Re: A warning to Oracle contractors in Colorado

Edward Lootan wrote:
>
> A good friend of mine forwarded me this warning message, I am forwarding
> this message here to warn others about this company.
>
> [FORWARDED MESSAGE]
>
> A couple of days ago, I sent an inquiry to Ron Scott & Associates
> asking for more detail about an Oracle opportunity in the Denver area
> that they posted in the oracle newsgroups. As I was hesitant to just
> blindy send off my resume to someone I've never even heard of before, I
> wanted more information. The responses I received from the company are
> below. I thought I would forward it to you guys as a general warning.
>
> Cheers!
>
> --Rob
>
> ---- Attachment ----
>
> [Ron Scott & Associates Wrote]
>
> > > We have a number of of openings for both Oracle DBA's and developers.
> > > In order to evaluate where you would best fit in, we will need to see
 a
> > > resume from you. You can either attach it as an MS Word for Windows
> > > file to an email message, or fax it (in fine resolution mode).
> > >
> > > I do promise to call you upon receipt, and will discuss things in more
> > > detail. We will NOT submit your resume anywhere without your consent in
> > > advance.
> > >
>
> [I replied with]
>
> > I am not inquiring about your many openings. I was asking about one specific
> > opportunity which you posted a message about. If you have a list of Oracle
> > DBA related opportunities that you wish to fulfill, I would like to see a
> > more specific list of these openings, in order to evaluate where your
> > organization would best fit with my needs. If I determine that your
> > company may be suitable, then and only then will I submit my resume to you.
>
> [Ron Scott & Associates replied with]
>
> I think you have it backwards. WE are the ones who will evaluate how YOU
> fit with OUR client base. You do NOT dictate to us how we do so. We do
> not have to furnish you with a list of anything. Just who do you think
> you are, anyway?!?
>
> I think the tone of your letters is offensive, rude, and your social
> skills very low on the scale of acceptibility. You are not the kind of
> person we would want to place with anyone, and you probably do not work
> well with people.
>
> Please direct your inquiries to other employers. We are not interested.
> Do not bother us again, and the request for your resume is withdrawn.
>
> [End of Ron Scott & Associates Reply]

Actualy, this is VERY strange.

Computer placement agencies live on us, and, sometimes, make our live miserable.

1. YOU pay agencies their fees. Some culculation: Average salary expierenced DBA in US is 75K with full benefits. It means, in general, DBA "eats" 82-86K. In states this price is more, in some - less.An agency is getting 20-30% of annual salary of a person ( from employer, of course). Usualy it is on quarterly basis. It means, that for the first year of your employment employer will pay 5.000 each quarter, or 20.000 once (if employer is desperate or stupid). The avarage job change for IS people now is 2 years. Everybody knows that. You employer has a budget for IS department. In that budget DBA service is (X)K. Smart employer ( which is very desirable for you) will hire you with salary : (X-A/2)*(1-T)-B, where: X - budget, A - Agency fees, T - taxes and SS from employer side, B - benefits. In most cases it means, you get 10K annual less, that you can get without "outstanding" job of your agent. These 10K/year before taxes you pay to an agent.
2. This is another thing wich trouble employer very mach: What if you leave soon? It means, employer would waste money for agency. It makes employer preffer to hire direct. You can't say "We'll deside after three(six) month..." if you are having an interview from agency. I had some problems by myself about year ago, when I tried to find a job from agency. I was disagree with some of corporate datamodeling standards and honestly told them, that I'll quit in case we can't find a compromise. They refuse to hire me. After a while I met one tech guy from that company, and he told me, management was afraid for agency fees in case I quit. I am working on the second place in US, and both I found direct.

Decide for yourself. But if you have decided to go to an agency, pick one wich will play by you rules - there are a lot of around.

Eugene.

-- 
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