"Go around" "Bypassing the recruiter"

[hoapres]

I am seeing more and more people doing a "Go around" or "bypass the recruiter".  One gets a call from a recruiter about an "urgent" job and does not get  back.  At that point, one does a "go around" or "bypass the recruiter" and simply contact the company directly.  Sometimes the person doing the go around finds out that the company had no job openings at all with the agency just rounding up resumes for a cattle call.  The rational among many doing go arounds is that "you have to do what you have to do" in order to survive. 

That is what happens when 29+ agencies are competing for the same nonjob. 

[NewHavenITguy]

It's that (too many agencies chasing too few requirements), it's the lower bill rates as well.  No one can afford agents and their 30-50% markups any more.

[Austin02]

In context to contractor/Client relationships:

Unless you have an established, direct relationship with the client, the agency will be the only means to your next gig.

Advantages/recommendations:

- Master contract in-place

- Established billing/payment relationship

You simply want to insure that you're getting what you pay for (in terms of x% off your gross bill rate). Example... you're looking at a total rate of about $120 per hour. The agency skims off about $30 per hour for sales and administration costs. MAKE SURE the agency is working for this money. They must have good payment history (on time, and not in court!).

A recruiter REPRESENTS the client (or NOT you). I do not recommend recruiters unless you're lucky to find a true professional. Recruiters have now fallen into the slimy category of shysters and sleazebags. I’ve been burned by enough recruiters to now avoid them completely. I now work with friends and associates directly. However, I still work with agencies in landing and managing contracts with large customers.

I also... avoid the $@$% resume posting apps required by ALL large companies. If a company requires that I post my resume and spend 2+ hours filling out their silly on-line job application... I don't. The only agency that honestly uses the on-line job application is the US Federal Gov't. The rest... are best avoided.

The way I get into big companies is via contract-to-hire. But I do charge exactly what I disserve and simply say, "no thanks" to the low-ball bidders. Let the low-ballers go H1/offshore for all I care. Most low-ball bids end up in trouble anyway. And, unless I'm in desperate need (which has been the case at times), I insist on my rates but allow the follow-up when the screw-ups realize they do need to hire actual talent (as apposed to warm seats).

[NewHavenITguy]

That's true of big corps, not true of SMBs necessarily.

[SAS_and_the_City]

<<I also... avoid the $@$% resume posting apps required by ALL large companies. If a company requires that I post my resume and spend 2+ hours filling out their silly on-line job application... I don't. The only agency that honestly uses the on-line job application is the US Federal Gov't. The rest... are best avoided.>>

Me too - and I avoid the US Federal Gov't as well.   Do you know it's much easier to get in there as a contractor and sometimes the pay is better too?  I've actually had better luck using LinkedIn.  

Also, I think the companies as well are starting to go around recruiters.  I've had a couple contact me directly.  I'd have to work through one of their preferred vendors but I negotiated the rate with both the client and the agency.  So I know what everyone's getting. 

I'll do contract-to-hire but with no illusions of its actually going somewhere.   Unless they were horrible to me, they can always get me back if I'm available so why hire me full time? 

[NewHavenITguy]

I never go for Work to Hire because (a) I'm never going to be their employee  in the first place being a dyed in the wool contractor, and (b) Work for Hire is what they say when they don't want to pay the going rate

[Wayne62682]

Easier said than done; half the time you cannot figure out the real company as the recruiter doesn't drop hints or tells you the company, so you are left with no choice EXCEPT to deal with the recruiter...

[woof]

Wayne,

You're partially correct.  The next time you receive a job description from one of these recruiting grifters, try entering the "cut & paste" job description into Dice, Indeed, & Google.  You're likely to find that multiple recruiters are offering the same position for their "direct client."  More often than not, you'll find that one of these recruiters will leave a company or product/platform name in the job description text.  From there, you can figure out who's really offering the job.

[hoapres]

More and more contractors are giving agencies about 2 weeks to get back to them and if they don't do a "Go around".  As more than one contractor tells me "Enough is enough.  If they don't get back to you in 2 weeks then you have nothing to lose by doing a go around and I could care less if the agency finds out"

[NewHavenITguy]

Go around whenever you can ..