Has anyone worked with Austin Fraser agency

[squarepeg]

I did work with them in the past. It was OK. After about a year's break we almost got to work together again, but they sent my CV without getting email confirmation from me and that soured our relationship. Another agent that did get my official blessing caught it, but in the end the client had passed on me without giving an interview because of this situation. They claimed that they felt they had my assumed permission to represent me, because we worked together in the past. Needless to say I was not happy. They tried to make up for it, but were not able to match the rates that other agencies were selling me at. Then, a couple of months ago I got an email with four blank "jobs" (no client names, no rates, no job specs were attached), basically a list of "Python Developer, London/Cambridge/..." lines. They asked for my CV. I declined, asked them to get back in touch with me when I'm back from holidays. They never did. Which is fine, there are plenty of other agents around.

[HCA2015]

Avoid

Every now and then I get a call from Brad from Austin Fraser, fishing for leads and contacts. AF have fake roles. Don't waste your time.

[SueEllen]

I've also had recent contact with Austin Fraser, largely initiated by me applying for jobs they have advertised. To date, the applications have not amounted to anything, although "Brad" has tried his best to get some names out of me, the is "Joe Blogs" still there?" approach is still very much in use.

Last week I had an interview for a job near Bristol. After the interview I was called by someone else from AF about another position. As a professional courtesy, I mentioned that I'd just been interviewed and was waiting on the decision, and therefore may not be available. No more than 5 minutes later, "Brad" called and then spent 10 minutes badgering me to get the name of the person I'd seen, he tried every trick, we supply the contractors, did you see "Bob Wheelbarrow"?, blah blah.

Why blame AF when it was your own mistake?

You never tell an agency you have just interviewed.

They will set the graduates on you as you have learnt.

Oh and you can put the phone down on them.

[Sausage Surprise]

This time I found it just plane offensive and hung up on him.

Targetted bombing campaign?

[kaito]

AF

I've also had recent contact with Austin Fraser, largely initiated by me applying for jobs they have advertised. To date, the applications have not amounted to anything, although "Brad" has tried his best to get some names out of me, the is "Joe Blogs" still there?" approach is still very much in use.

Last week I had an interview for a job near Bristol. After the interview I was called by someone else from AF about another position. As a professional courtesy, I mentioned that I'd just been interviewed and was waiting on the decision, and therefore may not be available. No more than 5 minutes later, "Brad" called and then spent 10 minutes badgering me to get the name of the person I'd seen, he tried every trick, we supply the contractors, did you see "Bob Wheelbarrow"?, blah blah.

These people are not worthy of any professional courtesy.

[curtis]

I have never dealt with them but for roles I have seen where the same role is advertised with a few agencies including them they always came in a lot lower which then makes me question any role I see for them now. Put it this way if I ever went for a role through them I would be asking them for more and pushing up the rate if I got offered it

[achilles]

Can't be trusted

I do not like the way Austin Fraser operate. They sent my CV to their client without my permission and without an authorisation email from me at an agreed rate. Their rates always seem to be below market. The consultant I spoke with on the phone did not sound very professional or trustworthy.

[frlynnlives]

This is second time someone called me from the same Agency in a week and they didn't know, i was already contracted. Talked about the same thing with different client location and asked me to provide two reference. Is this way they get leads?

They have approached me with this several times. My varying approaches and outcome to handling it each time may be of use here :

1.
Twice in the same week, I was called with this exact templated approach. The conversation never starts as one intended to be mutually beneficial. As said before, trust your instinct, there is some unquantifiable human ability to perceive, even over the phone. One of the tell tale signs is they immediately steer the conversation to cast the caller as the powerfully connected agent and callee
as an unemployed paraiah (watch voice tone and time they give you to respond to questions). I believe they use a manipulative technique called “negging”. This is why the fake calls last longer than the real ones because they need the room to manipulate you down from a well seasoned high IQ Engineer to whatever they need you to be. Amazingly easy to do.

On the first occasion, I gave the caller the benefit of doubt, despite my gut feeling. It all felt like a mental burglary, much more antithesis on getting my two references and any other useful information. Also watch out for, "Does Dave Smith still work there?... blah blah ... we did some work with them a few years back etc etc" .

To hedge my bets, I gave the agent two references, comprising of a fake number for one and a name I knew they already had for the other. Suprise suprise, the implied "sure thing" telephone interview did not happen. Later that week, the same person called me back. He likely didn't realise I was skeptical and thus prime to be burgled twice in the same week.

This time, there was a superficial "update" as per his gargantuan efforts re the first contract, but he has another on hand and just needs to ask me about, X Company , "Is that the one on X road.. Does Pete still work there... who do I speak to there...Which country is your name from?" . I find the latter question worrying as it was asked with the same tone of deception.

This time I found it just plane offensive and hung up on him.

2.
At a later time, his colleague called , who seemed to be aware that I had "spoken to his colleague". Thinking about it, I detect some type of office prank because he basically walked into the same arse whooping. Before he started his spiel , I let him know that I was not interested in any fishing expeditions. Further, I am an open person willing to divulge appropriate information should there ever be a mutual relationship, but I don't know him from Adam. This immediately took the power out of him. He dispensed with the spiel and addressed a supposed role. Interestingly, no follow up email afterwards .

Conclusion: My experiences so far confirm that this is a disingenuous outfit . As mentioned before, Imagine a struggling film agent calls Brad Pit to offer him the role of the lifetime, but first , he spends 15 minutes hour "negging" his past accomplishments before asking for the contents of his phone book before they can talk further. Doesn't make sense does it ?

[Sausage Surprise]

This is second time someone called me from the same Agency in a week and they didn't know, i was already contracted. Talked about the same thing with different client location and asked me to provide two reference. Is this way they get leads?

Oh yes

[MrWebDev]

I've been very close to taking contracts through them a couple of times, but due to better offers haven't. I do however know a few people that have done contracts through them and they all seem to have had a positive experience.

In my opinion they do seem to be one of the better agencies out there, I also know that they're involved in 'tech community' meetups/events etc too if that counts for anything.

[NickFitz]

Worked through them a couple of years ago. Didn't mess me around, weekly payments regular as clockwork.

Actually, they started out paying on Thursday or Friday for a timesheet approved by the client on Monday, but that was a mistake - the contract stated 14 day payment terms. After a couple of months somebody noticed and fixed it, but that's fair enough. They never paid late by the contract terms, which is fine by me.

[Cenobite]

They rang me a few times two years ago but their offered rates were pretty low.

[sky]

This is second time someone called me from the same Agency in a week and they didn't know, i was already contracted. Talked about the same thing with different client location and asked me to provide two reference. Is this way they get leads?