Reply to: How do you find the market? Have you got any other interviews scheduled?

[ExPermie]

Then they'd just ask for two references from the stick

Yep, had that one too! Some agent bird strung me along about a 'fantastic Managed Services Company' based near Waterloo Station. It was the usual tulip such as paying loads of dosh and then came the question: "I need two references before I can put you forward"...yawn!

[psychocandy]

If you say yes, he'll immediately want to know where so he can get someone in, so always say no. I usually make it sound like I've not really started looking yet and they might just be lucky enough to get me early

WHS. If you say yes its normally followed by a friendly type of oh great where to which means they're on the blower to same client 5 mins after call ends.

Similar trick to the 'oh yes, i know a lot of people at client xyz (last one on your cv), who were you working with?'. 5 mins later they're on the phone in case client xyz wants a new contractor to replace you.

[amcdonald]

"just say you're having to fight them off with a stick"

Then they'd just ask for two references from the stick

[CloudWalker]

"just say you're having to fight them off with a stick"

[SueEllen]

Have had the same question a few times too. I looked it up on here and found a thread where someone mentioned the best answer was to ask the same question back to them "how are you finding the market?". My first victim was an agent from DGH and his response was "err...err...I asked you first".

Well done.

My best conversation ever with an agent was about 25 minutes on the the phone while I was shopping at aTescos refusing to give him references for his pretend role.

Next time see how long you can string the question out for.

[flipFlop]

"how are you finding the market?"

Let's cut out the middle man and just say "the same as you're finding the market."

[ExPermie]

Have had the same question a few times too. I looked it up on here and found a thread where someone mentioned the best answer was to ask the same question back to them "how are you finding the market?". My first victim was an agent from DGH and his response was "err...err...I asked you first".

[Ticktock]

The answer is prosaic. The agents have little to do each day in the office because the market is dead: so they try to look busy to their boss by 'phoning their prospects, yet have little to talk about - least of all any real contract.

It's rather like the questions your hairdresser asks you as she gives you a blow-dry.

From this and the other thread you posted in with similar sentiments, it sounds as if you aren't having much luck finding work.
I generally haven't started looking for a new contract until I've finished the previous one, to give myself a couple / few weeks break, but I've got a consultancy and an (trusted is the wrong word, but I have a decent relationship with) agent who keep coming to me with work each time - in fact the agent brought me to the consultancy. Apart from a previous client who asked me to come back to them for a while, these 2 have found me my past 3 or 4 pieces of work.

EDIT: Just saw flipFlops's current forum level: "Bench? What Bench?". How ironic.

[flipFlop]

Almost 99% of agents ask this type of questions.

The answer is prosaic. The agents have little to do each day in the office because the market is dead: so they try to look busy to their boss by 'phoning their prospects, yet have little to talk about - least of all any real contract.

It's rather like the questions your hairdresser asks you as she gives you a blow-dry.

[flipFlop]

half the point of contracting for me is an ability to take long breaks.

I told an agent this recently and it stopped him in his tracks.

[CoolCat]

Replying that you've recently started is not a case when you are 3 for months on a bench.

Plus I expect agents to have a CRM-like systems to store candidates information and leave couple notes as brief summarise after each call. So when next time they decide to call you - they will have quick history of calls, you positions and your claimed desired rates, all that straight under their eyes.

Not really half the point of contracting for me is an ability to take long breaks. Just because I aint accepted any offers doesnt mean I aint had any. Just tell em I am on extended holiday, which is usually correct.

[amcdonald]

Replying that you've recently started is not a case when you are 3 for months on a bench.

Plus I expect agents to have a CRM-like systems to store candidates information and leave couple notes as brief summarise after each call. So when next time they decide to call you - they will have quick history of calls, you positions and your claimed desired rates, all that straight under their eyes.

Not a problem unless they ask then, you've been on holiday, been building a yacht for a round the world trip, been on training courses....make up anything apart from saying you were out of work

If theres a sniff of getting a commission, they won't care about your past beyond trying to get two references from you to make more sales calls

[MisterLysenkiy]

Replying that you've recently started is not a case when you are 3 for months on a bench.

Plus I expect agents to have a CRM-like systems to store candidates information and leave couple notes as brief summarise after each call. So when next time they decide to call you - they will have quick history of calls, you positions and your claimed desired rates, all that straight under their eyes.

[Bunk]

If you say yes, he'll immediately want to know where so he can get someone in, so always say no. I usually make it sound like I've not really started looking yet and they might just be lucky enough to get me early

[tranceporter]

When times were good it seemed they wanted you to say yes so they know that you're in demand and worth putting forward

Now their logic seems to have jumped the shark, and they just want you to lie to them and pretend you haven't considered any other contracts bar the one they've randomly phoned you up about

And the best way to qualify is to say that by conincidence you only started looking for contracts today so they think you're fresh meat on the contract market

WHS. I always pretend and say that he is the first one to call me, since I started looking since yesterday, and uploaded my CV to Jobswerve.