Dealing with agencies

Magic_Roundabou

Can anyone tell me how the hell agencies think ?? Am currently looking for contract work and what usually happens is ..

See job, send in cv

Get call from agency, discuss the role and get told that you're perfect for it. They'll send the cv onto the client.

Don't hear anything from them for ages. See other jobs advertised by the agency that would suit you but they don't get in touch so you give them a ring but get fobbed off.

I am really starting to get pissed off about it.

Einstein

i hear ye buddy,

I too am an IT contractor, and its the same sh!t every time. Apply for something, say oh yeah you'll be great in that role, then don't bother their as$ getting back to you.

You become immune after a while.

D

Alun

Don't hear anything from them for ages. See other jobs advertised by the agency that would suit you but they don't get in touch so you give them a ring but get fobbed off.

Because 9 times out of 10 that job doesn't really exist. They're just "teasers" to get CV's sent in.

Magic_Roundabou

Hope the immunity kicks in soon ) The thing that bugs me is that an agency has your details, a job comes up which suits but they don't get in touch. I'm just starting out at the moment. Any contractors out there with similar horror stories when they were starting ???

Kobie

It doesn't just happening when you're starting out. UK agencies are the worst but I'm none too fond of the Irish lot either. The best you can do is get a few regular clients & a bunch of contacts over the years that you can phone directly without having to deal with the slimebags.

K.

Magic_Roundabou

Thanks for the advice. Can you tell me where the best place is to look for contracts so that I don't have to deal with these *people* ???

Kobie

Well you just go direct to companies - usually people you know or have done work for in the past. Starting out though you'll probably have to go the agency root until you've built your contact list.

K.

Magic_Roundabou

Long slog ahead so, thanks for the advice.

zervi2003

Tell me about agencies.

Ive often asked how they actually make their money. And most people that I know have had "bad" experiences with agencies. When I say bad, usually it involves never hearing from the agency again.

Just to say, I got a call from an agency last week.

I first sent in my CV to them 4 months ago after calling into the agency, one of the consultants asked me to send in my CV. So I did. I got the call (asking questions). Never heard from them again.

Last week got a call from this agency, from a guy (i had dealt with a woman there previously). He said to me "The lady you dealt with when you sent in your CV is no longer working here". "Being honest, unfortunately she never sent your CV anywhere".

He apologised and said he would immediately send it to some places!

I was stunned.

So, as one poster said, it is probably best to go directly to companies.

Our man in Havana

Alun wrote:

Because 9 times out of 10 that job doesn't really exist. They're just "teasers" to get CV's sent in.

Is it not illegal to tease?

Dublin7

I am totally sick of agencies. :mad:

They always try to find people with much more education/experience required for a job so that they make sure to make their money...

Being a bilingual masters level graduate all I can apply for is leaving cert level jobs as I dont have any experience! and as they say in agencies you have no experience it will be hard to find BUT I have BRILLIANT opportunity with ... (whatever **** job they have)

Well how am i going to make myself relevant experience Mr and Ms agencies ?

What is bad is that about 95% of the companies are hiring through agencies

skywalker

Magic_Roundabou wrote:

Can anyone tell me how the hell agencies think ?? Am currently looking for contract work and what usually happens is ..

See job, send in cv

Get call from agency, discuss the role and get told that you're perfect for it. They'll send the cv onto the client.

Don't hear anything from them for ages. See other jobs advertised by the agency that would suit you but they don't get in touch so you give them a ring but get fobbed off.

I am really starting to get pissed off about it.

youve just summed up my experience with agencies perfectly.

RicardoSmith

I don't think in a couple of years of contracting I ever had a good experience of any agencies. They are the parasites of HR and IT. Sometimes you just have to deal with them. But in the long run you need to get away from them. Its soul destroying to deal with them.

If a job is too generic is probably doesn't exist, or if its very similar to another one, its probably the same job, or also doesn't exist. Only apply for jobs where there are no similar sounding jobs also advertised and where also theres some thing unsual or distinctive in the job desctiption. Java and sword swallowing etc.

Try to find jobs through the paper (not agency ads) only company ads, use you friends and collegues to network and find out about other positions. Look for Jobs on relevent company sites. These are statistically the most successful way to find a job. Using agencies and cold calling, either via phone, letter or email are the least successful.