agents

[minestrone]

Either way, it's down to you being happy with the net rate you bring in, and the cash flow. If your contacts book and warchest are packed, direct is arguably more profitable.

That is true but you are selling yourself on a market which is fairly directly driven by agent driven costs for your skills. You can get a client who will pick you up but I think they eventually do the sums that you are slightly more cheaper than what the client can get using an agent to find the skills.

[realityhack]

That is true but you are selling yourself on a market which is fairly directly driven by agent driven costs for your skills. You can get a client who will pick you up but I think they eventually do the sums that you are slightly more cheaper than what the client can get using an agent to find the skills.

The market I'm in is being driven by supply/demand. AFAIK agents do little else in that respect except muddy the waters, by being inconsistent with the rates, and by re-packaging CVs to look like the real deal, when the candidates behind them are generally a waste of time. Also, I know most of the agents in my field, and only 2 of them really understand the skillsets - which is incredibly frustrating when you're trying to recruit. I would've thought that the very basic requirement for a 'specialist' recruiter would be an understanding of that specialism, it seems not.

[Troll]

I'm currently direct at client and it's working well

Must say I don't really miss the agent although in the old days getting taken out for lunch by a fit dolly bird at renewal time was an added bonus ( but this doesn't seem to happen much these days)

Also had a couple of hiccups with payments but resolved as part of the commercial agreement (1 month late due to changes to their systems)

[DodgyAgent]

I'm currently direct at client and it's working well

Must say I don't really miss the agent although in the old days getting taken out for lunch by a fit dolly bird at renewal time was an added bonus ( but this doesn't seem to happen much these days)

Also had a couple of hiccups with payments but resolved as part of the commercial agreement (1 month late due to changes to their systems)

You are so shallow

[scooterscot]

WDSS

I always look at it as an agent is my salesman taking a commission for the work he has done for me.

So why do you keep paying a commission to your agent until the end of your contract for work done almost (potentially) 2 years ago?

Why don't I just pay the agent £20K up front?

[scooterscot]

I went direct on a gig recently and got a couple of friends in direct as well. Had a terrible time getting paid

Did you use draft PCG contract templates?

I've had clients comment on the quality of these asking who drafted them for me!

[minestrone]

The market I'm in is being driven by supply/demand. AFAIK agents do little else in that respect except muddy the waters, by being inconsistent with the rates, and by re-packaging CVs to look like the real deal, when the candidates behind them are generally a waste of time. Also, I know most of the agents in my field, and only 2 of them really understand the skillsets - which is incredibly frustrating when you're trying to recruit. I would've thought that the very basic requirement for a 'specialist' recruiter would be an understanding of that specialism, it seems not.

Yes and no, I have got niche a couple of times over my contracting career but eventually equilibrium happens, in my experience of course. Staying ahead of the game is what we get paid for.

The yes is certainly wanting to speak to agents who know more about IT than a good skill of Microsoft office. I think we all have put in for roles we know we can do with our eyes closed but our CV never gets to the manager's desk because the agent cannot marry up the role to the CV. I nail 90% of my face to face interviews but probably about 50% of my CV sends do not get an interview, now that could be interpreted to mean the agent knows the job, the market and my CV but I doubt it. I understand agents get swamped by CVs but if they just had someone who had a clue to say "no don't send that in" and explain the reasons to the agent then I think we would be all happier.

[minestrone]

Did you use draft PCG contract templates?

I've had clients comment on the quality of these asking who drafted them for me!

I had to get them to change the contract to modify it towards a person -> company -> client arrangement rather than the standard temp contract they offered me. They never had a clue what I was asking this for and just added to the hassle.

If I ever sign something the PCG have created is the day I give up contracting. Buffons the lot of them.

[scooterscot]

If I ever sign something the PCG have created is the day I give up contracting. Buffons the lot of them.

Without prejudice.

My own experiences have been fairly positive, even got legal advise when I had to tailor a contract for a Norwegian client.

[Paddy]

Seriously...why do contractors need agents?

I first contracted in London in 1993. I have worked in every single sector you can think of in the UK, from 22 quid an hour to over a grand a day and one thing stands out compared to the general recruitment approach internationally.

UK IT recruiting is a completely unprofessional arena.

Now it's even spread to Australia with the plethora of UK nats there.

7 words...cut costs, go straight to the client!

Without an agent; who would do the bull-schitting