Oi, Dodgy,

[Jeebo72]

Wow. Really?

I get a new agent/agency every time I go for a new contract. I've had loads of them. I rarely go back.

I feel like I'm the Frankie Cocozza of the contracting world.

Same here. And I am the Frankie Cocozza of the contracting world. Tho' butt aint big enough for the tattoos.

[DodgyAgent]

I almost always work through either one of two agents that know me and know exactly what I can and cannot do; one is a consultancy specialised in testing (run by a tester who was trained with me in the same company), the other is a specialist in providing management for projects that are going wrong; both have the contacts at board level and get me in to talk to people at that level; in fact, of the last 4 gigs I've only been to one interview because those agents are trusted by their clients and I'm trusted by those agents. When I'm benched (which hasn't happened much, thankfully) I actually help those agents with other services, like selling testing services, selling testing training or giving training, and then earn a share of the profits that those agents earn.

Perhaps you need to look at building this kind of relationship with freelancers; build a specialism that can provide constant income for you and the freelancers from varying sources, while also building the relationships at a level above the hiring managers; obviously you then have to be very selective about the freelancers to pitch them high in the market, but the margins can be good; I don't mind the agent getting 20 to 25 % if he's getting me a better rate than I get anywhere else, but an agent who gets me a tulipty rate and sends me for interviews for gigs that don't fit isn't worth tuppence.

I completely seethe logic in that. This indeed is one way for "agencies" to set themselves apart. Dont worry about me I have my own model that seems to be working pretty well - my new name will be "DodgyBobs"

[tractor]

..

Damco is one!

I had a call from them this week. It lasted about 36 seconds.

[Mich the Tester]

Wow. Really?

I get a new agent/agency every time I go for a new contract. I've had loads of them. None of them ever want to do business with me again, so I always have to find a new one, which is easy, happily.

ftfy

[MarillionFan]

I almost always work through either one of two agents that know me and know exactly what I can and cannot do; one is a consultancy specialised in testing (run by a tester who was trained with me in the same company), the other is a specialist in providing management for projects that are going wrong; both have the contacts at board level and get me in to talk to people at that level; in fact, of the last 4 gigs I've only been to one interview because those agents are trusted by their clients and I'm trusted by those agents. When I'm benched (which hasn't happened much, thankfully) I actually help those agents with other services, like selling testing services, selling testing training or giving training, and then earn a share of the profits that those agents earn.

Perhaps you need to look at building this kind of relationship with freelancers; build a specialism that can provide constant income for you and the freelancers from varying sources, while also building the relationships at a level above the hiring managers; obviously you then have to be very selective about the freelancers to pitch them high in the market, but the margins can be good; I don't mind the agent getting 20 to 25 % if he's getting me a better rate than I get anywhere else, but an agent who gets me a tulipty rate and sends me for interviews for gigs that don't fit isn't worth tuppence.

Wow. Really?

I get a new agent/agency every time I go for a new contract. I've had loads of them. I rarely go back.

I feel like I'm the Frankie Cocozza of the contracting world.

[Mich the Tester]

Clearly Mitch what we do needs huge levels of skill and intellect but many of our processes have been "bobbed".
Joking aside recruitment has now become a process.Whilst this is fine in a buyers market (which contracting has been now for over a decade) there is little need for "the mister fixit" with the contacts and negotiation skills to find the right contractor at the right time for the right rate.
The problems with "bobbing" recruitment activities arise when good communication/negotiation skills are required - usually at extension time when a contractor has other opportunities and may for example, be lulled by the siren call of a young piece of totty plying him with booze and curries - thus leaving the bob in bangalore with little chance.
We agents are being squeezed out by the internet and by the sheer visibility of contractors. The companies that do well are those that can run mass numbers of contractors at 4% margins or the likes of S3 who steer clear of PSLs and instead target the SME/backdoor higher margin markets. the other areas are the niche skills areas where better profits can be made and where personal contacts are important.
The other things that the Bobs wont do is say boo to a goose, so when for example hiring managers dawdle over extensions they wont kick back and challenge them.
I'm alright because I have CUK to keep me busy .

I almost always work through either one of two agents that know me and know exactly what I can and cannot do; one is a consultancy specialised in testing (run by a tester who was trained with me in the same company), the other is a specialist in providing management for projects that are going wrong; both have the contacts at board level and get me in to talk to people at that level; in fact, of the last 4 gigs I've only been to one interview because those agents are trusted by their clients and I'm trusted by those agents. When I'm benched (which hasn't happened much, thankfully) I actually help those agents with other services, like selling testing services, selling testing training or giving training, and then earn a share of the profits that those agents earn.

Perhaps you need to look at building this kind of relationship with freelancers; build a specialism that can provide constant income for you and the freelancers from varying sources, while also building the relationships at a level above the hiring managers; obviously you then have to be very selective about the freelancers to pitch them high in the market, but the margins can be good; I don't mind the agent getting 20 to 25 % if he's getting me a better rate than I get anywhere else, but an agent who gets me a tulipty rate and sends me for interviews for gigs that don't fit isn't worth tuppence.

[stek]

Damco is one!

[DodgyAgent]

What's your take on these Indian agents that call and e-mail people about vague jobs?

Are they actually just call centres outsourced by UK agents or are they serious competition?

Maybe I can answer my own question by saying none of them have ever called me about a job that really has much to do with my skills and the conversations usually take less than 1 minute.

Clearly Mitch what we do needs huge levels of skill and intellect but many of our processes have been "bobbed".
Joking aside recruitment has now become a process.Whilst this is fine in a buyers market (which contracting has been now for over a decade) there is little need for "the mister fixit" with the contacts and negotiation skills to find the right contractor at the right time for the right rate.
The problems with "bobbing" recruitment activities arise when good communication/negotiation skills are required - usually at extension time when a contractor has other opportunities and may for example, be lulled by the siren call of a young piece of totty plying him with booze and curries - thus leaving the bob in bangalore with little chance.
We agents are being squeezed out by the internet and by the sheer visibility of contractors. The companies that do well are those that can run mass numbers of contractors at 4% margins or the likes of S3 who steer clear of PSLs and instead target the SME/backdoor higher margin markets. the other areas are the niche skills areas where better profits can be made and where personal contacts are important.
The other things that the Bobs wont do is say boo to a goose, so when for example hiring managers dawdle over extensions they wont kick back and challenge them.
I'm alright because I have CUK to keep me busy .

[TheFaQQer]

I had two from the same company call me this week about the same role.

It's a genuine one - I've had four other agents call me about it this week as well!

[Doggy Styles]

Do they say oh, by the way, your computer has plenty big virus and I'm just the chap to fix it?

[Mich the Tester]

What's your take on these Indian agents that call and e-mail people about vague jobs?

Are they actually just call centres outsourced by UK agents or are they serious competition?

Maybe I can answer my own question by saying none of them have ever called me about a job that really has much to do with my skills and the conversations usually take less than 1 minute.