What have you got on the go?

[Tasslehoff]

"Oh you know, I would lying if I said I was not looking elsewhere"
"Couple of other irons in the fire but nothing at an advanced stage just yet"
"Market seems quite buoyant from my perspective"

Either one of those or mashups depending on how I feel. Don't give anything away but don't come off like a loser. It's all a game.

[jmo21]

That's why I always tell them "not too bad" and I have a few things in the pipe line ("oh yeah? Where?" Not of your ****** business!) but "nothing in an advanced stage yet" So they understand I'm sought after and need to act relatively quick, (in case they actually have a real contract) but not to drop me as I'm either a loser or will be taken off the market very soon

This is what I do too, it's about the best we can do to try and make sure we don't give them a tick in the "don't use this guy" column (assuming it's a real role they have of course).

[Eirikur]

Why? Do you put the rate you were on for each role in your CV?

Oops I misread it, was reading it as what kind of role I was doing in my previous contract, which they ask all the time even after saying they have my cv in front of them.
I never ever tell them what rate I am at at the moment. I either say the rate I'm looking for is £xxx or I ask them what rates are on offer for that contract

[JoJoGabor]

I like it when they just said "I've got your CV in front of me" and a few seconds later they ask that question

Why? Do you put the rate you were on for each role in your CV?

[Eirikur]

"and what were you on in your last role?"

I like it when they just said "I've got your CV in front of me" and a few seconds later they ask that question

[Eirikur]

Difficult one. Tell them its quiet and they think you're a dud. Tell them its busy and they think I wont bother because someone else will nab you.

That's why I always tell them "not too bad" and I have a few things in the pipe line ("oh yeah? Where?" Not of your ****** business!) but "nothing in an advanced stage yet" So they understand I'm sought after and need to act relatively quick, (in case they actually have a real contract) but not to drop me as I'm either a loser or will be taken off the market very soon

[glippiglop]

I tell them I'm actively working on a personal project, but I might be interested if they have a good role available. The fact that this is the truth certainly helps.

If you say the market is great but they know that you've been benched 6+ weeks, you're going to look like a liar. Worse than that, the agent will then start fishing for roles from you instead of talking about the reason why they called you in the first place.

Sometimes I like to turn it around and ask them how they're finding the market for filling contract roles. This is good for getting some insight into the supply and demand in the market. You can also learn things like what sectors and technologies are hot at the moment, what daily rates are like etc - at least then you get something out of the conversation too.

[PerfectStorm]

I usually tell them to **** off with their cheeky questions. Especially "and what were you on in your last role?"

[psychocandy]

Difficult one. Tell them its quiet and they think you're a dud. Tell them its busy and they think I wont bother because someone else will nab you.

[VillageContractor]

I thought that to start with but went with saying I had a few roles in progress, that might be what went wrong

[heyya99]

A lot along agents seem to ask how I'm finding the market when they're talking to me about roles. I've told them it's going really well and also slow to see what works best. I think I've had more success when I've said it's going slow/not applied for many roles/happy to take some out. I guess the agent sees you as someone who is less likely to drop out of the process.

What do you guys say?

I assume they don't like hearing you're finding it slow incase you are a dud and fail interviews. I say I haven't really been looking much / keep my cards close to my chest. On the flip side, they could be wondering if they need to move fast on you, in case you have something you're ready to say yes to. I suspect it's the former.

[VillageContractor]

A lot along agents seem to ask how I'm finding the market when they're talking to me about roles. I've told them it's going really well and also slow to see what works best. I think I've had more success when I've said it's going slow/not applied for many roles/happy to take some out. I guess the agent sees you as someone who is less likely to drop out of the process.

What do you guys say?