When it comes to recruitment, the intermediary (or agency) is often viewed in a negative way. Contractors often think about intermediaries as the person who takes a cut off their wages, without really delivering anything. In many cases, this seems to be true. These are some of the most common complaints about intermediaries.
Lack of Knowledge
As we know, IT is a complicated sector and one which requires a lot of industry knowledge. An issue which is common for intermediaries, is that they don’t have the level of knowledge required to deliver a good service. Have you ever received an email or a phone call for a job which is completely unrelated to what you do? It very much feels like a hit and hope for the best approach, rather than proper targeting to the right people. This can be very frustrating and doesn’t instill much faith in the intermediaries service.
The Commission
Intermediaries seem to take an insane amount of money from contractors, with nothing much to show for it. This fact alone can be enough to cause irritation. Commission should be earned and many intermediaries seem happy to just take their fee, without considering the service they are really delivering to the interim. Many contractors regard the real service to only be the introduction to the client, so consider the ongoing commission model to be inappropriate.
What Call?
Intermediaries have a reputation for being all over you when they need you, but disappear from sight as soon as you are no longer useful to them. Whether it comes to providing feedback or checking in to see how you are, intermediaries often don’t care, as long as they are getting their fee. Communication is one of the main bug bears associated with intermediaries.
Focus on Business Leads
Some intermediaries will use your details as business leads and most won’t even try to hide the fact. Whether it’s your references or other jobs you have applied for, some intermediaries are looking to gather information from you. Not because they care, but so they can get some extra business! If you start getting hundreds of questions fired at you, this is probably what they are doing.
What Makes us Different?
At Mindful, we have direct experience of dealing with intermediaries, which is why we are in the best place to become the best one! We offer a completely paperless operation from source to contract to pay, so the whole process is quick and easy. Also our interims are provided with a bespoke marketing campaign, so we are always prepared for your contract ending. We also offer managed integrated services to our clients. Overall, our commitment to you goes far beyond just helping you secure a role. We are here to help ensure you get the very best from your contracts.
We’d love to hear more about your experience with intermediaries. What do you value most and what problems have you faced?