Do agencies do this?

[SueEllen]

I was set up for an interview as my current contract was coming to an end ( customer transitioned contractor positions to a body shop). I took a day off work and travelled to e other end of the country. After about 3 hours discussing my experience, the project requirements and generally being pumped for info and consultancy we got round to timescales and budgets. The customer admitted they didn't have exact timescales and hadn't even secured budget. It could be months before it kicked off and based on what I'd told them about license costs etc they would probably end up going for cheaper technologies like open source or Microsoft.

I'd essentially being sent int the customer on the off chance of being able to sell my self in. The customer were quite surprised I considered it an interview for a pending post.

Mugged ... live and learn.

Common trick not just by them but other agencies.

When you interview try and do it on the phone first unless it's local and won't cost you loads to get there.

When you are interviewing check a budget exists for the requirement.

Also don't p*ss the client off. In fact if possible get their contact details - I've applied for roles to find no budget exists only to see the role readvertised when the budget exists 6-12 months later and got it.

[glippiglop]

I've been having the same problems with agencies and worse this year. Another annoyance is that sites like JobServe are being heavily polluted by firms posting multiple times for the same role.

I think prospective clients have been avoiding the agencies in order to save cash. With there being many talented candidates in the pool, agencies are also no longer required in order to source good workers.

I'm now having better luck since I made an effort to go direct. LinkedIn is a good place to start, but grab a list of UK companies that you're interested in (the FTSE 250 is an easy place to start) and visit the career section on their websites. This will take more effort on your part, but at least it will keep you sane

[No2politics]

Perhaps try and secure the gigs direct using LinkedIn?

[dmini]

I went for an interview today. The client had issued a spec of sorts (very vague) and then decided they wanted to interview me, and shifted round appointments to do so. At interview it became really clear that my skills were not a close enough match - or even vaguely close at points! When I spoke to the agent at the end he didn't believe me - until he got feedback and saw the skills that I didn't have (that they had never requested before). Job is now back out, readvertised with all the list of skills that it now seems they want, probably now not on enough money! Very upset agent as well - says has dealt with the guy for 10 years, and never had issues like that. Couldn't stop apologising. So, sometime the skills lists the clients want, are unrealistic. It does happen.

[Mephisto]

Where I would agree to all these to some extent I think you are being a little one sided. There is always the client in all this and they are most certainly not always the innocent party. I know from experience after speaking to the client direct after an interview to bypass the agent they have shelved gigs after interview as they didn't find an exact match, the project changed focus during recruiting process, an old hand came back that can just slot in or budget was cut midway through recruitment process, the recruiter goes on holiday or gets re-assigned. These are just a few I have either heard from a client or heard other contractors talking about. The list is endless.

I don't think it is right to dump everything at the agents door without considering that the client can also play funny buggers with the agent.

*Nods head vigorously at this*

I will also add that they interview a range of skills for the position and re-jig the requirement plus offer more/less depending on which way it's gone. I've seen roles re-advertised after I've interviewed with a slightly different spec/title but blatantly from the same hiring manager (as confirmed by a call to the agency) only to be told the 'requirements have changed'. Feel dirty and used

[stomper666]

Hello

thanks for the replies. I take your points on board. It is just business after all. I might have to drop my rates a little as I am asking for top whack.

Talking about sharp practices ... how about this for an epic fail. I walked into it a few years ago and got well mugged. If I could have got hold of the agent I would have hurt him.

I was set up for an interview as my current contract was coming to an end ( customer transitioned contractor positions to a body shop). I took a day off work and travelled to e other end of the country. After about 3 hours discussing my experience, the project requirements and generally being pumped for info and consultancy we got round to timescales and budgets. The customer admitted they didn't have exact timescales and hadn't even secured budget. It could be months before it kicked off and based on what I'd told them about license costs etc they would probably end up going for cheaper technologies like open source or Microsoft.

I'd essentially being sent int the customer on the off chance of being able to sell my self in. The customer were quite surprised I considered it an interview for a pending post.

Mugged ... live and learn. The agency was Real Resourcing.

Cheers

Jamie

[northernladuk]

Yes, they do all those things.

1. Job advertised with a very high rate and a 12month contract (just too good).
Get in contact and the post has just been filled but please send CV anyway
Part of the agency business model is
(1) get some CVs
(2) use those CVs to try and find out who tends to hire what sort of people
(3) try and sell some in.

2. Job advertised with a decent rate band.
Get in touch but because of my experience I do ask for the top end (but not unrealistically high for the job spec). They say they will put the CV forward but nothing happens. When you chase them they say that its all gone quiet.
Nothing tricky about this, it's just how they work. Probably they have someone else in mind who's a better and/or cheaper bet. Maybe they were over-optimistic in the first place about how much the client wanted to use them. Rule of thumb is you don't need to bother chasing up agents. If they haven't been after you constantly like a dog in heat since the day they got your CV, it's gone cold. But they'll never tell you it's gone dead, because they are optimistic sales-y people, and occasionally they still want you hanging on as a backup option

3. Job advertised with a mix of guru level skills you just wouldn't expect to find in a single individual.
Probably they looked at what the last guy had ended up doing after 5 years on site, and want to hire somebody who is basically him. Or the client doesn't really know what they want and is aiming high. This one is unlikely to be the agent's fault. When you see a spec like that, always worth getting in touch even if you're lacking a few bits.

