tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27988188.post3374888994743624473..comments2023-08-16T09:40:15.272+01:00Comments on Irascible Ian's Personal Blog: Recent (lack of) ActivityAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13442419547110456696noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27988188.post-8662469492182250472008-04-07T05:20:00.000+01:002008-04-07T05:20:00.000+01:00To answer your question: No, no one likes recruitm...To answer your question: No, no one likes recruitment agencies.<BR/><BR/>Why do businesses use them when they are such a rip-off? Because the girl in HR who hires them doesn't pay that 20% out of her own pocket. And they probably send her a bottle of sherry at Christmas.<BR/><BR/>It's the joy of dealing with agencies that is part of the reaon why everyone wants to stay at home and be a writer.<BR/><BR/>I'm glad you liked <I>The Orphanage</I>. But doesn't it say a lot about the state of modern Hollywood that grown-ups who want to watch a decent film have to go searching amongst the foreign-language features coming out of places like Spain and Germany?<BR/><BR/>I watched the <I>Invasion of the Bodysnatchers</I> remake (of a remake, of a remake) last week and it couldn't have been any worse if it was actually made by pod-people.Jaded and Cynicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02634516059161327338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27988188.post-60786908031623970742008-04-03T12:08:00.000+01:002008-04-03T12:08:00.000+01:00my experience with agencies have been pretty good....my experience with agencies have been pretty good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27988188.post-62568563576717485712008-04-01T19:14:00.000+01:002008-04-01T19:14:00.000+01:00Don't worry across coming across as a grumpy old g...Don't worry across coming across as a grumpy old git - it's part of why I read your blog, as an antidote to the 'everything is wonderful' outlook of the people who provide the tools that help me do my day job (you get three guesses, the first two don't count).<BR/><BR/>Maybe the reason the PCG failed was just marketing, I know I was contracting for 6 months before I heard about them, and none of the clients I mention it to had heard anything about them.<BR/><BR/>I've gotten pretty fed up with agencies too, although it is quite a while since I used one - fed up enough that I decided that I'd have more luck approaching people directly, and so far (touch wood) I've been okay. I think clients <B>do</B> get fed up dealing with them, being hassled by them and paying over the odds for staff - but you may be right about ingrained acceptance of the 'process' :(<BR/><BR/>I've been talking to some friends/contractors about forming a co-op, really just a mutual trust network for finding/passing on work - maybe that sort of thing really is a good idea. Must spend more time on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27988188.post-73546959281900929712008-04-01T17:27:00.000+01:002008-04-01T17:27:00.000+01:00After my rather snotty email I've received a very ...After my rather snotty email I've received a very apologetic phone call from company xxxxxx.<BR/><BR/>Officially they want to keep my details on file for other projects because "we liked you a lot, but as you said yourself in the interview, this didn't seem like the right project for your skillset".<BR/><BR/>They're also rather pissed about the agency claiming they had interviews for this week since the technical guy who interviewed me is off on holiday all week (which I know to be true, because they'd mentioned it last week as being the reason they needed to see me last week rather than this). Quite aside from the fact the position is now filled.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442419547110456696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27988188.post-68005238658573604002008-04-01T16:53:00.000+01:002008-04-01T16:53:00.000+01:00Lots of people have tried over the years (The Prof...Lots of people have tried over the years (The Professional Contractors Group tried hard with their 'portal') but it requires a huge 'mind shift' on the part of contractors and clients. And despite all the problems people are so lazy they just prefer to carry on with the way they've been working for the last 20 years (ie pay through the nose using JobServe and agencies).<BR/><BR/>Still haven't heard back from the (direct) company who'd promised to get back to me Friday evening or Monday morning at the latest. I'm not interested in the position (and could have ascertained that if the company had conducted a simple technical phone interview beforehand) but an agency called just now asking me if I thought a similar sounding position to the one I'd been directly approached about in the same town was of interest, and when I said "No, but it sounds like it's with xxxxxx" confirmed it was the same company.<BR/><BR/>I've now sent a rather snotty email to the company, pointing out that as a matter of etiquette when candidates have spent time and money attending interview the very least they can do is thank the candidate for attending and explain that the candidate has not been successful in this particular instance.<BR/><BR/>Honestly, I don't mean to come across as a grumpy old git on this blog all the time, but isn't this basic common sense? What does the recruitment department do exactly if it can't even follow through on promises it's made candidates. Regardless of this specific position, you can imagine how much I'm likely to recommend this company if any developer I know asks about the company and what their typical interview experience is like.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442419547110456696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27988188.post-82464439373296683782008-04-01T16:31:00.000+01:002008-04-01T16:31:00.000+01:00Agencies. Too true. I've only ever worked with one...Agencies. Too true. I've only ever worked with one agency that I enjoyed working with (Intapeople) but on the whole you are totally on the money.<BR/><BR/>Maybe it is time for http://hire-a-contractor.com/ and use the Pearson Coefficient Correlation to match people up for a small-ish one-time fee. I am surprised someone hasn't done this already.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com