Reply to: Interesting Tactic From Agencies...

[PerfectStorm]

Just tell them what they want to hear, this side of signing your contract. It feels terrible, but they'd drop if you in a moments notice if you have to. You are, after all, a contractor, and beholden to no one before you've signed one.

[Andy Hallett]

There are good agents, there are bad agents.

There are good contractors, there are bad contractors.

i suspect the 'new tactic' is because contractors are committing and then welching when they get offered £20 per day more.

[cojak]

Well you do you, doogie.

[d000hg]

Yep, I have no problem with this. The demand is ridiculous and unenforceable - they would have no problem dumping you hours before starting the contract if they could find someone cheaper.

Those don't seem reasons to lie. Act professionally when they are slimy, tell them their request is ridiculous. And...

Just lie to them.

Are you sure you want to endorse anything PC says

[northernladuk]

Just lie to them.

Do you not think this is why you have so many problems in your life?

[psychocandy]

Just lie to them. I always say "Of course I'm looking at other opportunities".
Then when they press they normally ask "so any near offer stage" just say no even if they are. Agents don't like wasting their time when you then go ahead and pick another offer. If its looking good I always tell the agent I'm really keen too.

Had it this time. Had an interview, was 99% sure an offer was coming. Agent called me after the interview - "no I'm looking at a few things but nothing sorted yet".
To be fair they then waited 5 days before making an offer. Before this another one came back (it was better) and offered me and I accepted.

Original agent then was mystified how I could take an offer - to be fair it was 5 days- they were ok if not a little upset. Alls fair in love and contracting....

[courtg9000]

Seems a reasonable position. Imagine if you sent the agent a form "please confirm you are no longer discussing this position with other candidates".

This probably something I would try!

[hungry_hog]

Seems like an utterly stupid move from the agencies in this market and likely to (at best) cause merriment and (at worst) alienate candidates.

Everyone knows you keep all doors open until feet under the desk.
I had an offer from a company sounding like "Loyal Bale" couple years back and was halfway through onboarding when I got another offer. Told the onboarding person to stop the process, hiring manager didn't even follow up. They had p1ssed me off by turning up to the interview 30 mins late so were a fall back option in any case.

[cojak]

For others it is, they're saying "tick the box and ignore it".

Yep, I have no problem with this. The demand is ridiculous and unenforceable - they would have no problem dumping you hours before starting the contract if they could find someone cheaper.

[eek]

For others it is, they're saying "tick the box and ignore it".

It's worth pointing out I have records for onboarding at 3 different places because I used the very obvious technique of getting all referees forewarned and lined up and making everyone aware that if the references could be done NOW as agreed by the referencing agency, any delay would be the responsibility of the person / firm doing the referencing.

In all 3 cases it shifted a 1 to 2 week onboarding process down to less than a day.

[d000hg]

It's not lying - it's a negotiating point.

For others it is, they're saying "tick the box and ignore it".

[eek]

Lying to benefit yourself puts you in the same position as the agent - you're both doing the same thing of saying whatever will get you the business. Makes us as bad as them, regardless whether you say "they did it first". I quite like the adage that if you struggle to explain your situation honestly, perhaps that's a warning sign, and I believe acting with integrity doesn't hurt in the long run (whether you call it karma or simply establishing a reputation).

It's not lying - it's a negotiating point.

agent - Drop other opportunities
me - If you do xyz I will (because by doing that I will have my feet under the desk)
agent - OK

And the point is that if he performed the steps I required than I would be doing what he asked (not immediately but very rapidly) because my feet would be under the desk.....

[TheDude]

Seems a reasonable position. Imagine if you sent the agent a form "please confirm you are no longer discussing this position with other candidates".

Please confirm you are not a habitual liar solely motivated by sales bonuses.

[d000hg]

I don't discuss other ongoing opportunities with agents so would be largely irrelevant with me anyway. .

Seems a reasonable position. Imagine if you sent the agent a form "please confirm you are no longer discussing this position with other candidates".

[SussexSeagull]

I don't discuss other ongoing opportunities with agents so would be largely irrelevant with me anyway. Up until the point I have a contract in front of me I don't stop searching (before this descends into a Four Yorkshireman sketch about not stop looking until you are three years into your new contract I have never had a problem having signed a contract).