Reply to: Recruitment Agency/Agents experience - They are getting worse

[fossunited]

In all honesty, I don't mind my agencies too much. I too tend to deal with agents as opposed to agencies, and I am just really nice to them and they are nice to me. I have had one instance of an agency sending my details out to companies for roles well below what I would normally go for, when I wasn't looking, and my current agent rang me to ask what was going on because she was dealing with them too and my name was on their shortlist. A quick phonecall to them and they no longer have me on their books.

At the end of the day, unfortunately we need them to get the better roles generally. Unless of course we could set up some kind of method of losing the agencies from the recruiting cycle, which would make everyone happy. (It's actually somethign I am looking at doing myself, but not sure how difficult it would be, so I'll probably leave it for now)

[Devlin]

I started contracting 5 months ago. It was really hard dealing with agencies.

I posted my CV on the various job boards and applied to any that looked interesting.

Out of 10 calls I would get, 8 would be for perm roles when I have stated in my CV that I only want contract.

I would also get agents ringing and talking about a fantastic opportunity that seems perfect - and of course it didn't exist or it did but they saw it and pretended to be involved so they could gather leads from me.

You do find some agents (not agencies, as it depends on the individual) who seem to be ok. I will probably keep in touch with them.

I had a friend who was finding it hard to get a contract as he had been out of the country for 6 months - I recommended him to an agent for a position I declined and he got it.

Bottom line - if you can avoid them and get jobs via recommendations and your network, do so. But in the beginning it is hard.......

R

Put "CONTRACTS ONLY" in your CV file name/title, it seems to cut down unwanted permie calls by about 75%. A lot of pimps don't even download your CV when keywords match their search on a CV database, but they usually see the CV title and/or filename.

[chicane]

I started producing my agency communication spreadsheet about 8 years ago. It has just under 300 agencies on it. Almost all now have negative comments on them.

Having come across some agencies with a mix of honest and sleazy agents, I'd be inclined to blacklist agents rather than agencies.

[BrowneIssue]

The best thing to do is create your own black list of agencies and specific agents , and never ever use them. If you ever get into a hiring role, such a list can be immensely satisfying.

I started producing my agency communication spreadsheet about 8 years ago. It has just under 300 agencies on it. Almost all now have negative comments on them. By 2010 they probably all will. Then what should I do?

Trying to select agencies by quality is like trying to decide: shall I put on yesterday's shoes that are still wet through from walking in the rain, the old ones with the holes in the soles, or the pair from Saturday that are still covered in dog pop.

[too_many_details]

I started contracting 5 months ago. It was really hard dealing with agencies.

I posted my CV on the various job boards and applied to any that looked interesting.

Out of 10 calls I would get, 8 would be for perm roles when I have stated in my CV that I only want contract.

I would also get agents ringing and talking about a fantastic opportunity that seems perfect - and of course it didn't exist or it did but they saw it and pretended to be involved so they could gather leads from me.

You do find some agents (not agencies, as it depends on the individual) who seem to be ok. I will probably keep in touch with them.

I had a friend who was finding it hard to get a contract as he had been out of the country for 6 months - I recommended him to an agent for a position I declined and he got it.

Bottom line - if you can avoid them and get jobs via recommendations and your network, do so. But in the beginning it is hard.......

R

[Emily]

Fishing for leads, just tell him you were reporting to Ray Pugh, or Tess Tickle, etc. Agent won't realise and it will give the people he calls a good laugh

Love it!!!

[dude69]

I believe you just coined an entirely new adjective.

NOUN

[NotAllThere]

Agreement to what?

[DCollins]

Try another one

Thanks all nice reading.

I've started preparing lists.

Here is another one.

One agency sent me an agreement form (The only one I ever received in my Contracting career), just glanced through it seems to be typical legal stuff.

Question, why this agency wants this?

[Bod]

they want either a contractor or a permie, not a Wilmslow.....

I believe you just coined an entirely new adjective.

[ratewhore]

To the OP, you worry too much. It's the nature of the beast and you have to live with it.

Either that or go permie...

