Reply to: ContractorUK taking tulip from agents and publishing it as advice

[KentPhilip]

Just to clarify that CUK has run a series of Comment articles on agencies (including topics such as CV privacy, CV format and more recently contracting in a recession etc), where comment is provided by a range of external providers including various agencies (such as Hudson, Computer People, Parity).

These articles are provided as comment and are intended to be helpful and give an overview of recruiters' opinions operating in the contracting industry on topical questions. As Comment articles they contain the opinions of those supplying their answers. We do categorise our news to differentiate between what's straight factual reporting of events etc, e.g. BT rate cuts categorised as 'Contracting News', and what is opinion, i.e. 'Comment' (underneath each headline/summary).

We aim to provide a range of articles covering news, surveys etc as well as industry comment - so contractors can access news and opinion in one place to build on what they already know of the industry. As with making any decision in life it's best to do your own research to make your own judgements of course. We certainly don't receive payment for including comment on our news and Computer People do not advertise with us either.

Quite clearly this "comment" is far from helpful, and, assuming you have a good understanding of the contracting profession, I don't understand why you didn't realise it was unhelpful.
If bad articles like this are going to be present on the site then it brings in to doubt the trustworthyness of all other information on the site, and users might choose to go elsewhere when they realise this.
I think it might be best if you removed the article.

Thanks

[SallyAnne]

Where is that said? Never saw such a poll and if it did exist and that was the result there would be no doubt in my mind that it was somehow fixed.

Voted "Worst Agency by Contractor UK readers" would be far more likely

Yes - that was the general consensus at the time. We even had a thread with a poll to ask everyone who gets on here who voted for them - and I believe it was something like: -

Voted for them = 0
Didn't vote for them = 30+

Then the thread went mysteriously missing.


Crock of sh1te, the lot of it.

[Not So Wise]

Hmmm... "Computer People recently voted Best Agency by Contractor UK readers"(does anyone actually remember voting on this?)

Where is that said? Never saw such a poll and if it did exist and that was the result there would be no doubt in my mind that it was somehow fixed.

Voted "Worst Agency by Contractor UK readers" would be far more likely

[Cliphead]

We aim to provide a range of articles covering news, surveys etc as well as industry comment

And that includes publishing complete and utter sh1te? You're letting yourselves down (again).

[realityhack]

We do categorise our news to differentiate between what's straight factual reporting of events etc, e.g. BT rate cuts categorised as 'Contracting News', and what is opinion, i.e. 'Comment' (underneath each headline/summary).

Forgive me for playing devil's advocate here, but the fact this is 'comment' or 'opinion' appears nowhere on the news page, in the sub-headers, or in the article:

CURRENT SECTION :: News

News article sponsored by... <paymatters banner>

v. Agency basics for IT contractors – Relations

The Contractor-Agency relationship

The relationship between contractor and recruiter is without doubt a symbiotic one as both parties benefit from placing contractors and helping them stay in those roles.

From the recruiter's perspective, this means we have to do as much as possible from our side to help contractors find a placement, whether that involves ensuring they get put forward for the best opportunities available to providing training wherever possible or necessary. For their part, contractors have to show commitment to making themselves attractive to employers both during the interview process and after they have been placed.

Just as recruiters strive to be flexible and professional throughout the placement process, contractors that show the same level of adaptability and professionalism [throughout] can enjoy very productive relationships with the agencies they work with.

For example, reliable and easily accessible references are fundamental to agencies when they first meet contractors, so those who come prepared with or are able to produce referees quickly can help shorten and streamline the placement process considerably.
Ultimately though, the most important tip for contractors who want to work with agencies is to remember to communicate and be open with their recruiters. We have a common goal and only by working together can we achieve it.

Meanwhile, contractors on the books of an agency on a Preferred Suppliers List can benefit from the consistent level of communication and closer relationships that being on a PSL offers the agency.

CUK was advised by Nick Dettmar, managing director of Computer People


Contractor-Agency relations in a downturn

When there are fewer roles available the onus is on the contractor to ensure they are in regular contact with agencies, they should ensure they have a strong, well-written and concise CV. Ideally they should try to meet the agencies as much as possible and be able to demonstrate what they can and can’t do. In a tighter market it is important to have some flexibility on the role and realistic expectations on rates requested. Meanwhile, interviews should be well-prepared for in terms of knowledge of the organisation but also strong self-awareness to be able to demonstrate relevant experience.

