Reply to: Newbie needs an agent

[spankmebono]

The best advice I ever took was create your own db/ss with Agency info in it, much the same as they do with us, get every contact possible, write comments be really detailed esp with the ones who mess you about and the really good ones. Keep it forever, you will be amazed at how the salespersons move around.

The losers who merely trawl for cvs become evident, and never deal with an salesperson who won't tell you who the client is (usually because there isn't one).

Never give a salesperson a break. If you get any calls asking 'when are you available' be as vague as possible, this is a trick to undercut your rate and submit cvs when you are up for renewal.

At the end of the day they are salespeople, they are not here for us, they are there for themselves and I have never come across people with fewer morals, not even car salesmen.

[DaveB]

thanks daveb, will do, my a level law knowledge says its fairly solid but i'll get the experts in

It IR35 you need it checking for. S3 contracts are notorious for their potential to land you in it with the tax man. Basic contract law is ok but you need to know how it applies to IR35 to make sure you are in the clear.

[theITcoach.biz]

I'm trying to get my first contract in testing and have so far been getting loads of calls from smarmy, pushy agents all promising me the world and then never calling back. Which ones can I trust, if any? The only ones who keep me updated on anything are Lorien and Pathway but I've read bad things about them too!! Any advice???? And does it matter that I'm in testing? are some agencies better at some fields than others?

Solutions,

After a while, you'll be able to sort out the wheat from the chaff. By the sound of it, you already know what chaff sounds like. So that's a good start.

I've used Elan recently and found them generally ok. It depends largely on the person you speak with.

Agents who make big promises about contracts are generally the one's to avoid.

I know quite a few testers and I don't think it makes any difference at all. I hear the same issues with agencies.

All the best
John

[solutions]

thanks daveb, will do, my a level law knowledge says its fairly solid but i'll get the experts in

[DaveB]

Congratulations. Just make sure you get your contract checked by Bauer and Cotrell, Lawspeed etc. They are still an S3 agenciy with everything that entails.

[solutions]

good service from s3!!!!

thanks for the advice guys, however had some legendary service from an s3 (gasp) agent - Pathway, called me this morning, telephone intv over lunch, decision made by 3pm - I start in 2 weeks! just enough time to serve my notice. Looks like they're not all bad, the rest of them tho - Hoaxley etc. right bunch of tossers

[Ardesco]

I get fairly regular calls from centre 4 testing but haven't actually got a job from them yet, partly due to me finding another role by the time they get back to me with an interview date, or not being available when they ask if i am free.

Overall I have never had more than one contract from one particular agency, don't limit yourself to agents, they won't limit themselves to contractors. Best way is to apply for everything that matches you skill set and then wit for the interviews to come rolling in.

The most important thing to remember is don't stop looking until the contract has been signed, lots of agents will screw you around and offer you the world, secondly don't fall for the "you worked at XXX place does XXX still work there? No who did you work for then..." rubbish

HTH

[XperTest]

I'm trying to get my first contract in testing and have so far been getting loads of calls from smarmy, pushy agents all promising me the world and then never calling back. Which ones can I trust, if any? The only ones who keep me updated on anything are Lorien and Pathway but I've read bad things about them too!! Any advice???? And does it matter that I'm in testing? are some agencies better at some fields than others?

An "agency" (well, they do more than that I believe,but this is one of their activities) specifically for testing is Mission Testing. A few people I know have gone through them and seem happy enough. Also, if you're North East based you might want to check out New Kite: they're a bunch of contractors in testing working together and also occasionally look for contractors for roles that they get asked to look out for.. Also, the big agencies have testing desks I believe. If anybody knows any more I would also be interested to hear.

[tim123]

I've always wondered...how much do these agents make?

A decent agent makes about the same as you do. If he didn't, he would be off selling something else.

So, if he has a continuous placement of 15 people (which is about the norm for someone not placing people under a Preferred Supplier Agreement), he gets 6-7% of the billing, before the agency's other expenses.

IMHO you have to get used to this little state of affairs.

tim

[TheMonkey]

You only get that if you're tulip!

[VectraMan]

so far been getting loads of calls from smarmy, pushy agents all promising me the world and then never calling back.

Welcome to contracting.

[HankWangford]

I've always wondered...how much do these agents make?

a couple interviewed on S3's own corporate pages rekon 100K plus for 5yrs plus experience

[Sockpuppet]

The best agent is the one with the right contract at the right rate.

Beyond that treat them all as if they were the dodgiest lowlife car salesman you have ever met and you wont go far wrong.

Agents are not in business to help you, they are in business to help themselves to as much of the clients wonga as they can get away with. Thats all.

I've always wondered...how much do these agents make?

[DaveB]

The best agent is the one with the right contract at the right rate.

Beyond that treat them all as if they were the dodgiest lowlife car salesman you have ever met and you wont go far wrong.

Agents are not in business to help you, they are in business to help themselves to as much of the clients wonga as they can get away with. Thats all.

[MarillionFan]

They aint there to get you a contract. They are there to make themselve money. A newbie is more difficult to get a contract for.

So

Receipe for success

www.jobserve.com
look
send CV
ring
wait

Repeat until interview