Reply to: Longer contracts

[mailric]

Jackanory!

No agent in the land will offer you a longer contract than the client is willing to provide. This misinformation is a) quite daft and b) unecessary.

The agency will match whatever duration the client provides. Unless you can produce any form of evidence to match your statement above then I suggest you are perhaps misguided in your knowledge of how the process works.

I know one who does, and did to me..... when client didn't need me they just served notice on me to bring end dates in line.

[BolshieBastard]

Oh dear, the mark of a lost argument...

You cant lose an argument of fact. No point 'arguing' with someone who denies the practise goes on by (supposedly) the biggest UK agency.

[ratewhore]

Whatever!

Oh dear, the mark of a lost argument...

[SillyMilly]

Could be that the PM knows the project is going to run for 12 months. I've had contracts that long for long-lasting projects. Also once went on a 3-monther, project was huge, they offered a year's extension at a suitably inflated rate, which I was happy to accept.

Sometimes there is a chink of common sense in these situations - not often, but sometimes.

[Another Dodgy Agent]

If only all agents were like you maybe they wouldn't have such a bad reputation, and be despised and untrusted so much!

I'll look out for your name in the next honours list. I'm sure we can take everything you say at face value. Which will be a first for an agent.

Good morning PAH!

Referring to your thread reply above, you can take what you like, me I am off on hols tomorrow!

[Another Dodgy Agent]

Whatever!

Chill BB, its Friday and its curry night (well it is for me at least!)

[PAH]

11 years of recruitment and I have never issued a contract that has different dates from the client. Tulips my A@se!

If only all agents were like you maybe they wouldn't have such a bad reputation, and be despised and untrusted so much!

I'll look out for your name in the next honours list. I'm sure we can take everything you say at face value. Which will be a first for an agent.

[BolshieBastard]

Well you will insist on dealing with these dodgy agents. Not my fault my laud!

What is bulltulip my stroppy friend is that these gigs you have been on are hokum. I only issue a contract once I know it exactly mirrors the clients in terms of duration. Why? Too much over exposure, if my dates don't marry with the clients then I am put in a rather difficult position with the contractor.

11 years of recruitment and I have never issued a contract that has different dates from the client. Tulips my A@se!

Whatever!

[Another Dodgy Agent]

That's bulltulip.

Spring gave me a 13 week contract for a role with EDS. On the job, EDS told me they only had work for me for 6 weeks. They said they dont know why Spring gave me a 13 week contract!

Hayes offered me another 13 week contract for a role with Littlewoods. At interview, Littlewoods said the role was ONLY for 6 weeks, was that a problem. I told them the agent said 13 weeks. News to us, said Littlewoods!

Well you will insist on dealing with these dodgy agents. Not my fault my laud!

What is bulltulip my stroppy friend is that these gigs you have been on are hokum. I only issue a contract once I know it exactly mirrors the clients in terms of duration. Why? Too much over exposure, if my dates don't marry with the clients then I am put in a rather difficult position with the contractor.

11 years of recruitment and I have never issued a contract that has different dates from the client. Tulips my A@se!

[BolshieBastard]

Jackanory!

No agent in the land will offer you a longer contract than the client is willing to provide. This misinformation is a) quite daft and b) unecessary.

The agency will match whatever duration the client provides. Unless you can produce any form of evidence to match your statement above then I suggest you are perhaps misguided in your knowledge of how the process works.

That's bulltulip.

Spring gave me a 13 week contract for a role with EDS. On the job, EDS told me they only had work for me for 6 weeks. They said they dont know why Spring gave me a 13 week contract!

Hayes offered me another 13 week contract for a role with Littlewoods. At interview, Littlewoods said the role was ONLY for 6 weeks, was that a problem. I told them the agent said 13 weeks. News to us, said Littlewoods!

[TykeMerc]

Jackanory!

No agent in the land will offer you a longer contract than the client is willing to provide. This misinformation is a) quite daft and b) unecessary.

The agency will match whatever duration the client provides. Unless you can produce any form of evidence to match your statement above then I suggest you are perhaps misguided in your knowledge of how the process works.

I agree, it's hardly uncommon for the client and contractor to discuss durations especially around renewal times, the agents would come a major cropper if they did this.

All a savvy contractor would have to do is to get the client on side to stitch up the agent and that would be very easy to do.

[Another Dodgy Agent]

Don't for a second believe that an agent won't try to entice you with a long contract, even though their's with the client may only be 3 months, in an attempt to get you at a lower rate. They will terminate without blinking an eye once the client has no further need for you.

Jackanory!

No agent in the land will offer you a longer contract than the client is willing to provide. This misinformation is a) quite daft and b) unecessary.

The agency will match whatever duration the client provides. Unless you can produce any form of evidence to match your statement above then I suggest you are perhaps misguided in your knowledge of how the process works.

[PAH]

I've been offered a couple of long contracts in the past (6-12 months), but if the rate isn't good enough, the length of the contract shouldn't sway it.

Don't for a second believe that an agent won't try to entice you with a long contract, even though their's with the client may only be 3 months, in an attempt to get you at a lower rate. They will terminate without blinking an eye once the client has no further need for you.

It's true about a contract only really being as long as the notice period. At the interview you should assess how big the project is and how long they're likely to require you (if all goes to plan).

As it turns out, all my previous contracts that were at a rate I was happy with, started out at 3 months initially, and went on for at least a year. So same difference really in terms of contract length, except I started on a more favourable rate, and had the opportunity to negotiate a rate rise every 3 months!

Of course, in today's climate, getting any offer on the table at all shouldn't be sniffed at.

[ChimpMaster]

The other benefit is that it takes you off the radar for the next 12 months, which in today's market is a good thing. So if the company starts to look at cost cutting initiatives and hence stops renewing contractors (or cuts their rates on renewal) - you won't have to worry about for another year yet.

[Ashwin2007]

Yes they could. But, if you're happy with the contract and the rate, what's the issue? That's contracting and at least you have up to 12 months of turnover organised, notice notwithstanding...

Good Point. I am going to sign this 12 months contract.