadypacked]

Agents may be illiterate useless vultures, but HR depts are not any better. They use agents because they don't want to read 100's of C.V organize interviews, etc.

In fact some HR depts will only take 2 - 4 CV's from an agent for a role.