Employment agencies

[il cacciatore]

I've been approached by a recruitment agency, I was wondering if I should be skeptical. I dont like the idea of employment agencies, are they OK ?

 

I have a feeling that they are great for employers but not so good for employees. Can't they just barter down your wage and make it so they can sack you at very short notice??

 

The only way I see it being beneficial is for experience? Am I being too skeptical :look:

[dazzyboi]

Unless your desperate for cash..i wouldnt bother..Most job agencies are there to fill job spots that no body wants..I.E cleaners...kitchen assistants..Or if someone is off sick..Nothing worth wile..

 

Nothing that would be worthy to put on your CV anyway

[Gully]

Are they asking you to go and work for them or are they headhunting you for one of their clients?

 

I wouldn't work for an agency but if they're headhunting you go and talk to them - they're paid on a percentage of the package offered so its in their interests to talk up the salary.

[il cacciatore]

I should have been clearer. I am going to graduate from final year of university as a Building Surveyor and they say that they have a large client base that they can put me forward to within my local area so I'm not being head hunted. It would be essentially be my first real job.

[louilester]

I should have been clearer. I am going to graduate from final year of university as a Building Surveyor and they say that they have a large client base that they can put me forward to within my local area so I'm not being head hunted. It would be essentially me first real job.

 

If they're local to you then it's always worth having a chat with them - but have your eye's wide open. I've used agencies for employing contractors in the past (in the IT area). We have a need - we contact the agency and they furnish us with CV's that match the requirements. Often they'll miss the mark and some CV's on closer inspection are not suitable. Often agencies will paste your CV onto a system that will then run keyword searches against available positions. If you want to get your CV exposed to more people then put every buzzword that you can think of. If you want to specialist in a specific field - Offices, Domestic or industrial - then make sure that you tailor a CV towards that.

 

Check the company on the web and find out what you can first before committing anything and if they ask for money, politely say no thanks and leave. You shouldn't have to pay to get a job, like the other person mentioned good agencies work on a commission so will get paid from the employer when you start, not from your pocket.

 

If your interested I have a document that covers 'writing the killer CV' that I'd happily mail to anyone who wants it. I was made redundant in March last year after nearly 17 years and as part of the package I had what they called 'outplacement support'. It was very valuable and involved spending lots of time with careers advisors giving interviewing techniques, CV writing, networking even starting your own business which I did in the end. It was all good stuff.

 

Loui

[Gully]

They'll also be cold calling round all the relevant companies in the area saying 'We've got some excellent new graduates lined up to be on our books in a few weeks, can we send you some CV's. They play both ends to the middle. Yes, they'll make the jobs sound as attractive as possible but on the same note they'll be selling you to the employer.

 

The company hiring will pay for the agency so you have absolutely nothing to lose by going and having a chat and giving them your CV (they'll even help you write a good one). If I was in your position I'd be touting myself round all the relevant agencies saying you're looking for your first job. If you don't know who the agencies are that specialise in your chosen field, you can usually find them advertising positions in the trade magazines/journals.

 

Good Luck - its a difficult time in your career and I wish I'd had my head straight when I was in your position. No-one really tells you how to get on that ladder.

[Jonsey]

We use an Employment Agency to source employees. We pay the agent a set "finders fee" for each successful candidate. It's quite a lot of money between 2 and 5k depending on the job. It's worth it when you add up the cost of the time it takes searching for the right person. The agency will do initial interviews and sort out references then the candidate comes to us for a series of interviews. Some of the CVs the present to us will be people that are on their lists and then other CVs will be people they have sourced from word of mouth or had them pass through their books before. We agreed with our agency that they get part of the “finders fee†immediately and then the remainder if the employee passes their probation period which here is 3 months. If you decide to register with an agency you can ask questions such as do you have an agreed “finders feeâ€, how many people have you placed in the last 12 months. How many Graduates do they successfully place? They’ll be finding you a job do it’s important you know about them.

 

Most agencies have an agreed "finders fee" with their clients so if they are placing you in a permanent position they do not take a percentage of your expected salary. If you are going into a company as a contractor then that's a slightly different story in that they take a percentage of the hourly/daily rate you expect throughout your contract duration, it's normally between 8 and 15% depending on your age/experience oh and how greedy the agent is.

 

Check the agency out their website will have a list of their clients. There's used to be a web site that listed employment agencies and their ratings, don't know if it still exists though, I'll ask around.

 

Don’t discount registering with an Employment Agency as they have many contacts with companies, register with 3 or 4 for your best chance of getting a job. Oh and once you’ve registered with them, keep your eye on the market and keep in contact with them. Ring them regularly and see what they are doing with your CV. It’ll annoy them but you should still do it.

