Beware disreputable recruitment agencies and umbrella service companies, the IT contracting sector was recently warned by experts.
It’s quite common for IT contract workers to seek aid in finding new employment opportunities through the aid of a recruitment agency. In fact, many freelancers swear by the services these agencies provide, but there are some less reputable agencies in operation in the UK that may be using underhanded tactics to rope contractors in to using their services, warns a recent Contractor Weekly article.
One of the most common ways these agencies trick contractors into using their services is by posting adverts for work which in actuality are completely fabricated or nonexistent. Recruitment agencies will engage in this tactic as a way to stockpile a large list of workers that they can swiftly ring up if indeed an actual position comes along, despite the frustration this can cause amongst hoodwinked IT contractors.
Contractor Weekly took a dim view of the practice, especially for a contractor that initially feels he or she has stumbled upon a perfect opportunity for them, judging on the description of the bogus role in the advert. The time and energy expended by contractors in applying for such a contract that in actuality never existed turns out to be completely wasted, taking time away frm real prospective clients or existing work.
Another common tactic employed by these less than reputable recruitment agencies is advertising pay rates which undercut the actual pay rate of the client by a massive margin. This results in contractors being paid much less for their work without the knowledge of either the client or the freelancer, with the recruitment agency pocketing the difference and laughing all the way to the bank!
