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Recruitment consultants

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    Recruitment consultants

    Are they born evil or is it life that makes them that way.


    Being a newbie to the contract market and having just had my first contract in an investment bank brought to an untimely end... I find myself back on the market.

    I have spoken to recruiters who do not want to put me forward for roles despite having 10 years experience and qualifications to boot......

    I have had a recruiter put me forward for a role I have already interviewed for, I might add without my consent almost blowing any chance I have of getting that GIG.

    Has any one else got any experiences to share or any helpful tips/words of wisdom they wish to share.......
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Recruitment consultants were sent to punish us all!

    #2
    Look at it this way: If they weren't trying to rip us off, they'd be trying to rip off our grannies. Absolute scum the lot of them.

    Shame the end clients are too lazy to do the recruiting themselves. Though I suppose it's no suprise, they can barely do the job they're paid to do as it is. Hence they need contractors (people with half a clue) to bail them out and put up with their crap systems and business practices.
    Feist - 1234. One camera, one take, no editing. Superb. How they did it
    Feist - I Feel It All
    Feist - The Bad In Each Other (Later With Jools Holland)

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by Crusoe101 View Post
      Are they born evil or is it life that makes them that way.


      Being a newbie to the contract market and having just had my first contract in an investment bank brought to an untimely end... I find myself back on the market.

      I have spoken to recruiters who do not want to put me forward for roles despite having 10 years experience and qualifications to boot......

      I have had a recruiter put me forward for a role I have already interviewed for, I might add without my consent almost blowing any chance I have of getting that GIG.

      Has any one else got any experiences to share or any helpful tips/words of wisdom they wish to share.......
      My Friend - Nihil Desperandum.

      I have contracted for many years - yes there are times you will find yourself on the bench , thinking 'Oh I will never get another gig'

      But you will.

      The market my be tight - but keep plugging and you should be fine.
      As for the Agents - some are good some are indifferent - but rest assured they are key to contacting- so keep on good terms.

      Whatever you do - good luck

      Trust me on that one.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Crusoe101 View Post
        Are they born evil or is it life that makes them that way.


        Being a newbie to the contract market and having just had my first contract in an investment bank brought to an untimely end... I find myself back on the market.

        I have spoken to recruiters who do not want to put me forward for roles despite having 10 years experience and qualifications to boot......

        I have had a recruiter put me forward for a role I have already interviewed for, I might add without my consent almost blowing any chance I have of getting that GIG.

        Has any one else got any experiences to share or any helpful tips/words of wisdom they wish to share.......

        You think you have a hard time with them. I have them working for me
        Let us not forget EU open doors immigration benefits IT contractors more than anyone

        Comment


          #5
          I've had more investment bank contracts than you've had hot salamis and the agents 'still' play me about and ignore my requests to be put forward for interviews etc. and I get ye olde 'why weren't you renewed after 6 months' and 'you don't have x and y out of a plethora of business and technical skills that the end client requires', don't think it applies just to you. Some agents just totally ignore me despite me constantly winning investment banking contracts and getting renewed.... but those are your average recruiters usually young with no direction in life, the old timers in the City banking recruitment game know the old veterans and can spot a potential and close in for the kill and forward you for roles.

          Also here is a tip: What many people IT chasing the investment banking contracts may not realise is that the business knowledge and technical skills are very specialised in different areas of finance so when you leave your last contract there may be no industry wide vancancies for say UNIX C++, FX derivatives developers with CORBA for many months to come, in other words the business knowledge you picked up at your last role is useless to other investment banks right now when you are looking for your next role, it makes it very difficult for you to obtain your next gig quickly.



          Your abrupt end at your investment bank is the same tale of woe that many will weave in this awful economic climate that we find ourselves in. My strong advice to you is don't see this IT contracting as the be all and end all. Don't waste your time waiting for the phone to ring, prepare for interviews as best you can and focus on plan b !

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by eliquant View Post
            I've had more investment bank contracts than you've had hot salamis and the agents 'still' play me about and ignore my requests to be put forward for interviews etc. and I get ye olde 'why weren't you renewed after 6 months' and 'you don't have x and y out of a plethora of business and technical skills that the end client requires', don't think it applies just to you. Some agents just totally ignore me despite me constantly winning investment banking contracts and getting renewed.... but those are your average recruiters usually young with no direction in life, the old timers in the City banking recruitment game know the old veterans and can spot a potential and close in for the kill and forward you for roles.

            Also here is a tip: What many people IT chasing the investment banking contracts may not realise is that the business knowledge and technical skills are very specialised in different areas of finance so when you leave your last contract there may be no industry wide vancancies for say UNIX C++, FX derivatives developers with CORBA for many months to come, in other words the business knowledge you picked up at your last role is useless to other investment banks right now when you are looking for your next role, it makes it very difficult for you to obtain your next gig quickly.



            Your abrupt end at your investment bank is the same tale of woe that many will weave in this awful economic climate that we find ourselves in. My strong advice to you is don't see this IT contracting as the be all and end all. Don't waste your time waiting for the phone to ring, prepare for interviews as best you can and focus on plan b !
            Or do what I did switched to Telecoms
            Fiscal nomad it's legal.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by DodgyAgent View Post
              You think you have a hard time with them. I have them working for me
              The proud owner of 125 Xeno Geek Points

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Crusoe101 View Post
                Are they born evil or is it life that makes them that way.


                Being a newbie to the contract market and having just had my first contract in an investment bank brought to an untimely end... I find myself back on the market.

                I have spoken to recruiters who do not want to put me forward for roles despite having 10 years experience and qualifications to boot......

                I have had a recruiter put me forward for a role I have already interviewed for, I might add without my consent almost blowing any chance I have of getting that GIG.

                Has any one else got any experiences to share or any helpful tips/words of wisdom they wish to share.......
                Sounds like you need to be a permie to weather the storm....

                Unless you have at LEAST 4 months permie money stashed to tide you through?

                Think carefully.

                Comment


                  #9
                  I've heard horror stories from people who've worked for some recruitment firms. The working conditions are often horrendous, which isn't conducive to good agent/contractor relations. The agent/client relations, otoh, are often handled by the more senior guys. Junior agents are just sales staff. Their only IT knowledge is the keywords. And they frequently spell them incorrectly.
                  Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by NotAllThere View Post
                    Their only IT knowledge is the keywords. And they frequently spell them incorrectly.
                    Even the acronyms... I remember getting asked if I "know" TPCIP, Tivilo, and (ISYN) VD.....

                    Comment

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