Computer Futures - Dealt with these guys?

[Spacecadet]

You get these rediculously low rate contracts from all agencies.
They're probably just fishing to see how low the market can go

[eek]

Just had an email from CF re a job working from home.

FPGA and ASIC design.

£20/hr.

I spoke to them a while back. wanted 5 years plus .net development experience interfacing some weird non-standard api. Oil industry experience required and its a bug fixing roll due to a BIG screw up in development (software should be at the real client now it won't be for 6 months and its a multi-million pound contract).

The role was in Aberdeen. Rate £140 a day.



I get the feeling they are even more clueless then they used to be 5 years ago.

[VectraMan]

They always contact me, both emails and on the phone, different guys all the time. They always claim they have a contract but they never comes back after I spoken to them the first time. So, all in all I have stopped talking to them.

WHS. I've spoken to them a few times about jobs I'm ideal for, yet somehow they never materialise.

[Not So Wise]

The above is the sort of experience I've had with them - hence asking. But good to know a few people have had good experiences with them, they're not a waste of time then.

Only reason they are not a complete waste of time is they get on a lot of PSL's due to their excellent sales team.

From a contractors angle they are a "avoid unless desperate and/or a newbie". Same applies to all other S3 group agency’s (Huxley/Progressive/Pathway and many more) as they are all basically same company under different names

[northernladuk]

Only in the sense that I applied for contracts, got a call back within minutes saying the job had gone but they did have something I would be ideal for (hadn't read my cv and obvious I wasn't). This was followed by a fishing expedition.
It's happened 3 or 4 times, and I guess they must have some real contracts but I avoid them now.

To be fair I have had this with other agencies as well so it isn't something unique to CF. Would say this more typical of the agency type work that particular to a single agency.

Maybe I am missing something here with so many guys saying they would avoid them. When I am out of work I explore every opportunity for work and if that means speaking to these guys or letting agents spam me from linkedin the bring it on. If there is only a 1% opportunity for these guys to get me a role then thats me 1% ahead of the next guy. I can't afford to be binning agencies off if there is a chance they can help me. I just can't understand why people wouldn't deal with an agency just for a bit of fluff they give you. I am big enough to deal with it and if I get that one real role they might have while the others spend another week on the bench surely I am the one laughing?

Anyway, guess it is personal preference.

[theroyale]

Only in the sense that I applied for contracts, got a call back within minutes saying the job had gone but they did have something I would be ideal for (hadn't read my cv and obvious I wasn't). This was followed by a fishing expedition.
It's happened 3 or 4 times, and I guess they must have some real contracts but I avoid them now.

The above is the sort of experience I've had with them - hence asking. But good to know a few people have had good experiences with them, they're not a waste of time then.

[Spacecadet]

They always contact me, both emails and on the phone, different guys all the time. They always claim they have a contract but they never comes back after I spoken to them the first time. So, all in all I have stopped talking to them.

Computer futures seem to be a real boiler room of an operation. Small offices running very competitively with a high staff turn over. Seems to be if you don't get promoted after 6 months then you're out!

[dynamicsaxcontractor]

Had a call today from these guys - have any of you dealt with this agency? Experiences?

They always contact me, both emails and on the phone, different guys all the time. They always claim they have a contract but they never comes back after I spoken to them the first time. So, all in all I have stopped talking to them.

[Zippy]

Had a call today from these guys - have any of you dealt with this agency? Experiences?

Only in the sense that I applied for contracts, got a call back within minutes saying the job had gone but they did have something I would be ideal for (hadn't read my cv and obvious I wasn't). This was followed by a fishing expedition.
It's happened 3 or 4 times, and I guess they must have some real contracts but I avoid them now.

[Spacecadet]

These guys are big. You will get a whole range of replies I am sure. I had a stint and they were as good as any large agency are but do know colleagues had the normal gripes with them. They certianly won't be going under anytime soon. About as good as agents get is how I would put it I guess.

WHS

Got contract, invoiced and got paid

Only downside was having to go in to their office in person with ID and copies of company and VAT registration docs. Wasn't too big a deal for me as the office was pretty close. Would have been a complete arse had I lived further away

[northernladuk]

Had a call today from these guys - have any of you dealt with this agency? Experiences?

These guys are big. You will get a whole range of replies I am sure. I had a stint and they were as good as any large agency are but do know colleagues had the normal gripes with them. They certianly won't be going under anytime soon. About as good as agents get is how I would put it I guess.

[theroyale]

Had a call today from these guys - have any of you dealt with this agency? Experiences?