Computer Futures? Any Opinions?

uaobrien

I was wondering if anyone has worked through them and if so, how would you rate them?

pebble

What are Computer Futures?

Are they a recruitment agency?
Are they a company?

uaobrien

Ooops, meant to post that... they're a recruitment agency.

Sleipnir

Yeah I've dealt with them a couple of times and found them to be very good altogether.
When they call you they actually have a REAL job lined up! Not ones they've made up to look busy for their boss!
I dealt with a chap there who was a nice guy all round. He was a bit pushy but that's all!

dazberry

From my experience I found them a bunch of w**kers (sorry for the language).

They're one of the few agencies that even if they had the perfect job for me, I'd really have to think twice (and then some) before applying.

D.

Spunj

Word of warning - I believe they look for a higher % of your negotiated salary for their fee than most other agencies. Not sure how much more but around 6-10% more I think. Been a couple of years since I dealt with them so I am not sure if thats still the case.

Could make the difference between the employer hiring you and some other equally qualified bloke if they still do it. Worth asking (if they will tell you...).

uaobrien

Well a colleague I work with apparently worked for them and was waiting for 5 weeks for his salary having been promised day after day that the money would be in his account "tomorrow".

Anyone have similar issues?

pebble

Hold on. I'm a little confused here.

Are you talking about actually working FOR Computure Futures, or using them in an agency facility and getting a position through them?

RicardoSmith

Yes - but that said the're no different from the rest. I've found all the agencies I've dealt with to be pretty much useless.

uaobrien

Okay, I'm talking about using the agency to get contracts with their clients. I don't want to be an actual employee of the company itself.

Sorry for the confusion.

RicardoSmith

Originally posted by uaobrien
I was wondering if anyone has worked through them and if so, how would you rate them?

I think "worked through" them was clear enough. At the end of the day if you have a better offer then take that, if you don't then theres no decision to make is there.

djr

have dealt with them in the past, on a contract basis. i didn't work through their sub/umbrella-company, i worked through a friends limited company.

the people going through [sub company] had their fair share of problems with getting paid, as far as i know the money was sitting with [sub-company] for weeks on end before it reached the contractors.

my advice? fine for getting you a contract / permanent position (unless the higher commission rumour is true), but try to find another limited company / umbrella company to go through if you are contracting with them.

have dealt with a few people in there at this stage. i know the pushy guy you're talking about, he sure is pushy.

also know another pushy guy with a different accent. he's pushy too.

uaobrien

Originally posted by RicardoSmith
Yes - but that said the're no different from the rest. I've found all the agencies I've dealt with to be pretty much useless.

I guess it depends on the agency. Most Irish agencies I found are completely out to kiss their clients backsides and don't give a crap about their contractors.

I've also worked in the US as a contractor and the agencies their are opposite, they make money off us and they treat us a whole lot better.

I worked contracts here a few years back going through UK agencies and they treat you a whole lot better too, they're also more upfront with the financial information and aren't shy about telling you the more money you make the more they make. Irish agencies are mostly terrified to mention money.

The reason I'm asking specifically about Computer Futures is that I've had a couple of offers from them, but I've always felt they were a little suspect.

vibe666

not having worked through them before I don't know for certain, but I've heard a couple of bad things about them from others who have.

on the opposite side of the equation, I'm working through computer people at the moment, and have found them to be excellent. muc more like the better UK?US agencies than most of the irish ones.

RicardoSmith

I'd say the amount of commission whould be different from contract to contract depending on the rate. But around 30% would be a "good guess"... Then you have to pay the sub company at about €200 a month, though you can claim some expense back to reduce that a bit. Still it all eats into your take home pay and at the end of the day its the bottom line that counts. Of course delays in getting paid don't help either, especially if you've monthly bills, mortgage etc to cover and your paycheck is 2 weeks late.

dazberry

The worst thing about them is that they are so aggressive at marketing that they gleem your previous details off your CV and literally spam your previous employer.

When I (first/last) applied to them for a job (which disappeared - but that was happening a lot then), they rang up (I took the call) and they asked for the IT Manager. Twigging something was up, I didn't give my name, and sure enough, the poor unfortunate whose name I gave got literally spammed by fax and post, including CVs that were never asked for.

After seeing their friday specials on contractors, I figured I'm no-ones commodity and I'm not going to be sold as a piece of meat (unless I decide to sell myself that way ), so that's why I would never go near them again.

D.

code-monkey

I haven't been impressed with them, after an initial contact I simply received a stream of irrelevant positions and are only related to my profile by industry. Eventually an interesting position did come up however they haven't responded to emails or calls. I had to wonder what kind of people work there and if some of the roles are actually genuine.

Unprofessional at best.

Stheno

dazberry wrote: »

The worst thing about them is that they are so aggressive at marketing that they gleem your previous details off your CV and literally spam your previous employer.

When I (first/last) applied to them for a job (which disappeared - but that was happening a lot then), they rang up (I took the call) and they asked for the IT Manager. Twigging something was up, I didn't give my name, and sure enough, the poor unfortunate whose name I gave got literally spammed by fax and post, including CVs that were never asked for.

After seeing their friday specials on contractors, I figured I'm no-ones commodity and I'm not going to be sold as a piece of meat (unless I decide to sell myself that way ), so that's why I would never go near them again.

D.

|This. They got my details when I was in a role that I hired people in, and now at least twice a week ever since, I get spammy emails telling me all about their outstanding candidate in whom I have no interest whatsoever.

I've hit the unsubscribe option a couple of times.

In each of these mails are their terms and conditions, they take one of the highest percentages I've seen for any recruitment agency and that's for permanent roles.

MillField

Don't know much about them other than the fact that I get emails/calls almost on a weekly basis concerning job positions. They seem to be very aggressive recruiters. (Not that it's a bad thing.)