Your views of going through a specialist Recruitment Agency?

nantoniou

What are your views and experiences with certain agencies used?

I currently work in Recruitment, and would like to know peoples experiences of finding work through agencies...

Emmzi

agency isn't important, it's the individual consultant. They either listen and find you the right kind of work, or they don't. There are gems and shysters in every agency.

hcb42

personally I think it is crucial to know who the key consultants are in one's industry and maintain relations with them. I dont however bother with the high street options, as these tend to be more junior roles.

Had one agent who placed me twice, both for consulting in 2006 and again last year into current role, also worked with another who placed me in the interim job.

LadyMissA

nantoniou wrote: »

What are your views and experiences with certain agencies used?

I currently work in Recruitment, and would like to know peoples experiences of finding work through agencies...

In all my years of working I have only found employment via an agency once and that job I lost after 5 years when they made people redundant. I am registered with many now looking for a new job but as they do not work for the candidate they only care about the commission.

nantoniou

hcb42 wrote: »

personally I think it is crucial to know who the key consultants are in one's industry and maintain relations with them. I dont however bother with the high street options, as these tend to be more junior roles.

Had one agent who placed me twice, both for consulting in 2006 and again last year into current role, also worked with another who placed me in the interim job.

So in your experience, going with the more reputable companies, rather than the franchise/high street agencies such as BlueArrow is a more rewarding experience for you.

Thanks

nantoniou

LadyMissA wrote: »

In all my years of working I have only found employment via an agency once and that job I lost after 5 years when they made people redundant. I am registered with many now looking for a new job but as they do not work for the candidate they only care about the commission.

I have to disagree. There are consultants out their who are working in recruitment for the benefit of helping professionals into new employment.

In my eyes, the commission is only rewarding when you place someone because it's your duty, not because of the money. Feels more rewarding...

LadyMissA

nantoniou wrote: »

I have to disagree. There are consultants out their who are working in recruitment for the benefit of helping professionals into new employment.

In my eyes, the commission is only rewarding when you place someone because it's your duty, not because of the money. Feels more rewarding...

Only working ones in my experience as two agencies have told me they can't help me anymore as I haven't been working. They only care to fill the role with anyone not help people back into work.

agrinnall

I rather think it depends on whether the jobs you are going for are specialised. If you are looking for admin work then the high street agencies are likely to be the ones with the work, and maybe because of economies of scale their costs are less and therefore their charges. When I was an IT contractor there would have been no point at all in registering with a non-specialist agency because they just wouldn't have had the jobs, and the specialist agencies would probably be able to put in a bit more effort for you as the reward for them would be greater. However, I'm inclined to agree with hcb42 that you learn after a while who the good consultants are and you try to keep in touch with them as they may be able to get you the best jobs.

nantoniou

LadyMissA wrote: »

Only working ones in my experience as two agencies have told me they can't help me anymore as I haven't been working. They only care to fill the role with anyone not help people back into work.

There are agencies that will be able to help you though. For a consultant to try and place someone who has been out of work for a set period of time is harder to sell you to their clients, than someone who has been out of work for 2-3 months.

WhiteHorse

Specialist agencies (engineering, law and the like), can be quite good. General agencies are usually a dead loss as they are often staffed by brainless jobsworths who know nothing about anything. They also have a nasty habit of advertising jobs that don't exist in order to get names on their books.

nantoniou

agrinnall wrote: »

I rather think it depends on whether the jobs you are going for are specialised. If you are looking for admin work then the high street agencies are likely to be the ones with the work, and maybe because of economies of scale their costs are less and therefore their charges. When I was an IT contractor there would have been no point at all in registering with a non-specialist agency because they just wouldn't have had the jobs, and the specialist agencies would probably be able to put in a bit more effort for you as the reward for them would be greater. However, I'm inclined to agree with hcb42 that you learn after a while who the good consultants are and you try to keep in touch with them as they may be able to get you the best jobs.

The obvious signs are when/if they have reached 'senior' level and a high level of professionalism is implemented at all times. With me, if I know someone is good for the job I'm recruiting for, I make sure I let all my top clients know of the candidate and try arrange interview the following day.