How to avoid agencies

[Fran]

Hello all,

Does anyone know where I can find jobs that aren't via agencies.

I get the impression they take a thick wad of cash and mean I am more likely to fail IR35.

Am I right?

[DodgyAgent]

You buy a thing called a telephone, and you acquire a list of companies in a business/geographical sector that suits your skills. You then find out what their technical environment is and you then need to find out who does what in each organisation.

After you have done that then you need to speak to the business managers/HR/resourcing to see if they have any needs for contractors. These tasks will require a great deal of patience as these people have 2 billion people (like you) agencies, Indian software houses, Tom Dick and Harry doing the same thing, and if one of these doesnt beat you to it, they have a thing called a "PSL" that may finally slam the door in your face

Once you have found an interested punter you will then need to send your CV off and be prepared to wait up to 2 months for any feedback. Which means that it then becomes necessary for you to replicate this activity sufficiently in order to give yourself a wide enough spread to cover your market.

Once you have done this and successfully landed an interview you will need to realise that there will be other people available for interview. Even though you may be better than the rest you will need to prepare yourself for battle against the other 2 billion hopefuls eager to land the job themselves, or to have the work shipped out to outer mongolia.

Alternatively you could save yourself huge amounts of time and money and just tout yourself amongst the agencies, because you can bet your arse that if you do go direct the client is going to want to make the agency saving himself rather than let you have it.

Next

[Murder1]

[kingshuk]

You buy a thing called a telephone, and you acquire a list of companies in a business/geographical sector that suits your skills. You then find out what their technical environment is and you then need to find out who does what in each organisation.

After you have done that then you need to speak to the business managers/HR/resourcing to see if they have any needs for contractors. These tasks will require a great deal of patience as these people have 2 billion people (like you) agencies, Indian software houses, Tom Dick and Harry doing the same thing, and if one of these doesnt beat you to it, they have a thing called a "PSL" that may finally slam the door in your face

Once you have found an interested punter you will then need to send your CV off and be prepared to wait up to 2 months for any feedback. Which means that it then becomes necessary for you to replicate this activity sufficiently in order to give yourself a wide enough spread to cover your market.

Once you have done this and successfully landed an interview you will need to realise that there will be other people available for interview. Even though you may be better than the rest you will need to prepare yourself for battle against the other 2 billion hopefuls eager to land the job themselves, or to have the work shipped out to outer mongolia.

Alternatively you could save yourself huge amounts of time and money and just tout yourself amongst the agencies, because you can bet your arse that if you do go direct the client is going to want to make the agency saving himself rather than let you have it.

Next

[chef]

nothing like a monday morning defense of your worth is there?

DA

[DodgyAgent]

nothing like a monday morning defense of your worth is there?

DA

Got any better ideas?

[daviejones]

Sorry, I do not believe you can use the word "worth" when referring to a recruitment gimp!!!

[DodgyAgent]

Sorry, I do not believe you can use the word "worth" when referring to a recruitment gimp!!!

like you we are "worth" whatever someone is prepared to pay us.

From the Janet and John book of "business fundamentals".

[NotAllThere]

Take a long term approach; work through agencies for a few years, attend conferences, seminars etc., and build up your network throughout your chosen sector. Then, when you're looking for your next engagement, before contacting agencies, work your network. Once the handcuff period has expired, there's nothing to stop you making contact with former clients directly. And you've already got an "in".

[daviejones]

like you we are "worth" whatever someone is prepared to pay us.

From the Janet and John book of "business fundamentals".

And I thought all you did was skim off the top....