Reply to: Answer to the question "what have you been doing since your last contract"

[SueEllen]

I do laugh at how agents come out with this stuff and keep a straight face.

Mate, have a good long read of this thread and see how the magic works....

You should be nice to TAV he is really an innocent amongst agents.

[Wanderer]

Please do tell me, how you believe we gain new contracts from knowing who your previous employer was?? Is it magic??

I do laugh at how agents come out with this stuff and keep a straight face.

Mate, have a good long read of this thread and see how the magic works....

[escapeUK]

Smile happily and say "Whatever I wanted."

[darrenb]

If you are Ltd company then you continued to be employed by your company as MD or whatever. In short none of their nosey business! This is a sign of an Agency or Agent that doesn’t understand the Contractor Market and the fact that even in buoyant markets we all have time on the bench. Who are they to draw conclusions about what you get up to when you are not on contract?

WHS.

Clients and agents know this has nothing to do with how good you are, but sometimes they will try and make a big deal of it in order to beat down your rate. As an independent, you should have a tough skin, see these questions for what they are, and not let yourself be intimidated.

[JamJarST]

Please do tell me, how you believe we gain new contracts from knowing who your previous employer was??

Is it magic??

Because agents phone up my previous line manager/client/employer and say that they know I used to be there but there is now a vacancy and they have the perfect candidate. Every agent I have given these details to has done it, I dont begrudge them it but I don't like my name being used as if I had given the lead on purpose.

[nomadd]

Or even this: I was trying my hand at being a recruitment agent.

[TheFaQQer]

Career break.... Family Time..... Personal Time.......Personal Project

This

Working for private clients. All this work is subject to strict NDAs, so I can't discuss the details or ever put it on my cv. Sorry, Mr Nosey Agent.

Works for me.

Or this

Taking time off (as this is usually the truth).

I contract to allow me to earn a lot of money in a short period of time, I work hard for the duration of the contract so I can then take some a break and spend time with my kids.

Or even this

Tends to be the last or the first of those choices.

[petergriffin]

are there any suggestions of acceptable answers I can give the agents who ask?

"Spent the last five months considering a career change and you've just given me the motivation."

[The Agents View]

Please do tell me, how you believe we gain new contracts from knowing who your previous employer was??

Is it magic??

[CodeCobbler]

I suspect the REAL reason is that the parasite agent wants to find new contacts from your (hopefully recent) last employer.

Less concerning than down time is how patchy my work completion is. Surely that should be asked first.

[nomadd]

You have clients you cannot put on your CV due to a NDA? Truth? Whatever...

Well, remember in these circumstances it's an agent you are talking to. Bringing any "truth" into the conversation would only spoil the already beautiful working relationships we have with these thieves.

[Contractoid]

Nomado?? Summat going on here we should all know about?



Pull the other one.. You have clients you cannot put on your CV due to a NDA? Truth? Whatever...

Sorry Nomadd!!! I have to type quick otherwise I will be spotted by the Gestapo here.

OK, not an NDA but a request to keep it quiet!

[northernladuk]

However, if its an Agency you have a relationship with and get consistent leads or contracts from I think Nomado’s suggestion is a good one

Nomado?? Summat going on here we should all know about?

– I use it most times as its usually fully or partially the truth,

Pull the other one.. You have clients you cannot put on your CV due to a NDA? Truth? Whatever...

[Contractoid]

Working for private clients. All this work is subject to strict NDAs, so I can't discuss the details or ever put it on my cv. Sorry, Mr Nosey Agent.

Works for me.

If you are Ltd company then you continued to be employed by your company as MD or whatever. In short none of their nosey business! This is a sign of an Agency or Agent that doesn’t understand the Contractor Market and the fact that even in buoyant markets we all have time on the bench. Who are they to draw conclusions about what you get up to when you are not on contract?
However, if its an Agency you have a relationship with and get consistent leads or contracts from I think Nomado’s suggestion is a good one – I use it most times as its usually fully or partially the truth,

[chef]

"enjoying the yacht"

Dim Prawn