Your views of going through a specialist Recruitment Agency?

LadyMissA

oh right yes I see they put 'You can report them agencies'

Tippytoes

LadyMissA wrote: »

oh right yes I see they put 'You can report them agencies'

.....I can understand jobseekers' frustration when dealing with employment agencies....:)

Wellery82

hcb42 wrote: »

I am not sure where all this "agents dont put forward the unemployed" stuff comes from, hubby lost his job late last year, had interview last week, and has antoher two this week and has three good agents he is liaising with

I think generally speaking at higher end positions then recruitment agencies/consultants have no qualms putting someone forward when out of work. In fact as long as there are good reasons for the fact they are out of work, they have the right skills and a good track record, their ability to start immediately makes them more appealing as a candidate.

At more generalist type positions however where there is greater competition and turnover sometimes i can imagine that agencies may equate being out of work with not being right for the post, especially in high street type agencies

Personally i have worked in specialist recruitment (engineering) and also used them myself when looking for roles. My experience on both sides of the fence has been very positive. I would say however it is all about the consultant, not the company. Make sure you can build a relationship, have mutual trust, and work with the consultant

steve_luton

Frankly I have no choice but to use agencies as in my field (Accountancy) no employers advertise directly.

But I have found the vast majority to be glorified job boards. The only times I have managed to get to interviews is after I'VE seen the job and requested to be put forward for the role.

They all promise "I'll be in touch when something comes in", but if I had waited for them I wouldn't have done a day's work in over 20 years!

It doesn't help that the recruitment industry itself is so bad - I spoke to one consultant that I got on well with over a 9 month period and he had changed agencies twice in a 9 month period!

LadyMissA

steve_luton wrote: »

Frankly I have no choice but to use agencies as in my field (Accountancy) no employers advertise directly.

But I have found the vast majority to be glorified job boards. The only times I have managed to get to interviews is after I'VE seen the job and requested to be put forward for the role.

They all promise "I'll be in touch when something comes in", but if I had waited for them I wouldn't have done a day's work in over 20 years!

It doesn't help that the recruitment industry itself is so bad - I spoke to one consultant that I got on well with over a 9 month period and he had changed agencies twice in a 9 month period!

Employers do advertise accounts job but I agree about agencies - you can wait a very long time for them to 'be in touch'

Evilm

Generally its been fine although I have registered with a lot of agencies and a small proportion I barely hear from again. However I have only come across 2 really bad consultants and I have got most of my work through agencies including my current role.

My one annoyance is that they seem to be unable to remember or not the words "uses public transport, doesn't drive" on the records and not call me for jobs that are totally out in the sticks and impossible to get to on public transport!

bevanuk

If they are telling you they can't represent you because you have been out of work for so long - it's better than stringing you along and asking you to keep calling them etc.
LadyMissA I know you're not complaining about it and see it as it is.
I have worked for agencies in a recruitment capacity and now take on a differing role in the industry.
I say this on here a lot, it's worth being registered, doesn't cost you anything and you might not get anything - but you may well do - they are placing people or wouldn't exist.

LadyMissA

bevanuk wrote: »

If they are telling you they can't represent you because you have been out of work for so long - it's better than stringing you along and asking you to keep calling them etc.
LadyMissA I know you're not complaining about it and see it as it is.
I have worked for agencies in a recruitment capacity and now take on a differing role in the industry.
I say this on here a lot, it's worth being registered, doesn't cost you anything and you might not get anything - but you may well do - they are placing people or wouldn't exist.

yes they are placing people who are in work and as said on here we do not pay them so they do what the employer wants and not for the good of the candidates. I was told by Page that they couldn't help me after having me on their books for a year and doing nothing and others after a few months.

I am trying to apply for more direct roles and not use agencies as I never hear back so I am wasting my time there.