Agency dilemma! can you help?

donkeyderby_2

Hi Everyone,

I've got a bit of a problem and i'm wondering if anyone could help me?

After one year of Unemployment i moved to a different area recently to improve my job hunting chances. As you can imagine, after 12 months out of work and being on a A4E course, you can probably understand my desperation in getting a half decent job!

Step forward agency one. Agency one has been awarded a contract to provide warehouse staff for a blue chip firm, i go for it, being a former warehouse order picker, and get it, well, more or less...

I went for a induction, but have been given no further start date after a week or so, i've been in touch with agency one and they explain it's because "blue chip company" dosen't need me yet. Fair enough, i fully understand as i'm only a agency worker now and we only get called in as and when things really pick up for the company.

However, last week another agency, working with another blue chip company has been awarded a big contract to provide temp staff and are now advertsing for warehouse staff, no pay has been mentioned but minimum wage does not bother me too much, it would just be nice to work after nearly a year!

I'm tempted to register with this other agency, despite already being registered with the first agency, especially as i've not heard anything concrete from them as yet.

I'm worried about "burning bridges" though and pi55ing people off, especially at the first agency. I don't want to do myself out of work but i think "am i missing a trick?" (for want of a better word!) by not registering with this other agency.

They both offer good jobs, but i'm unsure as to what to do, as it's such a big decision after being unemployed for a year. Has anyone here any expereince or advice in this sort of situation?, if they did i would be really grateful if anyone could share it with me! thanks! :beer:

liney

Whilst i see you don't want to upset Agency1, they haven't actually given you a job yet. You should register with any local agencies to maximise your chance of getting temporary work; all agencies will understand as it is the done thing.

You won't be letting anyone down; it's only when people fail to turn up, or leave without prior warning that there are problems.

If they call you when you are already working you simply explain that you are already temping, but would like to be kept on file incase the assignment ends. Of course you might choose to accept the work with agency1 and leave the current temporary work whereby you simply need to let agency2 know in advance that you will not be returning. However if the positions and pay are similar then i wouldn't "Move for Tuppence" as your reliability might be questioned at a later date if you need to go back to agency2.

Credit_Challenge

If you need to work after a year then don't worry about the agents! You do what you need to get yourself the job, true they do question reliability but they can't expect people to hang around without work for jobs that pay as little as minimum wage!

donkeyderby_2

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies, i will be at Agency two's doors early tomorrow morning!