Reply to: How to spot a dodgy agency

[SussexSeagull]

If they are over selling the role they are probably not very good, in my experience.

[MrMarkyMark]

You are not asking the right question. The question should be "How to spot a good agent?".

Spot on.

I have known mine for quite a while, around 6 years+, a very decent guy, who actually cares about client relationships.
Hence, why he is so successful.

work on the assumption that most of them are tulip.

Also spot on

[seanraaron]

You are not asking the right question. The question should be "How to spot a good agent?".

A good agent on the PSL can perform miracles when you have a good relationship with them.

The agent who placed me in this role:

1. Got the clientco to postpone final interview for 3 months because of my travel commitments.
2. Put me in direct contact with HR director so we could share emails & telephone numbers. (This allowed me to verify point 1).
3. Floored me by telling me I was undervaluing myself by €75K and submitted me accordingly. (place holder for €1 valuation jokes)
4. Agreed with me and explained to client that a detailed technical interview by engineers was irrelevant and a waste of my time for a governance position.

With experience you will learn who good agents are and to spot them, but importantly maintain your relationship with them. It's a two way street and like all good relationships it can take years to nurture.

But in answer to you original question, work on the assumption that most of them are tulip.

Awesome, who are these people and do they have clients in the Glasgow area?

[clearedforlanding]

You are not asking the right question. The question should be "How to spot a good agent?".

A good agent on the PSL can perform miracles when you have a good relationship with them.

The agent who placed me in this role:

1. Got the clientco to postpone final interview for 3 months because of my travel commitments.
2. Put me in direct contact with HR director so we could share emails & telephone numbers. (This allowed me to verify point 1).
3. Floored me by telling me I was undervaluing myself by €75K and submitted me accordingly. (place holder for €1 valuation jokes)
4. Agreed with me and explained to client that a detailed technical interview by engineers was irrelevant and a waste of my time for a governance position.

With experience you will learn who good agents are and to spot them, but importantly maintain your relationship with them. It's a two way street and like all good relationships it can take years to nurture.

But in answer to you original question, work on the assumption that most of them are tulip.

[LondonManc]

if they discover, It's not an "ofence" to contact the client.?

The agent might find it "offensive" but there is nothing that they can do about it, especially if they aren't on the PSL. If they turn out to NOT be on the PSL, ask HR which agent at which agency you should get in touch with. You have an obligation to your Ltd Co shareholders to carry out your duties to the best of your ability; if that includes exercising more diligence when finding new contracts then so be it.

[seanraaron]

Likewise if they are on the PSL and didn't put you forward, and agency B checked with ClientCo after you said 'I thought I was already put forward by agency A...' then if agency B comes back and says clientco said you haven't been put forward, you can let Agency B represent you and if Agency A comes back and kicks off, you can again tell them where to shove it.

That's the theory of course, it might not work like that in reality but it's the best you can do.

I have done this where I've been called about a job that sounds similar, but the exciting client reveal hasn't happened yet. Good advice.

[SueEllen]

if they discover, It's not an "ofence" to contact the client.?

You can contact who you like.

In fact I've had to tell some agencies that I've arranged an interview with the client myself just because the agency have offered times I'm not available....

[Bee]

Ask them for a reference number for the role if they're putting you forward, so that you can manager the roles. I've spoken to ClientCo's HR to confirm that the company is on the PSL (a bit of BS about two agents approaching and wanting to give your cv best chance of landing on hiring manager's desk).

A good way of telling if they're dodgy - their lips are moving.

if they discover, It's not an "ofence" to contact the client.?

[LondonManc]

But wouldn't a dyed-in-the-wool spiv (do correct my use of old-fashioned British slang if incorrect) answer yes to that obvious question?

And thanks for some very good advice guys, I'll bear it in mind. I'm not keen on being too adversarial. I think part of the issue is not fully understanding the risks of being misdirected. It is a lot about getting a feel for what sounds legit versus someone sweet-talking you in this game.

