What does this really mean (agent email)...

[BolshieBastard]

I never had an agent leaving the rate open before submitting my CV. They always want me to commit to a rate. Picking the lower rate would mean I am desperate. Who wants a desperate contractor anyway? When I quoted the higher rate, I told him that I am open to negotiation.

By the way, if an agent were telling the truth, it would not be the end of the world.

So, when you ask 5 or 6 tradesmen to give you a quote for work, do you selected the highest quote? Do you select the lowest quote?

Or, do you get the references on those who were neither the highest nor lowest quotes?

Now, what do you think most agents do?

[istvan]

I worked somewhere where they were advertising for a role even got people in to interview, then after a meeting decided they wanted someone in to do something a bit different aswell as still part of the same original role so re-wrote the job spec and went out looking again.

I did feel a bit sorry for the ones that had already interviewed as no doubt the agent never told them and kept tem hanging on. I also applied for a contract earlier in the year that the following week I saw re-advertised as a permanent job so they obviously changed their minds on their requirement.

A lot of places I have worked don't really know what they want!!!

I just saw the new role being advertised today, so I guess they figured out on the way, that instead of a project manager they need a sales guy. By the way, project manager title is often misused, frequently it has nothing to do with the role being advertised.

Anyway

[curtis]

I worked somewhere where they were advertising for a role even got people in to interview, then after a meeting decided they wanted someone in to do something a bit different aswell as still part of the same original role so re-wrote the job spec and went out looking again.

I did feel a bit sorry for the ones that had already interviewed as no doubt the agent never told them and kept tem hanging on. I also applied for a contract earlier in the year that the following week I saw re-advertised as a permanent job so they obviously changed their minds on their requirement.

A lot of places I have worked don't really know what they want!!!

[istvan]

The cynic in me says you wanted the top end of the rate on offer and they found other candidates who'd take less.

I never had an agent leaving the rate open before submitting my CV. They always want me to commit to a rate. Picking the lower rate would mean I am desperate. Who wants a desperate contractor anyway? When I quoted the higher rate, I told him that I am open to negotiation.

By the way, if an agent were telling the truth, it would not be the end of the world.

[cojak]

The cynic in me says you wanted the top end of the rate on offer and they found other candidates who'd take less.

+1

[BolshieBastard]

I just got contacted for a gig on Friday. Rate from xxx to yyy. I told the agent I take it for yyy, but I am open for negotiation. The agent said, no problem with yyy. I received the job spec, augmented my experience and sent the latest CV to the agent. Wednesday I received this:

"Thank you for your interest in the XYZ123 role. Unfortunately the job spec has changed and we are now looking for a PQR123 specialist with device experience. So thank you for your interest, but out of courtesy I wanted to let you know the status of the role. Hope we are able to work again in the future"...

The cynic in me says you wanted the top end of the rate on offer and they found other candidates who'd take less.

[istvan]

Am sure the anti-agent brigade will yell CV fishing but I would be surprised they would go this far. The last gig I interview for changed focus during the interview phase so it got pulled after interview stage. I know it did as I have the client manager on LinkedIn and have spoken to them since.

It could be there is a genuine change in focus from the client.

Thanks northenlanduk, I do not suspect CV fishing either this time, why go this far when a simple no-skill/high daily rate ad will do the trick.

[northernladuk]

Am sure the anti-agent brigade will yell CV fishing but I would be surprised they would go this far. The last gig I interview for changed focus during the interview phase so it got pulled after interview stage. I know it did as I have the client manager on LinkedIn and have spoken to them since.

It could be there is a genuine change in focus from the client.

[istvan]

I just got contacted for a gig on Friday. Rate from xxx to yyy. I told the agent I take it for yyy, but I am open for negotiation. The agent said, no problem with yyy. I received the job spec, augmented my experience and sent the latest CV to the agent. Wednesday I received this:

"Thank you for your interest in the XYZ123 role. Unfortunately the job spec has changed and we are now looking for a PQR123 specialist with device experience. So thank you for your interest, but out of courtesy I wanted to let you know the status of the role. Hope we are able to work again in the future"...