This might be common in the UK, might not be, but I'll warn you for it;
Right now some agents in NL demand you sign an 'exclusivity contract'; up to now, this was always about offering yourself for one gig exclusively through one agent, which I've always understood and have always complied with. However, this week I've seen a new twist on the story; agents want you to remain available for that gig from the moment you send your CV to the agent until the moment the gig starts, even if you don't get the gig or get invited to interview. Some are trying to enforce a 1,000 euro fine for contractors who pull out of the selection procedure before the interview or before recieving the word 'go' to start (e.g because you've found another gig). As you know, some of these procedures can take weeks. Happily, I saw this in the adverts (hidden in the usual officious guff halfway through), so I didn't offer for those gigs and have asked a solicitor to advise on the legality of this, and to advise on how to act in the case of offering and possibly needing to pull out. I expect to get an answer this week and will let you all know.
So if you offer for a gig in NL, look out for this clause in the advert. I suspect what is happening is this; hard-up agents have realised that in any procedure, some proportion of candidates will withdraw, so you can make an easy buck by fining them; it wouldn't surprise me if they're also just passing on some costs that have resulted from those ridiculous 'preferred supplier' agreements.
Well, I've warned you now.
Right now some agents in NL demand you sign an 'exclusivity contract'; up to now, this was always about offering yourself for one gig exclusively through one agent, which I've always understood and have always complied with. However, this week I've seen a new twist on the story; agents want you to remain available for that gig from the moment you send your CV to the agent until the moment the gig starts, even if you don't get the gig or get invited to interview. Some are trying to enforce a 1,000 euro fine for contractors who pull out of the selection procedure before the interview or before recieving the word 'go' to start (e.g because you've found another gig). As you know, some of these procedures can take weeks. Happily, I saw this in the adverts (hidden in the usual officious guff halfway through), so I didn't offer for those gigs and have asked a solicitor to advise on the legality of this, and to advise on how to act in the case of offering and possibly needing to pull out. I expect to get an answer this week and will let you all know.
So if you offer for a gig in NL, look out for this clause in the advert. I suspect what is happening is this; hard-up agents have realised that in any procedure, some proportion of candidates will withdraw, so you can make an easy buck by fining them; it wouldn't surprise me if they're also just passing on some costs that have resulted from those ridiculous 'preferred supplier' agreements.
Well, I've warned you now.
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