If, as an IT contractor, you have a particular industry focus it is better to limit the number of agencies you are dealing with. If you choose agencies which have a specialism and a wide portfolio of clients you can agree to work with them on all opportunities within an agreed list of clients, so the benefit to both parties is mutual.

CUK was advised by Paul Elworthy, director of financial services IT recruitment at Hudson

Apr 14, 2009

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[Archangel]

So you printed inappropriate/incorrect "advice" from a bunch of "insert appropriate insult here" and didn;t even get paid for it! Sheesh.

I hope they at least paid to be voted the readers favourite agent.

[Contractor UK]

Just to clarify that CUK has run a series of Comment articles on agencies (including topics such as CV privacy, CV format and more recently contracting in a recession etc), where comment is provided by a range of external providers including various agencies (such as Hudson, Computer People, Parity).

These articles are provided as comment and are intended to be helpful and give an overview of recruiters' opinions operating in the contracting industry on topical questions. As Comment articles they contain the opinions of those supplying their answers. We do categorise our news to differentiate between what's straight factual reporting of events etc, e.g. BT rate cuts categorised as 'Contracting News', and what is opinion, i.e. 'Comment' (underneath each headline/summary).

We aim to provide a range of articles covering news, surveys etc as well as industry comment - so contractors can access news and opinion in one place to build on what they already know of the industry. As with making any decision in life it's best to do your own research to make your own judgements of course. We certainly don't receive payment for including comment on our news and Computer People do not advertise with us either.

[foritisme]

maybe we should start a protest and stop posting

after this post of course

[Zippy]

Does anyone remember voting for them?

Not me.

[Ravello]

It looks like CUK will give you bad advice if somebody pays them to do so. You are not the target of the site, but the raw materials. Don't get the idea that they are your friends, any more than agents are. You can do business with them both, but look after yourself, they won't.

PS: they are running a business and doubtless have the T&Cs fixed so that if you take their advice, more fool you: but I do think it is reasonable to ask for some substantiation of the apparently frankly outrageous claim that "Computer People [were] recently voted Best Agency by Contractor UK readers". Does anyone remember voting for them?

I remember voting, but not for CP!

[expat]

It looks like CUK will give you bad advice if somebody pays them to do so. You are not the target of the site, but the raw materials. Don't get the idea that they are your friends, any more than agents are. You can do business with them both, but look after yourself, they won't.

PS: they are running a business and doubtless have the T&Cs fixed so that if you take their advice, more fool you: but I do think it is reasonable to ask for some substantiation of the apparently frankly outrageous claim that "Computer People [were] recently voted Best Agency by Contractor UK readers". Does anyone remember voting for them?

[EternalOptimist]

But lambs grow into something useful (a Sunday dinner), they add something to the circle of life.

However, I like dung beetles....

lambs are my prey
I am the agents prey

it's the circle of life.

do you like the traditional dunge beetle or the new evolved dung-agent beetle ?

[SizeZero]

I have a common goal with the little spring lambs that live in a field just down the road from me.
I want them to be fit, healthy, well fed and watered. I want them to be happy, I will even be nice to them. I would even give them little lamby bits of advice if they asked me. I just love those little suckers

But lambs grow into something useful (a Sunday dinner), they add something to the circle of life.

However, I like dung beetles....

[EternalOptimist]

peddling

What is the "common goal" btw?

I have a common goal with the little spring lambs that live in a field just down the road from me.
I want them to be fit, healthy, well fed and watered. I want them to be happy, I will even be nice to them. I would even give them little lamby bits of advice if they asked me. I just love those little suckers

[DodgyAgent]

One of today's home-page stories:

http://www.contractoruk.com/004306.html

Nick Dettmar, managing director of Computer People advises contractors to provide references.

In other news, turkeys suggest a cancellation of Christmas this year.

The cheek and audacity of this beggars belief. They left out that contractors who find their own direct contracts should call computer people and ask thathey run the contract for a 30% margin