Reply to: New pimp strategy

[DirtyDog]

Does anyone use a separate number, a pimp hotline so to speak (e.g. with an old PAYG SIM)? Managing their calls on your main number (even if it is just muting the ringer) can be a PITA.

I use YAC and have done for many years. Redirects to my phone, I can switch off the redirection so they leave a voicemail which comes into my email as an MP3, and assign a ringtone so that I can tell who is calling.

Plus it costs them about 50p a minute to call me

[AgentJohnson]

Does anyone use a separate number, a pimp hotline so to speak (e.g. with an old PAYG SIM)? Managing their calls on your main number (even if it is just muting the ringer) can be a PITA.

[Old Greg]

Damn.

That's why I talk to so many.

Don't worry. One day you'll be allowed to phone a real contractor.

[Old Greg]

It seems more and more I get called up by a foetus. Thin reedy voice, asking if I have any experience with ERP, or C Hash. You ask which ERP and things go from bad to worse.

Then you get asked all the mundane crap and feel like saying did you actually read my CV?

Then, and here comes the punchline, I'm happy that you are someone we can work with, so I will now add you to the "long list" and pass you across to one of the senior recruiters.

Anyone else notice pimps are hiring youngsters to do the shortlisting, and general ring arounds?

I understand from agents I've worked through that it's pretty standard practice to get the new hire pimps to ring around the no hoper contractors for practice.

[d000hg]

There is no money in placing contractors unless you are in a niche or working for an "uber aggressive" agency such as the S3 group. With single figure margins the days of the honest hard working agent are long gone.

5% of £300/day (being deliberately conservative) sounds alright to me - surely one agent can manage/represent 2-3 dozen contractors?

[MyUserName]

There is no money in placing contractors unless you are in a niche or working for an "uber aggressive" agency such as the S3 group. With single figure margins the days of the unicorns are long gone.

FTFY with something which is at least some people believe ever existed

[suityou01]

There is no money in placing contractors unless you are in a niche or working for an "uber aggressive" agency such as the S3 group. With single figure margins the days of the honest hard working agent are long gone.

Oh, wait.... how do I get gigs.

[DodgyAgent]

There is no money in placing contractors unless you are in a niche or working for an "uber aggressive" agency such as the S3 group. With single figure margins the days of the honest hard working agent are long gone.

[DodgyAgent]

You mean, Dodgy's gonna get bobbed

[RetSet]

To be fair I don't think bobs could be any worse

WRONG!!

The Bob agents are MUCH worse.

[DirtyDog]

It's easy to tell when the do have a role.

Normally, I find the first question is "is this a convenient time?" if the role is genuine. If there is no role, they don't care whether it's a convenient time for you anyway; if there is a valid role then they don't want to piss you off by having a long conversation when it's not a convenient time for you to discuss it with them.

[MarillionFan]

I've noticed that if you start the conversation by referring to them as "einstein", they tend to get quite defensive after that.

Unless they're called Albert.

[Freamon]

I've noticed that if you start the conversation by referring to them as "einstein", they tend to get quite defensive after that.

[quackhandle]

I like to use the form of replying with a question (maieutics ):

How are you finding the market?

"How are you finding it?"

Who did you work with at XYZ Ltd?

"Who do you know at XYZ Ltd?"

It's a fun game for a couple of minutes then I get bored.

qh

[DimPrawn]

It's easy to tell when the do have a role. The first question is when are you available, next part of the conversation is about the role. If its actually genuine about 50% of the time the agent will tell you who the client actually is or will let you know when they will tell you.

The more interest they take in your current contract is the big indicator, also if the mong asks for references. That's a terminate the call question.

Nail on head.

99% of the time, conversation goes.

Are you still looking?
Have you heard of company X in Y?
No, let me tell you about a fantastic opportunity I have for someone with your experience, they are looking for a contractor to grow the team.

Can I send your CV across? When can you interview?



If it don't go like that, it's bulltulip, put the phone down.

HTH