Reply to: agency unfairly pressuring me

[Mordac]

In total agreement with you Mal...Im also of the opinion that NOTHING ever happens in IT that can be considered a surprise!

If you suddenly find you need to have someone onsite within the next 2 hours then thats just poor planning on your behalf!

Mailman

Although I wonder how many of us contractors have had cause to be grateful for the lack of IT project planning, in the shape of immediate start, name-your-rate contracts.

Long may it continue.

[Mailman]

In total agreement with you Mal...Im also of the opinion that NOTHING ever happens in IT that can be considered a surprise!

If you suddenly find you need to have someone onsite within the next 2 hours then thats just poor planning on your behalf!

Mailman

[malvolio]

This just may be a case in point. You can use uncleared people where a cleared person can provide adequate oversight and ensure the uncleared person does not see material they aren't supposed to (there is another wrinkle to that, but let's not over-complicate things). However a tester has really to work in isolation or compromise his testing, which makes it hard to provide adequate oversight. If we further assume this is a mission critical piece of work, then the SC may be justified.

That said, having got into that situation is evidence of piss poor planning somwhere along the line!

[IT contract agent]

Thought you guys would have a field day with this..just seen it



LoadRunner, 'SC' Security Clearance My client is urgently seeking an experienced Performance Test Analyst to work with them on a high-profile project. A minimum of 3 years LoadRunner experience along with current and valid 'SC' level Security Clearance are essential for this role. As this role has a start date of Monday, only candidates who are currently available can be considered.
Location London
Country England
Start Date 20/03/2006
Duration 3 months
Rate £375 - £410 per day
Employment Business MSB International PLC (Manchester)
Contact Adam Withenshaw
Telephone 01625 44 44 44
Fax 01625 44 44 02
Email [email protected]
Reference JSJ030922/AW1
Posted Date 16/03/2006 11:43:49

[Mailman]

but its likea chicken and egg scenario, you cant get a job because you need sc clearance, but you cant get sc clearance until you get a sponsor....

Which is why the guidelines mention that new recruits without SC's should be given tasks where such a clearance isnt needed straight away and once their SC comes through they can move on to more "sensitive" stuff.

It would be nice if you could 'pre-register' yourself or your business so as to save all this angst!

HAHAHA..we live in England...since when has "common sense" EVER been part of how this country is run?

BUT...seriously...your suggestion is a good idea. Just a pity good ideas arent the done thing here eh?

Mailman

[malvolio]

If a hiring manager has an urgent need and candidates need to be security cleared then me thinks we should be able to advertise for security cleared candidates. If its the case that Mr Manager can wait 6 weeks then sure put in "or willing to undergo security clearance"

Oh yes, agreed. Clearly there are situations where you can't hang around for clearance - the obvious example is a replacement syadmin, where you can't easily oversee their work. But that should be made clear in the advert, IMHO - I got bounced once for not having current SC where the job was to source and deliver a training programme on Change Management: now that is just ridiculous (and, incidentally, is why I started making waves at the DVA. So you can blame me for the current guidelines to recruiters!)

[Chappo]

but its likea chicken and egg scenario, you cant get a job because you need sc clearance, but you cant get sc clearance until you get a sponsor....

It would be nice if you could 'pre-register' yourself or your business so as to save all this angst!

[Mailman]

No, you have to be sponsored.

Mailman

[Chappo]

is it possible to apply for sc by yourself?

[IT contract agent]

If a hiring manager has an urgent need and candidates need to be security cleared then me thinks we should be able to advertise for security cleared candidates. If its the case that Mr Manager can wait 6 weeks then sure put in "or willing to undergo security clearance"

[malvolio]

what have I failed to understand???

That you cannot make a job application dependent on the candidate already having clearance. The ministry will have made provision for that in their budget: sadly the EDS-type big contractors usually ignore that, usually to save them money getting people cleared and ask you recruiters for cleared-only applicants. Then you get smacked by DVA and the like for doing what your client asked.

Is that Arses to all in HR???? me welsh is a little rusty

Close, but dim sigar, bach: there's always Google. Hwyl mawr!

[DodgyAgent]

what have I failed to understand???

Is that Arses to all in HR???? me welsh is a little rusty

I think Malvolio is going through "an agreeing with agents" crisis

[IT contract agent]

what have I failed to understand???

Is that Arses to all in HR???? me welsh is a little rusty

[malvolio]

what do you want mailman???? - should we only advertise a .net role by saying willing to undergo .net training???

Yet again, you fail to understand the product and the rules of the game you're supposed to follow. You really, really sure you're a contractor salesman?

[IT contract agent]

what do you want mailman???? - should we only advertise a .net role by saying willing to undergo .net training???