Reply to: How To Avoid the Soul Destroying Agency Based Contract Search

[DanielSQL]

If they really have a role you will get an email or they will leave a voice message.

Couldn't agree more.

[VillageContractor]

To answer the topic, the way to avoid the soul destroying agency based contract search is by going direct to clients and recommend other contractors to clients, while encouraging them to recommend you.
If the client needs to go through an agent, you do the deal with the client, then pick the agent and offer them the cut, e.g. Client agrees £750 a day for you + agent's fee. You contact agent, tell them it's £800 a day, of which they are allowed to keep £50, take it or leave it.

I would not trust an agent to do a good job of selling me because most don't know me well enough.

Would you normally take a cut of the £750? Or are you doing it in the hope that the favor is returned?

[theroyale]

Interesting thread by the OP and I am on his side in terms of not just being 'reactive' and us trying new things to improve the ways in which we bag business.

But I'm not sure I would do what the OP is saying here. Why? Because one of my main relevant strengths is being well-spoken and articulate and that is something that can only come across in a spoken conversation. It is the verbal discussions (with initial junior-agent, account manager at agency, and client) that I believe time and again have put me ahead of other candidates with a similar skillset/experience that may be in the running for the role.

Of course it is annoying (to put it mildly) to have to answer the idiotic questions of a 21 year old salesman whose previous job was selling mobile contracts at Carphone Warehouse, but that is something to just grin and bear.

As others on the thread have pointed out, it seems to me that there is the risk of agents just not bothering with your voicemail/acting upon it.

However if the OP is a specialist working in a very niche submarket then perhaps his approach will work for him.

If he is going to try it for a few months it would certainly be interesting to hear how it went.

[Jantina Consulting]

This could work - though maybe not in the way you expect

The transcript would go a little something like this :-

"Two references?" ...
Available upon/after interview confirmation (but nothing to stop you contacting HR depts in the meantime).
No names of previous managers will be given untill interview stage is confirmed.
Explain firmly that there is no compromise on this.

"Describe your tasks and responsibilities on the last two projects you worked on" ...
Describe here.

"What are you looking for in your next project in terms of skills, experience, and responsibilities?"
Describe here.

"What are you looking for in your next project in terms of Company/Project size, ethos, working environment etc ?"
Describe here.

"What are the locations you are willing to work in?"
Describe here.

"What is your rate?"
Describe previous project rate and or lower/upper limit. If the project role on offer is in the target range then we are more likely to take things further.



At the bottom of the transcript provide a link to a free online booking service to schedule a call if the role is a good fit considering the above. Explain to the agent here that this is to avoid time wasting and missed calls. the agent will know that when they call it WILL be answered which gives them an incentive to make the effort to book the call and is also a more professional approach. Explain also that ideally the conversation should start with a brief description of the specific role they are working to fill.

Having worked in the recruitment industry for 9 years I think you could pitch this to recruiters and get them to pay you for it.

Think about it. These guys and girls are working to targets on just about everything with ratios on call to cv; cv to interview; interview to placement and more. It's in their best interest, too, not to waste time approaching candidates who are not a good fit for the role they are resourcing for.

Many if not most agencies use software that scans CVs for certain keywords. This could work with your script. You might have to have a fiddle with strings & sequences around skills, experience, qualifications and timeframes, i.e 'x most recent' and 'future' but I see no reason why it couldn't be done. Locations & rate ranges are straightforward and it might be possible for the app / script to connect with the organisation's diary / scheduling programme.

I'm no IT guru - my thing is Contracts & Commercial - but I think you're on to something there.

CJ

[northernladuk]

Depends on your skillset.

Ah that could be true but the paradox here is that if your skillet is good enough to make an agent listen to some drivel on an answering machine you'll be able to pick and chose gigs and won't need to deal with a plague of calls about crap gigs that don't apply.

[WTFH]

How To Avoid the Soul Destroying Agency Based Contract Search

To answer the topic, the way to avoid the soul destroying agency based contract search is by going direct to clients and recommend other contractors to clients, while encouraging them to recommend you.
If the client needs to go through an agent, you do the deal with the client, then pick the agent and offer them the cut, e.g. Client agrees £750 a day for you + agent's fee. You contact agent, tell them it's £800 a day, of which they are allowed to keep £50, take it or leave it.

I would not trust an agent to do a good job of selling me because most don't know me well enough.

[WTFH]

Depends on your skillset.

Are you an answering machine message writer?

[SueEllen]

You really think an agent cold calling is going to sit and listen to an answering machine message and the act on that?? I really don't think so.

Depends on your skillset.

[northernladuk]

I just don't agree with the feedback...

So why did your bother asking for our opinions then?

You are right, you know it. Fillnyour boots and tell us how you get on.

[MrMarkyMark]

You really think an agent cold calling is going to sit and listen to an answering machine message and the act on that?? I really don't think so.

Especially in this climate

[northernladuk]

If they actually have a role they won't just hang up.

You really think an agent cold calling is going to sit and listen to an answering machine message and the act on that?? I really don't think so.

[MrMarkyMark]

But the speil is going to have to be listened to whether its via a filter message first or as a first time conversation...doesn't make too much of a difference.

I just don't agree with the feedback...I think we have more power over this most would assume...I don't think contractors should have to just put up with all the time wasting....so, I will try it out from next week when I start my search.

The world loves a trail blazing maverick, let us know how you get on

[hgllgh]

But you are not in the right position to be changing the process. We are pretty reactive and rely on it rather than dictate it.

As above. There isn't much you can do when you are at the end of the chain

It will go to voicemail and they will hang up. Money is time and for the same reasons you don't want to go through all the speil they won't want to listen to yours.

You've argued the same point despite having the same feedback a few times over. If you are so convinced then just try it. It's your time.

But the speil is going to have to be listened to whether its via a filter message first or as a first time conversation...doesn't make too much of a difference.

I just don't agree with the feedback...I think we have more power over this most would assume...I don't think contractors should have to just put up with all the time wasting....so, I will try it out from next week when I start my search.

[SueEllen]

It will go to voicemail and they will hang up. Money is time and for the same reasons you don't want to go through all the speil they won't want to listen to yours.

If they actually have a role they won't just hang up.

[MrMarkyMark]

Maybe it would help if we just all tell the OP its a good idea.

Then he can let us know how he gets on