[Paul in North Lincs.]

I should have been clearer. I am going to graduate from final year of university as a Building Surveyor and they say that they have a large client base that they can put me forward to within my local area so I'm not being head hunted. It would be essentially be my first real job.

 

 

I work for a large firm of chartered surveyors a have done for many years. I have tended to find that there are loads of specialist employemnt agencies that deal with proffesional, and building surveyor falls under that catagory.

 

I have also learnt over the years that employement agencies for proffesional work slightly different to the ones on the high st that find factory workers etc.

 

Factory employment agencies cream and higher hourly rate per worker, and pay X....this affords the company a degree of flexibility which they wouldnt get if they employed directly.

 

Proffesional Agenecies charge a one off fee for finding the correct canidate. On that basis they have to sure that the person suits properly as they will have come backs if not.

 

If it is the latter you are thinking of, then it could potentially open some interesting doors for you

[Baldrick]

I spent several years working as a headhunter in the City. I wasn't paid to fill vacancies, that was left up to my sharky colleagues. I was simply tasked to find the best candidates in a specific industry, and assess what it would take for them to move jobs. Oddly enough, money always talks.

 

Even if you are going for your first 'real' job, it's worth speaking to as many recruitment consultantacnies as you can. You as the candidate have nothing to lose - you don't pay anything. The bill is picked up by the future employer.

 

There is a huge amount of truth in the saying that most jbs aren't advertised. You have so much more chance of a) finding the jobs, and b ) getting a positive introduction to a potential employer, by using a recruitment firm, than you do by going it alone. Make the recruiter work for you - they will know who is recruiting, and what each company looks for. It saves you the hassle of writing endless speculative letters and spamming your CV around your chosen industry.

 

Honestly, exploit the recruitment firms. It will pay off.

[Mungler]

I was always told there is no such thing as a bad meeting - you will always take something away from it (even if it is how to avoid having a bad meeting in the future).

[SNAKEBITE]

I was always told there is no such thing as a bad meeting - you will always take something away from it (even if it is how to avoid having a bad meeting in the future).

 

Is that they call an Oxymoron?

[il cacciatore]

Thanks for all the responses, it is appreciated. Ill check it out and see what happens! :look:

[Dr W]

I'm actually in the middle of dealing with a recruitment agency.

 

I'm an accountant and quite happy in my position and often get approached (cold called).

 

I said I was happy but I'm always interested in knowing what's out there in the profession. Anyway I decided to go and have chat with a employer they had for a very similar job to mine but a larger firm and a step up (plus more cash).

 

I'm going along for another interview but I don't care if I don't get the job as I'm quite happy where I am. This means that there's no pressure on the interview and if I get offered the job then I'll make a decision, it's quite a nice position to be in.

 

It doesn't hurt to see what these guys have on offer, you can always say no.

[fiiish1987]

I've found agencies to be quite helpful. I got my position here at the hospital through an agency that i signed up to. I've also put my cv on monster and an agency approached me for a position with bae systems (which I've accepted). They do try and get you a good deal as it's in their interest. They generally ask for a % (depending on your skill) of the salery you'll be getting as a finders fee if its a one off payment.(good jobs)

 

 

Or they charge about an extra 50% in an ongoing short term contract (normally 1-2 weeks work manual work for tramps and idiots). So it's in their best interest to get you as high a salery as possible. Also if thing don't work out at a position they've found for you they're normally more than willing to find you something else.

 

On the other hand, they also have a quota for the number of phone calls , visits to companys and new people taken on for each. Some members of staff in agencies (generally in smaller populations) will promise you lots of work to get you onto their books (and get their bonuses) and then when you sign up they don't give you anything as they have no contracts free with local businesses.

 

Anyone around dorset stay away from fleet personel, they're a prime example of the above!

[Lancs Lad]

Im currently touting myself around a few of the specialist agencies.

 

Im a facility manager and am looking for a new company to work for.....................

 

 

So,,,,,,,,,anyone in need of a F.M then drop me a note...................

 

 

Keep on top of the agency...........I call twice a week, go on the web, troll the jobs and chase and chase...

 

It does help to have a good CV and personal profile/statement etc.

 

 

Fingers crossed.............Ill win a radio competition tomorrow and I can tell my boss to stick his job up his ****..................

[Noddy without Bigears]

Any agencies recruit excessive Real Ale drinkers, it must be permanent and all expenses paid, including Pork Scratchings as a legitimate expense and hours must be to suit.