Has Anybody Successfully Changed Careers Using an Agency?

westv

Just wondering.
I'm currently trying to find work after many years in insurance. As my experience was very specialised, insurance companies close to the area I now live are just not interested - even for more junior roles.
I've tried a number of agencies with a view to trying another industry by making use of the "transferable" skills I have but every time I contact an agency I get the feeling that all they see is "insurance" and refuse to look any further.
It seems that a large proportion of jobs are via agencies.
Has anybody here achieved a change of career via an agency?

agrinnall

I'm sure some people have, but it's not going to be easy, especially at the moment: with so many people out of work employers have a huge pool of talent to pick from and they can be very specific about what they require. Agencies in particular will work very much to the client specification, so if you don't tick all the boxes you don't get a look in. You may have more luck applying to employers who are advertising themselves, at least then you know your application will get to them (although a HR flunky may then not pass it on to the area that actually has the vacancy).

InsideInsurance

I have received job offers from outside my industry via agencies; I, in case you cant guess, am in insurance and have been for all my professional career. I was offered a role for a credit rating agency as they wanted my experience of dealing with regulatory change and I've had a host of offers from new media agencies given my experiences of web based solutions.

It is very hard going if you want to do it as agencies are generally about getting the easy win rather than being concerned about your career or aspirations. You need to make your CV as vanilla as possible (I talk about back office re-engineering rather claims department re-engineering) and need to more closely target the roles to something that is very close to what you've done rather than very generic transferable skills.

Of cause part of the problem is that Insurance is seen as the Financial Services poor relative and so its harder to go from Ins to Banking than it is the other way round

westv

The problem is that I was a Reinsurance Technician and the company I worked for was a Reinsurance Broker - both terms tend to produce glazed looks from the very beginning.

I have tried to include a brief explanation of Reinsurance in my CV seeing as my previous job title included "reinsurance" in it but maybe I would be better off removing any mention of "insurance" or "reinsurance" if at all possible. Although that wouldn't deal with the instant brick wall that might crop up when I answer the question "So what industry were you in in your last role?".

pineapple

I was once with an agency which sent me for an interview as a sheltered housing warden. No experience with older people whatsover. Got that job which was supposed to be for 3 months and was there for 3 years. :beer:
You just have to emphasise your 'crossover skills' and any relevant attributes.
Don't try to hide lack of knowledge but come across as being keen to learn. For some jobs it is more important to have the right person - knowledge can be acquired.

magenta22

Nope!

I have said that I am willing to try new things and have skills which I can transfer but all I get it you don't have experience in xyz when I apply for something which is that little bit different to what I do. I am in Admin (PA and Secretarial) so basically I can transfer pretty much every skill I have. I've also done plenty of temping so I am used to different ways of working.

How can you gain the experience without actually doing it?

westv

pineapple wrote: »

I was once with an agency which sent me for an interview as a sheltered housing warden. No experience with older people whatsover.

But was your previous experience related to the care industry?