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I haven't seen this particular topic come up but I may have just missed it. I like where you are coming from though. I would like to take a look at the enterta

I haven't seen this particular topic come up but I may have just missed it. I like where you are coming from though. I would like to take a look at the entertainment business in comparison to engineering positions for a moment. You are absolutely right there is an excess supply of positions and an insufficient demand for those positions. However, that is a general statement that can be narrowed down I believe. While in the entertainment industry there is a very small supply of jobs for high dollar actors and actresses, there is a excess supply of positions for small walk on, non-speaking characters with insufficient demand for those positions. People don't want small, low paying, non-speaking, uncredited acting positions. They are willing to pay an agent to try to get them the small supply of high paying acting positions that they want. I still think your difference holds true though. I am not trying to set up a straw man here. I fully admit that I can walk out today, talk to 20 businesses in a relatively short period of time, and land a new high paying gig. I could also walk out and talk to a dozen recruiting firms and accomplish the same thing. It's easier for me than it is for an actor in the entertainment industry. But I still see that there are a significant number of engineers who are willing to pay an agent to keep up these relationships for them. What would make it worthwhile to the Agent? 10% of 20 engineers who make on average $150,000 a year? Is there not room in the industry for that type of service?

stephengillie 11y ago
Well, you're free to start an employment agency for tech workers. But, with respect, I won't pay for your agency's services until I stop being contacted by multiple recruiters a week. :)
- trcollinson 11y ago
  Oh, do not misinterpret my discussion here. I am in no way interested in starting an agency. In fact, quite the opposite. I would like to find one ;) I get contacted by recruiters all of the time and that is the problem! Which should I listen to? Which should I make a relationship with moving forward to find more business? Which are going to negotiate well for me? The other issue is that we are paying them for their services, whether we like that idea or not. We may not be having to handle the tax implications and whatnot, but ultimately they negotiate a rate for me of say, $100 an hour. They negotiate a rate with the client of say, $150 an hour. To the client I cost $150 an hour (in fact most recruiters put it that way to them, that is my "bill rate"). I am paying them 50% anyway, in this scenario.
  - j2bax 11y ago
    I've been an account manager (and non-technical project manager) for an agency for 9+ years. I have been quite successful at it. I've gained and retained many large clients and made plenty of money for my employer in the process! That in turn has kept my paycheck coming in consistently, so I'm pretty happy overall. But I do sometimes have dreams of doing my own thing. I have often wondered if I could offer my account management services independently to a handful of freelance engineers and make enough money to sustain myself. It doesn't sound too incredibly different from what you are talking about. I could also see myself being very good at weeding out the recruiters that don't fit my clients needs. Edit: I should clarify that the agency I work for is full service and we handle web projects all the way from design through development. So I have a fairly in depth understanding of tech, just not a hacker per se.
    - trcollinson 11y ago
      It's unfortunate you have no contact information in your profile :)

stephengillie 11y ago

Well, you're free to start an employment agency for tech workers. But, with respect, I won't pay for your agency's services until I stop being contacted by multiple recruiters a week. :)

trcollinson 11y ago
Oh, do not misinterpret my discussion here. I am in no way interested in starting an agency. In fact, quite the opposite. I would like to find one ;) I get contacted by recruiters all of the time and that is the problem! Which should I listen to? Which should I make a relationship with moving forward to find more business? Which are going to negotiate well for me? The other issue is that we are paying them for their services, whether we like that idea or not. We may not be having to handle the tax implications and whatnot, but ultimately they negotiate a rate for me of say, $100 an hour. They negotiate a rate with the client of say, $150 an hour. To the client I cost $150 an hour (in fact most recruiters put it that way to them, that is my "bill rate"). I am paying them 50% anyway, in this scenario.
- j2bax 11y ago
  I've been an account manager (and non-technical project manager) for an agency for 9+ years. I have been quite successful at it. I've gained and retained many large clients and made plenty of money for my employer in the process! That in turn has kept my paycheck coming in consistently, so I'm pretty happy overall. But I do sometimes have dreams of doing my own thing. I have often wondered if I could offer my account management services independently to a handful of freelance engineers and make enough money to sustain myself. It doesn't sound too incredibly different from what you are talking about. I could also see myself being very good at weeding out the recruiters that don't fit my clients needs. Edit: I should clarify that the agency I work for is full service and we handle web projects all the way from design through development. So I have a fairly in depth understanding of tech, just not a hacker per se.
  - trcollinson 11y ago
    It's unfortunate you have no contact information in your profile :)