Creative Circle
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- 16 Responses
- nadnerb
It's a creative staffing company in Chicago, not sure if it's nationwide. . . anyone have experience with this place or places like this? For freelance. I've heard they take a big cut, very binding contract etc. Maybe a bum deal. No?
- epete220
ive tried them in dallas but they seem to be just a website front
- epete220
I never get good leads and they have never responded to any of emails about questions directed towards jobs they had posted.
- Meeklo0
they also work in LA but the hour rate is really low, not sure if they are keeping a lot of the money or what..
- skt0
we might be using them for a few freelancers here in LA... haven't had any prices back yet though.
- silentseven0
Ya their rates are really low.
- the listings usually tell you anywhere between 30 - 55 onsite usually.silentseven
- The emails I still get are in that range too, I'd say with 95% in the $35 an hour range.kona
- rocknonstop0
I've worked with them in LA and they are connected to everyone here. They do take a pretty big cut, I'm not sure exactly how much but I think they were marking me up 100%. On the upside though, they are really good about negotiating overtime hours. They always contracted on an hourly rate and I got 1.5/hourly for every thing over 8/day (which happened often).
They got me my first freelance gig when I quit my job and if you don't have a lot of industry contacts I think it's worth it. If you do 2 or 3 of these jobs you'll meet enough people that you'll start getting recommended by the people you meet to other jobs around town and you can negotiate higher rates on your own.
- gabe0
i refuse to ever work with creative circle again. they charge $85+ an hour for crap creative. no, let's call it what it is—shit creative.
sorry, i can only offer you my perspective of working with them, not working for them. my recommendation however: keep their money grubbing paws out of your pockets and sell yourself around town.
- Llyod0
they're on the up and up but they'll screw you to 35 bucks per/hr
- skt0
who would you recommend in LA Gabe?
- ESPtype0
i was contacted by them here in NYC... They said I wouln't be able to get a job at the pay level i wanted... But i went and found one myself anyway
- b_electro0
They're in SF too. FYI all these types of creative placement agencies, and temp agencies in general, take a big %. That's how they make money duh.
CC is seen as the big, impersonal placement agency. They will also hustle you like a recruiter, i.e. not always accurate and their account managers are hyper-competitive with each other, all vying to get the most commissions.
In my exp, you have to be VERY clear about what you're looking for and under no circumstances say that you're interested in something you're truly not! They'll forward your book/resume as soon as you say you're even remotely interested in a gig, then if you don't follow-up and go to the interview, you're on their blacklist.
- gabe0
sorry skt, to be honest we haven't had any luck with staffing agencies. if you need production work (clipping photos, batch processing, etc.) they have people that can do the job.
if you're looking for more specialized work though, like animation or AS programming, the "talent" pool they offer is crap. the portfolios they send would be laughed right off of QBN.
it's my opinion that their creatives are all the guys (and gals) that can't get a job in this industry on their own, probably due to lack of talent. it's pretty hard NOT to get a job in this market if you have the skills.
so, it depends on what you need skt. if it's design or flash/animation, i suggest posting on places more connected to the core of the industry (like krop for instance).
- gabe0
thanks skt... good luck with the hunt
- Llyod0
I was working at tribal in chicago at the freelance area and I found a business card from this guy: http://www.probe3.com/
- kona0
nadnerb: check your email
Llyod: i don't know why i always don't believe you (about Tribal), but if you were there in their washroom, if your standing looking into the mirror what was to your left? (I worked on the same floor).
- rocknonstop0
This is a really interesting thread when you compare it to the salary thread-
http://www.qbn.com/topics/569287…