Can anyone recoomend a recruitment agency that's actually any good?

brokeinwales

Hiya,
I'm currently going through the registering-with-all-the-temping agencies-on-the-off-chance-they-find-me-some-work thing for the fourth time in my life. I have to say in the past my experience has been that the majority of agencies are pointless and cack, but that there are one or two decent ones.
My first experience was as a student in the late nineties looking for summer work in factories/warehouses etc. I registered with about ten agencies in my hometown. One of them was consistently very good at getting me work over the three years of my degree, the others I registered with, then never heard a peep from them again (except for one, who phoned me four years later and asked if I "wanted to remain on their books" I told them it clearly didn't make a difference either way!)
My second was when I'd just moved for a new area and was looking for admin or secretarial work - I registered with every agency I could find. Again, I found one who were fairly efficient at getting me regular temp work and who put me forward for a few permanent positions as well. The others, I registered with, did their tests, filled in their forms and jumped through their hoops whilst they told me about all the jobs they had on their books that would be great for me - after that, again, not a peep (other than the odd bit of spam), and when I rang up to pester them the person I needed to speak to was either mysteriously never available, or they would repeat the spiel about these phantom jobs I was supposedly suitable for. I gave up on them all and just concentrated on the one that did get me work (which has now, unfortunately, gone out of business).
Last time was last year, I expected it to be tougher than average butdecided to give it a whirl. Again, most were rubbish (seriously, what do their staff do all the time? They're clearly not finding anyone any work yet they always seem mysteriously "unavailable" or out of the office.), but one eventually found me a temping position for a few months.

Now I'm back facing unemployment again. I feel like I ought to maximise my chances by using agencies as well as my own efforts, but rather than waste time with the usual clowns, I wonder if anyone could give me some personal recommendations of any agencies they've had positive experiences with?

Widelats

I was told direct recruit are good, but, i have never heard off them yet, they didn't even confirm i had been registered with them let alone tell me of the job i applied for. When agencies don't get back to you, then you know the "Get a job" stuff that people say to you is really a old saying that was used many years ago when jobs were available.

I nearing my limits here, i have no other options for work except training (which is not available at all) or just leaving this country behind and going abroad.

FakeIrish

It all depends on who running your local branches. One Reed is one town can differ hugely to the next Reed in another.

Just try them all in your area and forget about "reputation".

Stew68

I see from your name that you might be in Wales somewhere, do you mind me asking where as i'm based in South Wales and know of one that's quite good with a couple of branches.

Deep_In_Debt

When I temped a couple of years ago, Reed kept me really busy with work. I know a lot of people are not fans of them but they were fine for me.

DKLS

Its hard to recommend a company as in my experience it all comes down to the consultant, I have encountered the great and the useless, the great ones took the time to listen to my requirements and put a lot of effort into finding a role that would further my career the useless would often try and slot you into the first role that came along and if you didnt take it they would quietly drop you from their list.

dawyldthing

right4staffs alright, robert half (which i think are in many towns) i did some work for a week or 2 and they phone me every 3 months so they always seem to have work on their books. Thorn Baker is another good one in my opinion, office angels seems ok too and Taskmaster was brillant for me.

My best advice, and what I do every day (i've been temping with one agency for the last 3 months but you never know when it will end) is to go onto the jobcentre website everyday and click on whats available that day (look after 10 - 10.30am as that seems to be when they go live) within 5 miles, then i do it 15 miles and usually if they have work they put it on there.

cazziebo

DKLS wrote: »

Its hard to recommend a company as in my experience it all comes down to the consultant, I have encountered the great and the useless, the great ones took the time to listen to my requirements and put a lot of effort into finding a role that would further my career the useless would often try and slot you into the first role that came along and if you didnt take it they would quietly drop you from their list.

Exactly right. You really need a local recommendation. The agency is only as good as the consultants it has in that branch...

The OP says "seriously, what do their staff do all the time? They're clearly not finding anyone any work yet they always seem mysteriously "unavailable" or out of the office." It's not the job of a recruitment consultant to find a candidate work. Agencies are paid by clients. It's a sales job, selling employers their services. The good ones nurture their best candidates to place in the best jobs. That's how they earn the money.

Whether you like them or not, agencies are a key route to a job. Many companies only recruit through agencies. Ring up your local employers and find out who they use to recruit and then register with them. And ask people you know how they got the job they have.

best of luck

brokeinwales

Stew68 wrote: »

I see from your name that you might be in Wales somewhere, do you mind me asking where as i'm based in South Wales and know of one that's quite good with a couple of branches.

sorry for the delay - i'm in Cardiff

Stew68

brokeinwales wrote: »

sorry for the delay - i'm in Cardiff

Just sent you a pm, hope that's okay.