A new way to push for contacts...

[RichardCranium]

I'm still cross with Progressive from some years ago.

I attended an interview in Edinburgh all the way from darn Sarf. It was a perfect gig; matched what I was looking for and the money was damn good.

When I got there it was for a civil engineering manager to manage the construction of underwater structures under the North Sea. It included responsibility for the health and safety of divers working with cutters and welders and laying concrete and all that scary stuff Diver does.

I'm an IT project manager that knows how to screw suppliers and make them work to contracts. I can tell when a coder is bulltulipting or a tester not pulling their weight. I can pacify angry clients and make senior management mind their own business. But take responsibility for the lives of people doing real work? Bugger that.

The CV in front of the client that had my name on the top but it didn't look like anybody I knew.

The client's interview panel and I had a frank exchange. The weren't happy and I wasn't happy. Not with each other - we had a lovely time putting the world to rights and discussing the differences between IT project management and civil engineering project management.

After the event I spoke to Progressive. The agent was furious with me for not blagging my way through the interview.

[NotAllThere]

...By far the worst fishing agency I have came across.

agency

(Whichever one it is... )

Back in 98, when there was a shortage of people in my specialism, and I became available, Progressive did call back the clients who I'd previously turned down, to see if they still needed me. So I went straight into another contract. But that was in boom times. In current conditions - forget it. ( Further interaction with that agency since 98, has resulted with them being on my "never interact with" list.

[Churchill]

Why does anyone need an agent to find previous managers just so that they can take 25% of your rate for you?

hmm I can see now 71% of their placements needed this.

That's something like the reply I sent...

[MPwannadecentincome]

Why does anyone need an agent to find previous managers just so that they can take 25% of your rate for you?

hmm I can see now 71% of their placements needed this.

[BrilloPad]

I received the following,


If you guys want to take it up you have the details.

Thanks. you are too kind.

[minestrone]

I eventually had to contact progressive and tell them to delete all my details from their database.

Some throbber called 'Ricky Martin' ( honest ) used to call me up every month demanding 2 references for a 'great job'. They would have daft wee girls phoning you every week for a 'skills update' and would get a mail like that every few weeks.

By far the worst fishing agency I have came across.

[Tingles]

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...-trawling.html


Yep... alot of it about...



T

[Fred Bloggs]

I'll send my CV and all client details ASAP. Boomed!

[Churchill]

I received the following,

Dear Churchill,

I hope this email finds you well and you've been enjoying the weather over the last week!

The reason I email is I have seen a significant trend developing with contract placements throughout Progressive recently and wanted to email you to see if this was something you wanted to take advantage of.

In the last 4 months 71% of our placements have been what we call a “Sell backs” – This is where a consultant will ring managers you have previously worked for and essentially let them know of your updated skill set, availability and sell the benefit of you working in that team again.

As I am sure you are aware, recruiting managers at the moment are extremely busy and don’t necessarily respond to CV’s in their inbox or they realise they have a vast selection of candidates at their disposal for contract roles so don’t have any preference to take a previously employed contractor. It is in these cases I will present you in the best possible way to make the client value your service and what you as an individual could offer their department again.

Please see below a list of benefits to you, the contractor.

Contractor Benefits
Immediate starts – no interviews
By using us to place you with managers you have previously worked for we can use or unique straight start process to have you placed in a contract with no interview or testing as early as the next working day.

Progressives relationships with clients
We currently recruit for 93 of the FTSE 100 as well as thousands of other companies, this means we already hold strong relationships with many clients – you can use our relationships with these clients to increase your exposure in departments/companies you have already worked in.

Ability to find new managers within departments
Quite often managers have left companies or changed departments, we can use our contacts within clients and also our extensive database to find the manager who would now be responsible for recruiting an individual of your skill set.

Ability to trace managers from past placements
By using our extensive database of clients we can trace managers who have moved departments or companies – by doing this we can put your CV in front of managers who are most likely to recruit you, even if that manager now works elsewhere.

Please find a document attached to this email, if you could fill it out with as much information as possible I will then call you to discuss your previous roles in more detail and set about the task of tracking down managers, selling your services and ultimately increasing your chances of finding a new contract at very short notice.

Kind Regards


Melissa Freer

Progressive UK Engineering
Phone 0118 9519100
Email [email protected]

If you guys want to take it up you have the details.