Reply to: An Agency not putting me forward for 2 Roles

[Ardesco]

20 years in the industry. You have summed it all up there. You are exactly the type of individual that the industry has been trying to phase out for the last 10 years.

Grab a CV, sling it to the client, see what happens, move on to the next one.

I bet your clients love your "consultative approach". Tell me - what DO you say when your client turns round and says "that's all very well on paper, but before I waste my time interviewing this person, what do YOU know about them - history, background, success, failures" - I'll be able to answer them confidently, backing up what I am saying about the individual, not only from the perspective of someone with something to gain, but also with documented information from an independent source, who has probably experienced the same challenges that my client is going through.

Now as a client, given the choice, which one would you go to next time you need someone special? Based on the fact that my clients know how much depth I will go to in order to get them the right person, they are far more likely to run a role on an exclusive basis for me (which is about 70% of my work - you wouldn't even get a sniff) - the fact that I deliver not only the bare bones of a CV, but also in-depth references, and a first interview stage up front, the majority of the burden on the client is taken away - basically, they run the rule over them quickly, make a decision, with the confidence that I've got their back.

You just play the numbers game, charge when you can, and rebate when things go pear shaped. To be honest, you're my favourite type of agent - but I continue to hope that you get phased out of the market by commercially savvy clients.

This is the difference between a consultant, and an agent. You my Dodgy little friend, are an agent, of the most terrible quality - as I said at the beginning of this rant, you are exactly the type of person I campaign to have removed from this industry. Clients demand, and deserve more for the money we charge - the fact that I give it to them, is your gap to fill.

As for converting references into sales - the approach is simple and no secret - speak to the manager about the contractor - discuss in detail - probe success, failure, take a balanced reference - use for the role you're putting that contractor forward for. Then ask what they think of the process. If they say it's useful, ask if having their contractors vetted in this way would save them hassle - I've only had one person ever tell me it wasn't of use to them. From there - the sale is easy.

What a load of pap.

No contractor is going to hand out a business reference unless they know that the reference they are handing out will say they are amazing. Most of us just hand out details of the agents we previously had a contract with.

In the first case you aren't getting a balanced view of the contractors ability, you are getting somebody prepped to say the sun shines out of their arse, in the second case you are getting nothing and will not be able to get any sales.

If you called me up to have an in depth discussion about somebody who worked for me previously I would give you a quick one liner, if you tried to talk to me for 15 mins getting an in depth critique of the persons work I'd prolly tell you to feck orf, I'm too busy to deal with you and I would suspect the same is true of most people (Not to mention if I did more than confirm that they worked for a set period of time I'm opening myself up to god knows what legal issues if somebody decides they don't like what I say).

Speaking from the point of view of somebody who will get CV's to hire someone, I'm not interested in references, I'm interested in seeing a bunch of relevant stuff on their CV and them having the ability to back that up in a quick phone interview.

All I want from you is CV's that really do match the spec you were given (surprising how hard some agents find that).

[Akeap]

FTW The agency said they should have had feedback on Friday, I heard nothing. I just got a call from them and the allocation of CV's the client co want have been filled.

They said another agency must have filled the places.... all the slacking around arguing about getting references probably meant they were too slow..

Also my references said that they did'nt even contsact them anyways..


All annoying all same

[DodgyAgent]

Yet here's you sitting on 6000 posts, without actually managing to say anything of any use.....

Go figure.....

you have finally said something that everyone here can agree with

[The Agents View]

And that my friend is the fundamental difference between a professional and an unprofessional agent. One talks a lot the other listens a lot.

Yet here's you sitting on 6000 posts, without actually managing to say anything of any use.....

Go figure.....

[DodgyAgent]

OK I take your point - yes, I talk alot.

And that my friend is the fundamental difference between a professional and an unprofessional agent. One talks a lot the other listens a lot.

[The Agents View]

So I am a client. It is Friday afternoon and my leading project manager has been run over by a bus staggering home from the pub who does he send for?

1 DodgyAgent with a nice little portfolio of Eastern european girlie PMs who he hasnt actually taken references on but has verified piccies of?

or does he go for

TAV with a threehour presentation on the A-Z of how to be a boring ***** followed by a three week "pi**ing about period following up references of every tom dick and project manager who by the time the messing about is finished has already found a job.

I reckon with my proposition I would be ahead of ghostbusters

OK I take your point - yes, I talk alot.

Now - do the european girlies come with short skirts and low cut tops?

[AngelOfTheNorth]

Hmmm.... depends on what's relative to you really.

Wages - bad word - my contractors get paid a rate - keeps the IR at bay I find

Client base is limited I suppose - I guess there's probably 20 clients out there - not a massive space to work in I guess. I'm not IT though really - although alot of the projects I work on have an IT element to them.

Rates - anywhere from £400 to upwards of £1500 is normal really - i've worked lower level stuff with the same approach, and have had alot more resistance - which probably tells its own story.

The thing about my market though, is that everyone knows each other - so if I screw something up for one business, I can guarantee that the others will hear about it in their relative areas. This is why I go to the lengths I do. Stats tell us that a bad experience will bring 7 bad reviews from those who you've upset - as you can imagine, it would only take a few bad decisions for me to have my name in the industry in tatters.

Its like I know someone famous now!!!

[DodgyAgent]

Your earlier posts suggest that you get the job done as quick as possible, and to hell with the consequences..... the typical 80's/90's view of recruitment, and the view that I, and several high level individuals in the recruitment sector are determined to put an end to.

So I am a client. It is Friday afternoon and my leading project manager has been run over by a bus staggering home from the pub who does he send for?

1 DodgyAgent with a nice little portfolio of Eastern european girlie PMs who he hasnt actually taken references on but has verified piccies of?

or does he go for

TAV with a threehour presentation on the A-Z of how to be a boring ***** followed by a three week "pi**ing about period following up references of every tom dick and project manager who by the time the messing about is finished has already found a job.

I reckon with my proposition I would be ahead of ghostbusters

[The Agents View]

Depends really.

If you're a developer, coder, technical person, support person - No - I'm not someone who can help you.

If you're a project, programme or operational interim manager within the transportation space - then yes, I probably can help you.

If you're stuck in spain, looking for a mode of transport to get you home - I also cannot help you.

seeeemples.

[expat]

Nope - I hide it because I have no need to promote it in these circles - as I say, I don't really work in IT.

So you are not an agent for people like us, whereas Dodgy is?

[The Agents View]

Can you two get a room

[spoons]

Can you two get a room

[The Agents View]

You have no idea of how I work

Your earlier posts suggest that you get the job done as quick as possible, and to hell with the consequences..... the typical 80's/90's view of recruitment, and the view that I, and several high level individuals in the recruitment sector are determined to put an end to.

[DodgyAgent]

Nope - I hide it because I have no need to promote it in these circles - as I say, I don't really work in IT. I come here to gauge opinion on people like you, and then make sure that the way I work is the polar opposite.

You have no idea of how I work

[The Agents View]

Is that why you hide it?

Nope - I hide it because I have no need to promote it in these circles - as I say, I don't really work in IT. I come here to gauge opinion on people like you, and then make sure that the way I work is the polar opposite.