Lost job with agency - contacting company directly ?

downsouth11

For the last year I have been working as a freelance writer/researcher for a media agency, and was working on a project for one of their clients.
However last month, after weeks of miscommunication and disagreements between the agency and the client, the project was cancelled; leaving me unemployed.
Though I was never allowed to know the name of the client, I'm pretty sure I have found them. I would really like to work for them directly - the work was enjoyable and easy - but I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to contact them to ask, especially given the fact I am not supposed to know who they are.
Should I give it a shot and send them an email anyway?!

rachiibell

Could you email them without mentioning the agency. Just put that you're a freelance writer/ researcher and are very interested in what they're doing. Just thinking they may not be so keen on taking you on if they know you are from that agency as it could be seen as poaching the agencies staff.

If pressed later you could mention that you worked for the agency in the past but are now looking for something a bit more secure (or insert own adjective here) direct with a client. Apologies if that's not how it works in the world of writing.

Good luck

WantToBeSE

Did you have any kind of contract with the agency? Some stipulate that in these circumstances you cannot take on the client as a private client until X amount of months.


If not, then yes I would definitely contact them, explaining that you are no longer working for the agency, enjoyed working with them, and would welcome the opportunity to do so again.


Good luck

xoAmyox

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Did you have any kind of contract with the agency? Some stipulate that in these circumstances you cannot take on the client as a private client until X amount of months.


If not, then yes I would definitely contact them, explaining that you are no longer working for the agency, enjoyed working with them, and would welcome the opportunity to do so again.


Good luck

Although these kind of provisions exist in contracts commonly, the agency can only act on it if they have some sort of 'provable loss'.

If the company has ceased dealings with the agency, then there is no loss to the agency and therefore the clause becomes pretty useless.