Reply to: What makes a good agent?

[clearedforlanding]

Come on full story.....

There is not really that much to tell. 2 out of 3 female account managers have made comments such as "I am sure we would have a lot of fun" while gently touching my elbow etc and displaying body language compatible with yoiu are going to get laid. One offered to take me out for drinks that evening, suggesting we met at her hotel bar.

I am CxO level and had heard stories from collegues, and have been the hiring manager many times, but the dynamics with female account managers now I am the decision maker for agency selection and looking for several hundred contractors is an eye opener. Albeit on a very limited sample size.

[MrMarkyMark]

Same or different gender? In line with your sexual preference?

Maybe he's greedy and likes both

Must admit I've never had that

Why does that not surprise me?

[psychocandy]

Oh, we got passed the implied part. I feel slightly sorry for all the applicants she is having to tell she can't get hold of the client at the moment to, but hey, it's a dog eat dog world.

Come on full story.....

[psychocandy]

After a week of many boozy luches and implied offers of sex from agents I am starting to get a bit blurry as to what makes a good agent from a contractors perspective.

All I'm coming up with is:

1. Pays on time.
2. Does not go belly up.
3. Realises they are not fooling contractor that they are friend but a necessary tool, in both senses of the word.
4. It's not afraid to present valid contractual changes to contractors ClientCo.
5. Returns phone calls and emails promptly.
6. Positions and treats contractor as an expert in their field.
7. Doesn't mine me for references.
8. (Understands IR35 - not applicable to my territory).
9. Arbritrates clientco contractor disagreements.
10. Proactivley manages renewals.

Same or different gender? In line with your sexual preference?

Must admit I've never had that - sure they get some of the girlie agents in so they can put pretty pics on linkedin though.

[vetran]

I was quite impressed that they described the job correctly, did the paperwork before I arrived and remembered the renewal was due. Free lunch once a year was quite nice too.

[vetran]

By the way, do you offer sex to your contractors? Taking, that is.

Why do you think his avatar is supporting himself on the car? Last week was NLYUK's renewal!

[clearedforlanding]

Honest and fair, it's enough for me.

You need to be a lot more granular than that.

[Bee]

Honest and fair, it's enough for me.

[LucidDementia]

A 7.62mm FMJ from a Soviet made AK74

[clearedforlanding]

It isn't, and the sooner more clients realise that the better. I know of a couple of consultancies that work off referrals and do quite nicely with it too.

At n-2 reports I am expected to surround myself with people who know how I work and I know how they work. It is part of the value I bring to the company. At n-3 it would be a lot more difficult to justify.

I said the LinkedIn part tounge in cheek. The difficulty in selecting an agent after 24 years contracting experience to provide me with contractors is very real.

[FatLazyContractor]

How do you pitch this?

So you are good to proceed on a "I'll give you some holes to fill, if you'll give me some roles to fill" basis?

or something similar?

[clearedforlanding]

I will get my staff to bend over for anyone in pursuit of a decent margin

How do you pitch this?

So you are good to proceed on a "I'll give you some holes to fill, if you'll give me some roles to fill" basis?

or something similar?

[SlipTheJab]

It was expected.

As I didn't enjoy cold calling clientcos day in day out, agent's were valuable to me in my contracting career. In an ideal world I would call up Mr. CEO at Bluechip and ask him for a job. He would have one and say yes.

On the flip side, finding an agent that I am confident is not going to piss of my contractors is proving challenging, but advertising directly is one hell of an overhead. LinkedIn and hiring all my mates seems to be the way to go. Bring guns, whiskey and hookers.

Wow, just reread my post and what a priceless statement of the obvious it is.

It isn't, and the sooner more clients realise that the better. I know of a couple of consultancies that work off referrals and do quite nicely with it too.

[DodgyAgent]

By the way, do you offer sex to your contractors? Taking, that is.

I will get my staff to bend over for anyone in pursuit of a decent margin

[clearedforlanding]

Sorry to disappoint but as with all things "agent" I wouldn't put too much faith in anything implied

Oh, we got passed the implied part. I feel slightly sorry for all the applicants she is having to tell she can't get hold of the client at the moment to, but hey, it's a dog eat dog world.