Reply to: Anyone worked through Teksystems?

[Taita]

Has anyone worked through Teksystems before? Are they good / prompt payers? They look like a stable company based on the basic information on Companies House, but just wondering what they are like as an agent.

The Companies House information is very basic if you look at Teksystems Limited. It is a dormant company but owned by a big US corporation, Allegis and they seem very sound indeed.

[stevie8abes]

I worked with them for 16 months and never really had any issues. Payments were generally pretty prompt although I am still awaiting a bonus payment. They were also pretty accurate but when they did make a mistake were pretty quick to rectify it once it had been highlighted.

[sunflower]

Seen this all before. I think they want the references and linked in contacts, but some of them seem interested in trying to do business development with you if they get leads where you match. Nice try, but don't take them too seriously. The leads normally dissappear...

[kontractor12]

references

just stumbeld accross this post, I am an it consultant and had dealings with tek systems who wanted references up front and went on about their virtual bench. im happy to give references if an interview comes to offer (if needed) so I bunked them off to a contractor buddy of mine. Turns out they tried to set a business / sales meeting with him to drum up business. he agreed but never showed up for a laugh. they have been chasing him ever since! never followed up with them as I got a jb the next day, but i have heard from others that all they want is your contacts for sales.

[simes]

And sure enough, reminders from both Tek and Yonca have dried up simultaneously.

[simes]

I totally agree with all you have said and I certainly do not tar all with the same brush - two references is fine.

But Tek seemed only interested in the two references and a 'by hook or by crook' desire to get LinkedIn as someone 'having done business with them'.

No.

I am Linked to some agents, but they are invariably those I have been placed by, not those that call up just the once with some veiled promises.

I do understand it is the nature of their business, but come on Tek, Chaps - maintain a little dignity there.

[pmeswani]

Seem to have been approached by them for this and that.

Asked for the two references and a meet that curiously died, was postponed only to never materialise - followed by, on the basis of that one chat, a request to be LinkedIn.

This I studiously ignored as all their desperation 'in the interests of moving things along' came to nought when LinkedIn was not accepted.

....And then I get this invite from some Yonca yonca who is a test something or other to hook up with her. Have a look at her profile, seems to have a pic of someone looking like Brooke Shields and all 'done up' and currently at Virgin Media.

So I ignore her too and sure enough, I get a reminder from the two of them (Tek and Yonca) within an hour of each other.

Yeah, right.

I am aware everyone has their job to do but for God's sake...

I understand the sceptic view. I was lucky that one of the references was someone I know personally and worked with quite a bit over a 10 year period. He was happy to provide a reference and deal with the agency crap. Turned out to be a genuine reference discussion. Yes there was some phishing involved, but that's the nature of recruitment agencies.

There are 2 ways of looking at recruitment agencies.

1. You can have complete distrust of agencies that ask for references and not get any form of opportunities through them.

2. Give them what they are after and you may get an opportunity from them.

Until the contract I am on now, I didn't trust agencies with obtaining references and saw them looking to phish. I pushed hard not to give any references, but gave in and gave 1. I told them to look at my LinkedIn profile for other references and advised none of my contracting clients (other than the one provided) would give contractors references. They were happy with that. I boomed and got the contract.

My advice, don't treat all agencies with the same brush. Yes, be a little suspicious, but don't rule the references bit out altogether.

[simes]

Seem to have been approached by them for this and that.

Asked for the two references and a meet that curiously died, was postponed only to never materialise - followed by, on the basis of that one chat, a request to be LinkedIn.

This I studiously ignored as all their desperation 'in the interests of moving things along' came to nought when LinkedIn was not accepted.

....And then I get this invite from some Yonca yonca who is a test something or other to hook up with her. Have a look at her profile, seems to have a pic of someone looking like Brooke Shields and all 'done up' and currently at Virgin Media.

So I ignore her too and sure enough, I get a reminder from the two of them (Tek and Yonca) within an hour of each other.

Yeah, right.

I am aware everyone has their job to do but for God's sake...

[pmeswani]

they got in touch with me a couple of years ago when i was still very green, to put me forward for a fix term positions, agent at the time seemed genuine enough and used the old "just need 2 references" trick before application, needless to say nothing ever materialised, and within 48hrs i'd noticed he had added my two refs as contacts on linkedin

wish i remembered the lil tulips name

actually probably did me a favour, i wouldn't be in the position i am if he had put me forward for the "role" and i had gotten it

Teksystems did try the 2 references routine, but was only able to provide 1, which proved to be enough. Also told them to have a look at my LinkedIn profile. Explained to them that I couldn't provide as the previous clients don't provide references to contractors.

[filthy1980]

they got in touch with me a couple of years ago when i was still very green, to put me forward for a fix term positions, agent at the time seemed genuine enough and used the old "just need 2 references" trick before application, needless to say nothing ever materialised, and within 48hrs i'd noticed he had added my two refs as contacts on linkedin

wish i remembered the lil tulips name

actually probably did me a favour, i wouldn't be in the position i am if he had put me forward for the "role" and i had gotten it

[jmo21]

I have a lot of companies asking me what companies have I been considered for so that they don't put me forward for the roles, to which I always respond: "let me know before you put me forward and I will let you know there and then if I have been considered."

ugh.... this just reminds me how much I hate dealing with agents.

No doubt Dodgy Agent or TAV will be along shortly to bleat that they need this info etc etc.

[pmeswani]

I've been "fished" by them a few times, never had anything concrete through them however - always phoning for "a chat".

They have this "virtual bench" they bang on about that appears to be their main fishing tool.

That being said, a 'tractor friend of mine worked through them for a year or so, and said they were great to deal with.

I remember an agent putting me on a virtual bench of theirs. Never heard from them since. I agree it's a fishing tool.

I have a lot of companies asking me what companies have I been considered for so that they don't put me forward for the roles, to which I always respond: "let me know before you put me forward and I will let you know there and then if I have been considered."

I was a bit nervous about the agent when they approached for the role. I am now waiting for them to send me the contract.

[jmo21]

Thanks for the responses guys. I was a bit suspicious of the agency when I had the initial conversation with them (thought they were on a fishing exercise for references). The agent wanted to meet up before the interview for a quick chat (on the day - ok they paid for it, so can't really complain much). The company registration on their website related to the other company even though the company's actual registration number existed on companies house. So my suspicious juices kicked in.

Good to know they are good payers. At least I can rest a bit easier now.

I've been "fished" by them a few times, never had anything concrete through them however - always phoning for "a chat".

They have this "virtual bench" they bang on about that appears to be their main fishing tool.

That being said, a 'tractor friend of mine worked through them for a year or so, and said they were great to deal with.

[pmeswani]

Thanks for the responses guys. I was a bit suspicious of the agency when I had the initial conversation with them (thought they were on a fishing exercise for references). The agent wanted to meet up before the interview for a quick chat (on the day - ok they paid for it, so can't really complain much). The company registration on their website related to the other company even though the company's actual registration number existed on companies house. So my suspicious juices kicked in.

Good to know they are good payers. At least I can rest a bit easier now.

[FiveTimes]

Thanks for the response. If I am reading in between the lines.... were there problems before the takeover?

I had no issues either with Allegis.

TekSystems offered self billing, signed timesheet sent off/collected Monday, payment made that Friday.