[expat]

....The best thing to do is create your own black list of agencies and specific agents , and never ever use them. If you ever get into a hiring role, such a list can be immensely satisfying.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

.........
Rather puzzling isn't it. I get calls asking me if I'd consider permie. I'm sure many permies get calls asking if they'd consider contracting.
.........

Actually I have a theory that the IBMs, Oracles, Xansas etc (and their smaller counterparts) of this world are finding it to attract and retain good staff. I'm sure once most of us figure out the benefits of contracting, we'd never go back unless forced. This means that their business models of (allegedly) charging as much as possible while paying rubbish wages and having continual rounds of reorganisations, takovers and redundancies* isn't attractive to anyone with marketable skills and a bit of get up and go............

* I mean this in general terms - no criticism of any of the outfits mentioned, living or dead is intended :-)

[NotAllThere]

The base point is that if an agent really thinks they can make money out of you, they'll be as nice as approximately 3.

1) Agent rings, says he got £600+ per day in City with a Bank, C++ no fin/bank exp required.. blah blah....
Now tell me who you were reporting to in your prev. company.

Contract doesn't exist. Don't worry about it.

2) Agent rings say he got a vacancy I get details I say I already applied, he says which agency is representing you?
I say none of your business, he gets pi$$ed off and says you are blacklisted.

And as soon as he thinks he can make money out of you, you'll suddenly be off the blacklist.

3) (Most sophisticated Stupidity) Agent rings, asks permi or contracting?
Dilemma starts I still prefer contracting, open for permanent, I reply both.
He/she gets pi$$ed off.

Why they have problems with this?

Rather puzzling isn't it. I get calls asking me if I'd consider permie. I'm sure many permies get calls asking if they'd consider contracting.

4) They take your details pass CVs to clients (you never know where) they never come back all is black, only to know that they have already forwarded to companies without you knowledge and you are pi$$ed off.

Take note of the agencies doing this, and don't use them any more. Ever.

5) He rings say got openings, give me references, I say I can't, I can give to end client, not to you, he replies he can't forward without references as he had trouble in the pas (all well know excuses) slams phone.

The contract doesn't exist.

There are some agents who don't behave like this. Usually, they're the ones that the clients perfer as well, and so have real jobs. The best thing to do is create your own black list of agencies and specific agents , and never ever use them. If you ever get into a hiring role, such a list can be immensely satisfying.

[Ardesco]

I came in market after 3-4 yrs so I was not aware of the mess agents/agencies have created.

I would say moral decline. Was it not always there? May be I didn't feel in the past as I dealt with only good reputable agencies.

Here are few scenarios which I would like everyone's input

1) Agent rings, says he got £600+ per day in City with a Bank, C++ no fin/bank exp required.. blah blah....
Now tell me who you were reporting to in your prev. company.

Dilemma - If you refuse to "Obey" their orders they press SHIFT+DEL.
If you reveal you loose morality; they will ring the manager, he would know that I'm out it must be me revealing identity and you get pi$$ed off.

80% of the agents fall in this category.

Q. What do you do in such situation?

Fishing for leads, just tell him you were reporting to Ray Pugh, or Tess Tickle, etc. Agent won't realise and it will give the people he calls a good laugh

2) Agent rings say he got a vacancy I get details I say I already applied, he says which agency is representing you?
I say none of your business, he gets pi$$ed off and says you are blacklisted.

In this situation I don't care as the agency is not so big never heard of them, it is just one person's ego troubling.

None of agents business and some will try to then replace you with somebody cheaper/do their best to screw up your chances so that they can get on of their contractors in.

3) (Most sophisticated Stupidity) Agent rings, asks permi or contracting?
Dilemma starts I still prefer contracting, open for permanent, I reply both.
He/she gets pi$$ed off.

Why they have problems with this?

They don't want somebody who is going to faff about they want either a contractor or a permie, not a Wilmslow.....

4) They take your details pass CVs to clients (you never know where) they never come back all is black, only to know that they have already forwarded to companies without you knowledge and you are pi$$ed off.

That's the way some work, nothing you can do about it so why get stressed?

5) He rings say got openings, give me references, I say I can't, I can give to end client, not to you, he replies he can't forward without references as he had trouble in the pas (all well know excuses) slams phone.

I'll appreciate your inputs

See my answer to the first question

HTH