Save this as a template and fill in the xxxxx each time

Hi Agentx,

I'm happy for you to act exclusively on my behalf for Role Ref xxxxx, subject to confirmation that you are on xxxxxxx's PSL. If I hear nothing from you within x days, I will assume that you have not put me forward and this email will be considered as null and void.

Best regards,
Me

[NibblyPig]

But wouldn't a dyed-in-the-wool spiv (do correct my use of old-fashioned British slang if incorrect) answer yes to that obvious question?

Maybe, but it probably doesn't matter if you a) ask them to e-mail that they're on the PSL in exchange for you e-mailing back that you're happy for them to represent you and b) you put an expiration on their ability to represent you.

That way if an agent phones you 3 days later asking they put you forward, you can say go ahead. If there's then a conflict, from agency A saying hey we were representing you, and agency A is not on the PSL, you can potentially forward the e-mail to agency B and agency B can tell them where to shove it. Likewise if they are on the PSL and didn't put you forward, and agency B checked with ClientCo after you said 'I thought I was already put forward by agency A...' then if agency B comes back and says clientco said you haven't been put forward, you can let Agency B represent you and if Agency A comes back and kicks off, you can again tell them where to shove it.

That's the theory of course, it might not work like that in reality but it's the best you can do.

[Mincepie]

Apologies if this is a duplicate thread; I did run a search of sorts, honest.

So I've expressed elsewhere a concern about making an agreement with an agency to have them represent me for a gig only to potentially not get it because they actually didn't have any "in" with the client and were merely hoping to spam them to get a foot in the door.

Certainly in the past long before I seriously considered contracting I had someone come to me with a permanent position, agreed to give them my CV, only to have another agency call me about the same job and say they had the exclusive staff sourcing deal with the end company. So I'm obviously hoping to avoid that kind of thing in future.

So, are there any serious (or amusing) methods for identifying a scammer? Right now the only thing I can think is to limit myself to big agencies whose names I recognise or small outfits that operate north of the Border, but I don't know if that's unnecessarily limiting myself.

If their lips move when talking

[MrMarkyMark]

But wouldn't a dyed-in-the-wool spiv (do correct my use of old-fashioned British slang if incorrect) answer yes to that obvious question?

PM Dodgy Agent on here, our Forum Personality of 2015, I'm sure he will provide a truthful answer

[seanraaron]

Ask if they are on the client's PSL! (if no they will not usually submit your CV as straightaway you have told them you know who they are !!).

But wouldn't a dyed-in-the-wool spiv (do correct my use of old-fashioned British slang if incorrect) answer yes to that obvious question?

And thanks for some very good advice guys, I'll bear it in mind. I'm not keen on being too adversarial. I think part of the issue is not fully understanding the risks of being misdirected. It is a lot about getting a feel for what sounds legit versus someone sweet-talking you in this game.

[MrMarkyMark]

Be a player not a hater

Correct, great advice

[LondonManc]

Apologies if this is a duplicate thread; I did run a search of sorts, honest.

So I've expressed elsewhere a concern about making an agreement with an agency to have them represent me for a gig only to potentially not get it because they actually didn't have any "in" with the client and were merely hoping to spam them to get a foot in the door.

Certainly in the past long before I seriously considered contracting I had someone come to me with a permanent position, agreed to give them my CV, only to have another agency call me about the same job and say they had the exclusive staff sourcing deal with the end company. So I'm obviously hoping to avoid that kind of thing in future.

So, are there any serious (or amusing) methods for identifying a scammer? Right now the only thing I can think is to limit myself to big agencies whose names I recognise or small outfits that operate north of the Border, but I don't know if that's unnecessarily limiting myself.

Ask them for a reference number for the role if they're putting you forward, so that you can manager the roles. I've spoken to ClientCo's HR to confirm that the company is on the PSL (a bit of BS about two agents approaching and wanting to give your cv best chance of landing on hiring manager's desk).

A good way of telling if they're dodgy - their lips are moving.