Re: CoBOL and Contracting (Was: All X'0D' lost during...)



"Robert" <no@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:gulf9410ib66dilmmacjdccq7p2sgabc8m@xxxxxxxxxx
On Mon, 4 Aug 2008 13:11:22 -0700 (PDT), "klshafer@xxxxxxx"
<klshafer@xxxxxxx> wrote:

Also, there can be multiple posts by
multiple agencies for the same client slots. What to do in "choosing"
the "right" agency?

Apply to ALL the agencies. Maybe one will think you're suitable while the
others don't.

I used to make that mistake. I'd see a good sounding job in Keokuk and
think 'Oh, I
already applied for that job.' Yeah, but to a different agency. I once
applied to five
agencies for the same job. One got me an interview; I didn't hear from the
other four.

The agency will always call before submitting you. If another agency calls
later, just
tell them you've already been submitted for that job.

Agencies will tell you double-submission is a mortal sin. Nonsense. If a
client DOES see
the same person from two agencies, he'll keep the cheaper of the two and
discard the
other. THAT's why agencies don't want you to do it.

Such are the problems of "going back to square
one." Soliciting repeat business and polling your informal network of
past co-workers avoids some of those problems, but doesn't always
result in a "hit". So we all need to have as many different "arrows in
our quiver" as we can manifest. What works for others might not work
for me, but hearing of what works for others can compensate for a lack
of imagination on my part.

It's a numbers game. The more eyes see your resume, the higher the
probability of a hit.

For me, it took about thirty years to distill all this down to what I
call my Rules of Engagement. I've gone minimalist, reducing them to
two:

Rule 1: Rate and Terms are negotiable; professional courtesy and
respect are not.

How do you handle jerk recruiters? Do you hang up or do you play their
silly game?

I don't know the right answer.

I handle jerk recruiters, the same way I handle any other jerk. (The actual
treatment varies, depending on specific cases, but it is very much along the
lines of: "...stop wasting my time, as it is obvious we are not going to do
business.") They should get special treatment because they're in IT? I
don't think so.

You don't need to tolerate bad behaviour or bad manners from anyone, just
because you think you need their "service".

The fact is that you don't need a substandard, one-sided, ripoff, of what is
supposed to be a "service", from ANYBODY... Pandering to it simply
perpetuates it.

Ever tried promoting yourself? You have a skill you need to market.
Mistakenly, you believe you can't get a job without an agency, but you
haven't thought about how you might go about promoting your own service.

If you want some ideas that have proven successful in the past, contact me
privately.

You have a good problem solving mind. Use it on your own behalf.

You may be surprised at the results. Build your own personal business based
on successful delivery, and you won't need to deal with jerks.

Pete.
--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."


.

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