How Agencies Know Which Clients Need Contractors?

**thunderlizard** · 14 April 2011, 19:55

The way agencies tell is that someone eventually says "umm...OK then" to one of the hundreds of calls they make per week.
your technique will have to be similar, but because you're likely to have a stronger network than them through previous contracts, you should be able to get by with fewer calls, to warmer leads.

**stek** · 14 April 2011, 20:44

You can sometimes second guess the pimp's ad, "a major Gov. Org. in Swansea" isn't hard to work out. The problem is they will have their PSL, and Joe Contractor isn't on it...

**Wanderer** · 15 April 2011, 06:41

The best way to bypass agencies is to tap your network of contacts (linked in is good for keeping in touch) and find jobs that way. You've got a head start because people have worked with you and know you too.

But as stek says, even if you get the job direct you will probably be forced to work through an agency anyway.

**Scrag Meister** · 15 April 2011, 06:52

Probably depends on the client, but I recently went direct to a previous client co and am back here on a "12" monther.

The client STILL stuck an agency in the mix, they "handle all client co's non-PSL suppliers".

So even a direct contract may not be as direct as one would like.

**The Agents View** · 15 April 2011, 08:12

Shouldn't be quite as hard as made out above.
You need to do this alongside your regular work though - start keeping in touch with peoples projects, listen to everything, get your head around who might need people. It took me 6 years of hard graft to get to a point where clients ring me reliably when they need someone - but I'm very niche in what I do.

Other things to do are convert information - speaking to other contractors about where they're interviewing, translating that into "must be a project there" then hunt it down. When speaking to other contractors, let them know that you'll slip them a days rate if they can "get you in" to their next client - become known for being the kind of person they can recommend (bad people don't get recommended - they just don't).

Keep that going, and you'll have a direct contract shortly I'm sure.

Good luck.

TAV

**The Agents View** · 15 April 2011, 08:15

Originally posted by The Agents View View Post

Shouldn't be quite as hard as made out above.
You need to do this alongside your regular work though - start keeping in touch with peoples projects, listen to everything, get your head around who might need people. It took me 6 years of hard graft to get to a point where clients ring me reliably when they need someone - but I'm very niche in what I do.

Other things to do are convert information - speaking to other contractors about where they're interviewing, translating that into "must be a project there" then hunt it down. When speaking to other contractors, let them know that you'll slip them a days rate if they can "get you in" to their next client - become known for being the kind of person they can recommend (bad people don't get recommended - they just don't).

Keep that going, and you'll have a direct contract shortly I'm sure.

Good luck.

TAV

Oh and if you really want to do it properly - there are market intelligence systems (OneSource) - Various Reports on business opportunities - OGC frameworks - OJEU notices. But these methods are both long winded, and generally expensive to be able to access.

**SimonMac** · 15 April 2011, 08:23

How Agencies Know Which Clients Need Contractors?

By asking us for two references!

**jmo21** · 15 April 2011, 08:56

I keep a list of every company I hear about that uses my skillset, and any other company I hear about in the areas I want to work.

This comes from colleagues talking about them, linked in, direct job ad's or anything else really.

When I'm approaching the end of a contract I start looking at their websites and applying directly.

I haven't got any using this approach though, usually a role through an agency comes along first.

**Dynamic** · 17 April 2011, 07:24

Thanks for your advices guys.

My current contract is ending in 10 days so I'll have to find another one quickly.

So far I have updated my CV on Monster and Job Serve and received some calls from agencies. I'm going to

1) start "applying" for the contracts via these sites.

2) let my Linked In contacts know by posting an status (should I contact them one by one?!).

What else could I do now?

Thanks,

How Agencies Know Which Clients Need Contractors?