Reply to: Why don't the agents reply? I mean come on ... !

[neebz]

Good Luck SimonMac.

I've so far undersood the following things in my 1 month experience:

1. 70% of the jobs are fake.
2. If agents asks for references straight away, there is a mighty chance it is a fake.
3. Try adding your resume in agents websites directly. I have seen that they first contact you and then later put it on a jobsite.
4. Detail your experience in your resume along with job role. Agents make decision based on the position candidate held previously in companies.
5. Explain in years how many years you have in each skill. I placed the experince + skill on top of the resume and pushed everything (including education and projects) down.
6. State clearly on the top of resume when you are available. And whether you are willing to relocate (if the position is based pretty far from your place).
7. Just in case, if you are willing to work for any position for less than what they are offering on the ad, then do pursue them by calling. Sometimes agent think the candidate with such low rate is fake (happened to me :P).

[SimonMac]

Glad I found this thread, just started down the contracting route (close to 10 years experience in the permmie world) and am already picking up certain things from agents that now make sense after reading this. I've been approached by a few people for specific roles, which had full job descriptions etc so I tend to think if someone is contacting me with solid info its more than likely to be genuine.

All I can say is good luck to the OP.

[The Agents View]

They take a percentage.

They only take a fixed amount if it's a permanent position. However even that can be a percentage of the salary.

Technically, we split the money - typically 85% -15%.

The second part is not true - it depends on the client - certain arrangements are in place which mean we can only take a fixed split - others are more fluid - Of course our job is to make as much money out of each placement as possible, but it's also to make sure that works for all parties - ultimately, fleecing your clients is bad for long term business relationships - which in this market are absolutely critical......

Permanent placements are generally a fixed percentage - but those types of placements are always negotiable, up to about 22% (any more and you're into search and select terriotory).

[Wanderer]

if thats the case then an agent will never ask me to reduce my rate ..correct? And he will always try to get the guy with £300/day be successful over £150/day. True?

The reality is that the agent will supply the person that the client tells him to supply.

Then they will pay the worker what the agent pays them, minus their commission. Sometimes the client will tell the agent how much to pay the worker, other times they leave it up to the agent and the agent pays the worker whatever they think they can get away with. If they can reduce your rate to increase theirs then they will.

Another big clue is when they ask "and how have you been finding the market?..."

"I've just started looking, you are the first agency that has come up with an interesting job". Agency thinks, "Mmm, fresh meat!"

[Saddo]

If you are finding the market OK they'll ask what interviews you've had or where your CV has been forwarded to "so they don't duplicate effort"
If you are finding the market tough they'll ask what interviews you've had or where your CV has been forwarded to "so they don't duplicate effort"

That's a question you have to be real careful about answering.

If you say that you haven't seen much coming your way (e.g. no interviews) that could give the impression that you can't be any good if other agencies haven't been putting you forward.

If you say you've had some interviews but they came to nothing the agent might infer that you are crap at doing interviews, so he doesn't want to put you forward to his prospects.

With the "duplicate effort" response I'm always very careful about not sharing information across agencies. I won't give out client names to callers. If they start the game of "I need to know so that I don't duplicate you" my response is "well you will be calling me before you put me forward, won't you? If so we'll have that conversation then".

Being seen not to share information works positively - the agent you won't give information to then trusts you if he does want to discuss a role with a company, knowing that you won't be giving it away to others. But if you are silly enough to give out detail about opportunities created by other agents he won't be wanting to tell you anything for fear of losing his gig to another agent.

[Aman]

Mr

really? what is that supposed to mean? I got that 100s times

If you are finding the market OK they'll ask what interviews you've had or where your CV has been forwarded to "so they don't duplicate effort"
If you are finding the market tough they'll ask what interviews you've had or where your CV has been forwarded to "so they don't duplicate effort"

[SueEllen]

if thats the case then an agent will never ask me to reduce my rate ..correct?

And he will always try to get the guy with £300/day be successful over £150/day. True?

Depends on both the agent and the client involved.

[neebz]

They take a percentage.

They only take a fixed amount if it's a permanent position. However even that can be a percentage of the salary.

if thats the case then an agent will never ask me to reduce my rate ..correct?

And he will always try to get the guy with £300/day be successful over £150/day. True?

[neebz]

Another big clue is when they ask "and how have you been finding the market?..."

really? what is that supposed to mean? I got that 100s times

[MrMark]

One way to spot the timewasters is if they ask for 2 references up front before you have been put forward. What that means is that the agent is fishing for leads to pester, and he most likely doesn't have a position to fill, so there is zero chance of you being put forward for the position.

Another big clue is when they ask "and how have you been finding the market?..."

[Saddo]

Just make sure they are timewasters before you're too firm - burnt bridges and all that.....

One way to spot the timewasters is if they ask for 2 references up front before you have been put forward. What that means is that the agent is fishing for leads to pester, and he most likely doesn't have a position to fill, so there is zero chance of you being put forward for the position.

[SueEllen]

Thanx TAV.

I read that agents take %age of the rate/salary. Is this true or they have a fixed amount profit for a certain position?

They take a percentage.

They only take a fixed amount if it's a permanent position. However even that can be a percentage of the salary.

[neebz]

Thanx TAV.

I read that agents take %age of the rate/salary. Is this true or they have a fixed amount profit for a certain position?

[The Agents View]

Guys,

What does it means when an Agent calls you and says that he will be forwarding your resume to XYZ client? Is this for real?

In theory, they've put you forwards. Not always the case, but most of the time (far more often than some on here will have you believe)

He said he will charge me around £30 if the placement goes through.

Charge you? No no - nobody should be charging you anything - the umbrella takes a small charge for administering - maybe.

Also he says that I have to use one of the 14 umbrella companies, their agency authorize.

You can use your own limited company, or one of their brolly companies - 14 is a pretty long list. It's not strictly to the letter of the law to force people down this route, but legislation does mean that agencies have had to become more concious of who they do business with in the umbrella world. 14 should give you enough choice - and always ask if they bung the agents a backhander......

I kept saying ok. Seemed like another 'We will get back to you as soon as the client contacts and go away forever' thing

Possibly - but its like the lottery - you've gotta be in it to win it. The rule of more tickets = more chance just doesn't apply.

[neebz]

Guys,

What does it means when an Agent calls you and says that he will be forwarding your resume to XYZ client? Is this for real?

He said he will charge me around £30 if the placement goes through. Also he says that I have to use one of the 14 umbrella companies, their agency authorize.

I kept saying ok. Seemed like another 'We will get back to you as soon as the client contacts and go away forever' thing.