Re: Mixed messages

[Keith Arnett <Keith_Arnett -at- RESTON -dot- OMD -dot- STERLING -dot- COM>]

     Based on my own experiences with so-called consulting or placement
     firms, my observation is that this is in no way unusual; put it behind
     you and move on.

     These consulting or placement agencies make money by placing job
     candidates; the more they place, the more they make.  This contributes
     to a meat-market/commodity environment; when you're hot, you're the
     greatest thing they've ever seen, and when you're not, you can't even
     get your phone calls returned.

     Rest assured that, if they have your resume on file, you will
     eventually be called again by an account rep who will lavish you with
     praise and assure you that he/she has the perfect job for you.

     I could go on and on about the negatives of these agencies,
     but......Without doubt, the best jobs I had as a contract TW were jobs
     that I prospected and negotiated myself.

     Also remember that as a contractor you have no way of knowing exactly
     what's going on in any organization where you find yourself newly
     placed.  Office politics, budget wars, inept management...all can bump
     you out the door without your knowing why.

     Which is why good self-esteem and a sturdy ego are a major
     requirements for contracting.  All you can do is look back at what you
     did, ask yourself, "What would/could I have done differently?", make
     note of the answers, and move on.

     This kind of experience can be especially painful early on in one's
     contracting career, but it is virtually inevitable.  It's happened to
     everyone (and worse), and is an unfortunate hazard of contracting.  As
     you gain experience, you will be able to see these kinds of situations
     coming in advance, and act accordingly (like turning the job down, in
     the firm knowledge that a better one is waiting for you somewhere).

     Hang in there.....

     Keith Arnett
     Technical Writer/Reston Labs
     Sterling Software, Inc./Operations Management Division
     Reston VA USA


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Mixed messages
Author:  rtfarley -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com at ~sydressmtp
Date:    1/28/98 1:38 PM


Hi,

I could use some objective input on an incident that I need closure on.

Some time back I had my first assignment as a contract TW through a
placement agency.

<< snip >>

My instincts tell me that the entire fiasco was blamed on me by a
manager who couldn't admit that she couldn't manage, and hourly TWs who
didn't like having a higher paid contractor around. I can only cringe at
the thought of the stories that were relayed to the placement firm
causing them to drop me like a leper.

Has anyone else had similar experiences with placement firms? Does this
happen frequently when contractors and full-timers are mixed? Is there
any way, short of being a recluse, to avoid this in the future?