Reply to: Meeting the agent before an interview?

[psychocandy]

Whenever I have done this it's been a waste of time and everything could just have been done over the phone rather than faffing about.

I popped along to one because it was around the corner, I waited in reception for a few minutes for him to come out and we had a 15 minute chat about what I was looking for. Then he fed me some rubbish about how I should leave my CV exclusively with him for two weeks because otherwise if the CV is sent out by lots of agents it looks 'desperate'. I found that devious and insulting. If I had been naive enough to believe that it would obviously have benefited the agent but not me.

I can't see myself going face to face again. At least when you hear the tricks on the phone less of your time is wasted.

Exclusively? sod that. I would do if they could guarantee in wiritng they could get me a gig - or pay a penalty of £1000.

Otherwise, no way jose. Must work I guess with some people for them to try it.

[eek]

Are they in any way affiliated with an other agency? One agent sent me and email with the teksystems signature and then Ashton carter ..

I get call from Junior guys as like they are doing practise calls.

I got one day 4 meeting invites to the office in Bracknell. I declined them all and the junior agent called me 3 times confirming the face to face.

From around 100 calls over the years not one interview

Working through teksystems at the moment. Yes I had to meet the person managing this client before anything else but its just part of the "value added" they claim to add.

In fact between that agent meeting and the very short phone interview I had this was about as painless an interview as I've had..

Only had 1 junior practicing on me so far. He got very short shrift...

[maganda]

Are they in any way affiliated with an other agency? One agent sent me and email with the teksystems signature and then Ashton carter ..

I get call from Junior guys as like they are doing practise calls.

I got one day 4 meeting invites to the office in Bracknell. I declined them all and the junior agent called me 3 times confirming the face to face.

From around 100 calls over the years not one interview

[pmeswani]

This is definitely not 'the norm'. I've just been through this very thing with TEKSystems - exactly the same as you - and the whole thing turned out to be bollocks. They didn't have the leg in on the role, their relationship with the client was no more special than the next guy (let alone the Janitor at the client) and they spent more time wasting energy on doing this stuff (along with their 'harassing insistence' I give 2 references) to then deliver the sum total of - well - nothing !!!!!

Anyone that gives you this sort of speel is more focused around their own position than yours or the client I find. So I'd avoid them.

When I first dealt with TekSystems, I must admit I was a bit dubious. I eventually gave in to the References request and gave them a referee details to them. The opportunity turned out to be real, and I secured the role. I didn't feel that I needed to prove myself, but as I didn't have much to hide, I didn't mind.

[AussieDigger]

WHS

I've worked for TEKSystems and know two of their guys in two different regions. They have the same approach, can be a bit over the top at times, but they do keep in touch and we do some mutual back scratching.

The only back they scratch is theirs. I'd never touch them again.

[AussieDigger]

I'm new to the contracting game, and this agent from TekSystems wants to meet me face to face before I go for an interview with his client...

He said they build relationships with contractors, so he wants to meet me. He also implied that if I went to the interview I had to accept the role since they "only put 1 candidate forward due to their special relationship with the client".

Is this normal?

This is definitely not 'the norm'. I've just been through this very thing with TEKSystems - exactly the same as you - and the whole thing turned out to be bollocks. They didn't have the leg in on the role, their relationship with the client was no more special than the next guy (let alone the Janitor at the client) and they spent more time wasting energy on doing this stuff (along with their 'harassing insistence' I give 2 references) to then deliver the sum total of - well - nothing !!!!!

Anyone that gives you this sort of speel is more focused around their own position than yours or the client I find. So I'd avoid them.

[Scrag Meister]

Very methodical of you keeping a record of those!

Lets face it, it's as rare as hen's teeth, Lady Diana's death, 911 etc.. Where were you when your agent bought you coffee, Costa near St Pauls he said in a flash.

[Wanderer]

Meeting the agent before an interview?

Only if they are buying the beers.

[DieScum]

Whenever I have done this it's been a waste of time and everything could just have been done over the phone rather than faffing about.

I popped along to one because it was around the corner, I waited in reception for a few minutes for him to come out and we had a 15 minute chat about what I was looking for. Then he fed me some rubbish about how I should leave my CV exclusively with him for two weeks because otherwise if the CV is sent out by lots of agents it looks 'desperate'. I found that devious and insulting. If I had been naive enough to believe that it would obviously have benefited the agent but not me.

I can't see myself going face to face again. At least when you hear the tricks on the phone less of your time is wasted.

[bobspud]

a teksystems agent lead me down the garden path on my first hunt for a contract a couple of years ago, fell for the 2 references trick

i'd tread with care personally

Hi,
I gave a reference to TEK systems for one of my ex-engineers the other week. It was a real in depth discussion. I was quite surprised to be honest. Normally agencies ring up and say do you know X? Was he/she/it a Muppet? Thats good enough thanks for your time...

I was also surprised to find out that the chap I was speaking to hadn't even put the guy forward to the customer yet...

I have a personal friend that works for TEK. I gave her a call off the company time to ask what was going on. She stood by the two references play, saying that they get a kicking for sending C.V's of un checked bods to customers, so TEK wont go near you unless they know you as a quantity. So when they ask you for references for once they are not taking liberties. Just don't give them your _CURRENT_ employer because they will go and call them...

My friend also gave me a hard time for telling one of her colleagues to sod off when he cold called me and asked for a couple of references on a role she arranged for me when I was on the bench. I didn't know she had set it up and so I didn't give the referees. He didn't put me forward. Simple as Cost me an extra month on the bench as a result.

[Rabotnik]

Right now the whole thing seems like a wind up. Spoke to the agent earlier and suddenly he thinks I might be bored by the role whereas yesterday he was trying to sell it as perfect for me and he was in a rush to meet me ASAP. I think when I started making it clear I wasn't keen on coming in to London to meet him he realised I wouldn't be an easy source of leads. Can't see why he would do such a turnaround.

[DaveB]

Some excellent advice and looks like these guys are genuine and maybe useful contacts to get in with. BUT, in general I would not touch any meetings with an agent unless I was very convinced they could be useful and it was almost zero effort for me to go e.g. lunchtime, round the corner etc.
These are usually a total waste of time....

WHS. Do *not* spend money on this unless they already have you lined up for an interview, and even then only if it's cheap.

Ask them if they will cover your travel costs if you dont get the gig?

[lukemg]

Some excellent advice and looks like these guys are genuine and maybe useful contacts to get in with. BUT, in general I would not touch any meetings with an agent unless I was very convinced they could be useful and it was almost zero effort for me to go e.g. lunchtime, round the corner etc.
These are usually a total waste of time....

[Darren_Test]

I visited Tek systems office in Wokingham when they were known as Allegis 3-4 years back. It did not help me much, but if you live nearby no harm to meet them. They will give a form to fill & take identity proof copy I think.

I visited another agent (not able to recollect their name) in Central London in my early contracting years, absolute ******s, only information they were keen was References from previous employers..!!. So It’s not worth travel long distance to visit agents.

[darmstadt]

Quite often (nearly always) here in Germany they'll want to meet up before the interview and I've had quite a number of times where they've also sat in on the interview (this was interesting once as they started discussing rates so I know how much the agency were charging the client.)