4. Job advertised and it looks like a real goer. Agency very enthusiastic and get you to commit to only talking to them about it. Then it all goes quiet and if you chase them its a case of they are waiting for feedback or the requirements have changed.

That one's the same as number 2, n'est-ce pas? Remember when the client says "No Mr Agent, I do not want your services under any circumstances", an agent hears "Please get some CVs in anyway and maybe I'll change my mind".

Where I would agree to all these to some extent I think you are being a little one sided. There is always the client in all this and they are most certainly not always the innocent party. I know from experience after speaking to the client direct after an interview to bypass the agent they have shelved gigs after interview as they didn't find an exact match, the project changed focus during recruiting process, an old hand came back that can just slot in or budget was cut midway through recruitment process, the recruiter goes on holiday or gets re-assigned. These are just a few I have either heard from a client or heard other contractors talking about. The list is endless.

I don't think it is right to dump everything at the agents door without considering that the client can also play funny buggers with the agent.

[quackhandle]

Move up at the back, another one for the bench.

Get yourself comfy as you could be in for a bumpy ride.

qh

[eek]

Does a bear tulip in woods.

[thunderlizard]

Yes, they do all those things.

1. Job advertised with a very high rate and a 12month contract (just too good).
Get in contact and the post has just been filled but please send CV anyway
Part of the agency business model is
(1) get some CVs
(2) use those CVs to try and find out who tends to hire what sort of people
(3) try and sell some in.

2. Job advertised with a decent rate band.
Get in touch but because of my experience I do ask for the top end (but not unrealistically high for the job spec). They say they will put the CV forward but nothing happens. When you chase them they say that its all gone quiet.
Nothing tricky about this, it's just how they work. Probably they have someone else in mind who's a better and/or cheaper bet. Maybe they were over-optimistic in the first place about how much the client wanted to use them. Rule of thumb is you don't need to bother chasing up agents. If they haven't been after you constantly like a dog in heat since the day they got your CV, it's gone cold. But they'll never tell you it's gone dead, because they are optimistic sales-y people, and occasionally they still want you hanging on as a backup option

3. Job advertised with a mix of guru level skills you just wouldn't expect to find in a single individual.
Probably they looked at what the last guy had ended up doing after 5 years on site, and want to hire somebody who is basically him. Or the client doesn't really know what they want and is aiming high. This one is unlikely to be the agent's fault. When you see a spec like that, always worth getting in touch even if you're lacking a few bits.

4. Job advertised and it looks like a real goer. Agency very enthusiastic and get you to commit to only talking to them about it. Then it all goes quiet and if you chase them its a case of they are waiting for feedback or the requirements have changed.

That one's the same as number 2, n'est-ce pas? Remember when the client says "No Mr Agent, I do not want your services under any circumstances", an agent hears "Please get some CVs in anyway and maybe I'll change my mind".

[cojak]

Welcome!

I don't see any sharp practices in your posts, just agents having a hard time of it as much as us.

The market is rubbish at the moment and clients are flakey. With agencies being a bit desperate to get people in they do hype the chances of contracts.

Dodgy practice usually involves reference phishing, I don't care if they are collecting CVs.

[stomper666]

Hello

newbie to the forum so hello everyone. Been contracting about 7 years and have recently been on an 18+ month contract. I've always been pretty lucky and had back to back contracts but since rolling off this last one a couple of months ago I'm a bit shocked at the lack of success I'm having. Especially as the tools I was using on this last gig were the very latest for my specialisation. Without being big headed I know I'm pretty good at what I do plus coupled with 18 months on the latest tools I thought I'd be off the bench pretty quick. I know you can't trust many agencies as far as you can throw them but maybe I've always been relatively lucky in the past, or maybe something has changed.

I think the agencies I'm dealing with are 'at it'. Does this sound familiar ...

1. Job advertised with a very high rate and a 12month contract (just too good).
Get in contact and the post has just been filled but please send CV anyway

2. Job advertised with a decent rate band.
Get in touch but because of my experience I do ask for the top end (but not unrealistically high for the job spec). They say they will put the CV forward but nothing happens. When you chase them they say that its all gone quiet.

3. Job advertised with a mix of guru level skills you just wouldn't expect to find in a single individual.

4. Job advertised and it looks like a real goer. Agency very enthusiastic and get you to commit to only talking to them about it. Then it all goes quiet and if you chase them its a case of they are waiting for feedback or the requirements have changed.

Can any one fill me in one what tricks this lot get up to. I've got the feeling that my CV isn't even getting as far as the customer as if it did I'd be in with a good chance but because I want top whack the agencies margin will be smaller. I mean most customers just pay a flat rate don't they and its in the agencies interest to knock you down. I almost feel like I'm being 'taken out of the market' and cheaper (bigger margin alternatives) being put forward ... especially on the ones where they contact me.

Sorry for the 'war and peace' and maybe I'm just not as good as I think I am but I'd love to know what you guys think about agency 'sharp practices'.

Cheers

Jamie