Working through an agency

[b0redom]

Contractors do have to pay a fee to the agency themself.

No they don't.

The trick to remeber here is that the recuirter types have a budget for spending on drink + dancing whilst they're trying to woo you. The agency that found me for my current roll was allowed to squander £250 a night, because i'm not that easy i waited until the 3rd date before taking the interview, got 2 rather good meals out of it along the way

Depends on the role. More senior people are far more likely to be wined and dined - although personally I can't think of anything more unpleasant than having to deal with a recruitment consultant for longer than is humanly possible - they rate only slightly higher than estate agents in my book.

In any case, returning to the OPs question. You don't pay the agency for anything regardless of if you get the job - infact Jobserve states that any agency requiring payment by the candidate should be reported to them.

Good luck!

[Moby-Dick]

I wouldn't work direct in any case. You have all the hassle of invoicing and waiting for the client to pay. Working through an agency I put my timesheet in and the agency pays me the following week. Then getting the money out of the company is their problem, not mine.

By direct I meant for permanent roles
chasing invoices can be a fun thing so I'm told...

[Disturbedguy]

Thanks for clearing this up everyone.

Not heard anything from the company yet so don't know whats happening.

Will give it until Monday and then send a C.V to the company and see what happens.

[TheAnimus]

No they don't.

This really does depend on the contract and the agency.

Most often there is a management fee that you have to pay, and can't wiggle out of. This seams to be the most common in the city for finance right now.

[b0redom]

Thanks for clearing this up everyone.

Not heard anything from the company yet so don't know whats happening.

Will give it until Monday and then send a C.V to the company and see what happens.

If you're just starting out, the scattergun approach is best. Get your CV out to as many agencies as is humanly possible. You'll get a fair bit of dross, but you might get something really cool....

[b0redom]

This really does depend on the contract and the agency.

Most often there is a management fee that you have to pay, and can't wiggle out of. This seams to be the most common in the city for finance right now.

Sorry mate, you're wrong. I've been a contractor since 2004 and a hiring manager before that, and I've never ever heard of a contractor being charged a fee by an agency.

You may be being confused with umbrella companies which some contractors use in preference to opening their own ltd company, but that's purely an accounting thing.

What is more likely is that the colleagues are saying there's an admin fee to get out of buying a round of drinks in the pub.

[Disturbedguy]

Aye boredom that's what am going to do.

Give it until Monday, then send my C.V out in every direction.

[iranu]

I've been a contractor all my working life. 5 jobs in 13 years. Never paid an agency a fee of any sort (and never known anyone else having to). Always gone PAYE. They sort out all the nonsense and I get paid weekly.

[schmunk]

I've been a contractor all my working life. 5 jobs in 13 years. Never paid an agency a fee of any sort (and never known anyone else having to). Always gone PAYE. They sort out all the nonsense and I get paid weekly.

The above fact pattern does make you sound somewhat like an employee, rather than a contractor...

[Betty_Swallocks]

Well I've been a contractor since 1994 and have also never ever paid an agency a fee.

These days I use an umbrella company because it's so much less hassle than having my own limited company and doesn't cost me much more that I used to have to pay my accountant.