Reply to: Trial start

[steve'O]

You are of course correct voron. It was a toss up between the cheapest and the one with the biggest tits.

I thought you understood selling...If you did you would most definately have sent the biggest tits....then you would have secured the contract

[DodgyAgent]

Yes, but that's a real risk on the client side. No offence intended, but agents are sales people; they rarely have the ability to understand what a contractor does and assess their real capability.

Could you really assess whether Joe Average's C# was top notch?

You are of course correct voron. It was a toss up between the cheapest and the one with the biggest tits.

[steve'O]

Yes, but that's a real risk on the client side. No offence intended, but agents are sales people; they rarely have the ability to understand what a contractor does and assess their real capability.

Could you really assess whether Joe Average's C# was top notch?

I agree Voron. Lowest risk for the Agency..Highest risk for the Contractor

[voron]

I am sure he would have dealt with me again. What he was in fact saying was that he didnt want me to send in just anyone and that I needed to put in some work. He was also exerting pressure and displaying his not inconsiderable ego.

Yes, but that's a real risk on the client side. No offence intended, but agents are sales people; they rarely have the ability to understand what a contractor does and assess their real capability.

Could you really assess whether Joe Average's C# was top notch?

[DodgyAgent]

Computer people, didn't know they were still around...

Anyway what's your vote going to be then Dodgy?

Its a secret

[Joe Black]

Computer people, didn't know they were still around...

Anyway what's your vote going to be then Dodgy?

[Spodicus]

Ex Computer People me.

But, you were a lot younger then!

[DodgyAgent]

ex

Almost exactly how CF were describing it to me. You didn't used to be one of their consultants did you Dodgy?

Actually I can understand the point of view the agent was putting forward, that it was a way for them to win business (and me a possible contract) by getting someone in the clients door ahead of any other agency, blocking their chances as he put it.

I turned it down in the end mainly because of gut feeling, to me it still didn't sound quite right.

Then again who know's, if I'd taken up the offer then at least I would know for future reference, or possibily got a nice little job to fill in with just a fews weeks after that until the new financial year.

As for CF themselves I've had a mixed experience, one bad, but then also a couple of other good contracts including one which start out as a 3 week fill-in but when the client saw my work he managed to get me on another project which lasted almost year.

Ex Computer People me.

[DodgyAgent]

Why not deal with you again? The contractor works for himself not the agency. Is this another example of agencies being confused with consultancies?

I am sure he would have dealt with me again. What he was in fact saying was that he didnt want me to send in just anyone and that I needed to put in some work. He was also exerting pressure and displaying his not inconsiderable ego.

In the end I just picked the cheapest contractor and kept my fingers crossed

[steve'O]

You lot really do not have any idea of what selling is about do you? Thank god you have us to look after all that for you

Yeah right!
Pimp!

[Joe Black]

I did once place someone on a similar basis. The client rang me and said that he wanted a project manager with XYZ skills, that he wanted me to select him and start him in 2 days time. He did not want to interview a selection of candidates. He then said that if the candidate was not up to the job he would send him straight back without paying a penny and nor would he deal with me again.

It turned out well and the contractor secured a 12 month contract.

Almost exactly how CF were describing it to me. You didn't used to be one of their consultants did you Dodgy?

Actually I can understand the point of view the agent was putting forward, that it was a way for them to win business (and me a possible contract) by getting someone in the clients door ahead of any other agency, blocking their chances as he put it.

I turned it down in the end mainly because of gut feeling, to me it still didn't sound quite right.

Then again who know's, if I'd taken up the offer then at least I would know for future reference, or possibily got a nice little job to fill in with just a fews weeks after that until the new financial year.

As for CF themselves I've had a mixed experience, one bad, but then also a couple of other good contracts including one which start out as a 3 week fill-in but when the client saw my work he managed to get me on another project which lasted almost year.

[voron]

He then said that if the candidate was not up to the job he would send him straight back without paying a penny and nor would he deal with me again.

Why not deal with you again? The contractor works for himself not the agency. Is this another example of agencies being confused with consultancies?

[DodgyAgent]

Why not agree with the provisio that should the client not keep you after the first day, then in return the client will perform a days work at your discretion, ie cleaning or gardening chez vous.

You lot really do not have any idea of what selling is about do you? Thank god you have us to look after all that for you

[DodgyAgent]

It is a matter of trust

Visit the client, find out what is required, dangle the carrot and be prepared to walk away.

I did once place someone on a similar basis. The client rang me and said that he wanted a project manager with XYZ skills, that he wanted me to select him and start him in 2 days time. He did not want to interview a selection of candidates. He then said that if the candidate was not up to the job he would send him straight back without paying a penny and nor would he deal with me again.

It turned out well and the contractor secured a 12 month contract.

The moral of the story is that, like most things in life a neat set of rules do not apply, that one has to use ones brain, instinct and experiences to determine whether or not an opportunity is a good one.

[Spodicus]

Visit the client, find out what is required, dangle the carrot and be prepared to walk away.