Jobs with Employment Agencies

rover2000

Has anyone actually got a job through an agency?
I enrolled with another one yesterday. They said they might have a position for me, but the interviews were in the afternoon.

I explained that I will be working then. I can't take time off as I can't afford not to be paid. Also, I will get a disciplinary if I take lots of time off.
Other companies have been quite happy to see me in the morning before my shift.
The woman from the agency said "You will be earning a lot more with this job. Surely its worth taking time off for that?"

There are no guarantees that I'd get the job. Plus I would have lost a day's pay which I can't afford to do.

Other agencies have enrolled me saying they get lots of jobs in, then I hear nothing.
Are they just a waste of time?

mattcanary

rover2000 wrote: »

Has anyone actually got a job through an agency?
I enrolled with another one yesterday. They said they might have a position for me, but the interviews were in the afternoon.

I explained that I will be working then. I can't take time off as I can't afford not to be paid. Also, I will get a disciplinary if I take lots of time off.
Other companies have been quite happy to see me in the morning before my shift.
The woman from the agency said "You will be earning a lot more with this job. Surely its worth taking time off for that?"

There are no guarantees that I'd get the job. Plus I would have lost a day's pay which I can't afford to do.

Other agencies have enrolled me saying they get lots of jobs in, then I hear nothing.
Are they just a waste of time?

Don't give them your mobile number - just your home phone number (making sure you have a voicemail facility on it).


Agencies then have to give you notice about interviews.


Recruiter was probably panicking because he/she couldn't find enough candidates to attend an interview for this job / were slack and left things until the last minute.

InsideInsurance

I've had many jobs through agencies both at the NMW end in call centres through to the other end of the spectrum that I currently do.

They are only there to serve themselves, they have hundreds of people on their books and look for the easy wins. As long as you understand them and how to deal with them you can work with them and get jobs via them

Personally I would always give them my mobile number and not my home number as sometimes jobs do come up where speed is of the essence and you dont want to miss out on an opportunity because you didnt get the message.

A friend was called in the morning about a job, interview was set for that afternoon, officially he started the next day but they took him to IT to get his laptop and blackberry etc set up straight after the interview.

mattcanary

InsideInsurance wrote: »

I've had many jobs through agencies both at the NMW end in call centres through to the other end of the spectrum that I currently do.

They are only there to serve themselves, they have hundreds of people on their books and look for the easy wins. As long as you understand them and how to deal with them you can work with them and get jobs via them

Personally I would always give them my mobile number and not my home number as sometimes jobs do come up where speed is of the essence and you dont want to miss out on an opportunity because you didnt get the message.

A friend was called in the morning about a job, interview was set for that afternoon, officially he started the next day but they took him to IT to get his laptop and blackberry etc set up straight after the interview.

It is rather ironic though that agencies in general try and find people that propose to be good team-players, are dedicated towards employers, etc. Only for this recruitment consultant to then say to someone that they should go to an interview because it is a better job on better pay, thus screwing over their current employer at short notice!

InsideInsurance

mattcanary wrote: »

It is rather ironic though that agencies in general try and find people that propose to be good team-players, are dedicated towards employers, etc. Only for this recruitment consultant to then say to someone that they should go to an interview because it is a better job on better pay, thus screwing over their current employer at short notice!

Technically agencies are looking for people that can convince the interviewer that they are good team players. dedicate etc and keep up the appearances for the length of the contract/ 6 months.

They arent really too bothered what the person is really like.

mattcanary

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Technically agencies are looking for people that can convince the interviewer that they are good team players. dedicate etc and keep up the appearances for the length of the contract/ 6 months.

They arent really too bothered what the person is really like.

True.


But I try to be a man of my word.


A pity more people aren't like this.

BillJones

rover2000 wrote: »

Has anyone actually got a job through an agency?

Never, I've always got them through speculative queries or personal contacts, more of the latter than the former.

mattcanary

BillJones wrote: »

Never, I've always got them through speculative queries or personal contacts, more of the latter than the former.

Yes, it is often better to avoid a middle-man that doesn't really know you, if you can.


I would have thought a personal recommendation or a direct approach from someone is going to appear better to an employer, than an approach from an agency.

Caroline_a

I think it depends on what field you work in. I got my current job as well as my last 4 jobs through agencies. You have to play the game though - you aren't the customer, you are the 'product'! Flexibility is the key, totally agree with giving out mobile number in order to move swiftly, also keep in regular (daily or every 2 days) contact to keep your name on their radar.

mattcanary

Caroline_a wrote: »

I think it depends on what field you work in. I got my current job as well as my last 4 jobs through agencies. You have to play the game though - you aren't the customer, you are the 'product'! Flexibility is the key, totally agree with giving out mobile number in order to move swiftly, also keep in regular (daily or every 2 days) contact to keep your name on their radar.

Out of interest though, did you find that agencies would shield your calls or visits if you got in touch with them that regularly?


If not, what do you think you did (or perhaps had to offer) that meant they didn't do this?

mattcanary

I would also add that in the past employment agencies gave me tests to do to get an idea of what I was capable of.


I have applied for many jobs over the last six months with many different agencies. Only one agency has given me any tests to do.


How can employers treat agencies seriously, when agencies really have very little idea of what candidates can do?


(Of course I am talking about jobs that require no industry experience, or experience of the tasks required in the job-otherwise candidate's suitability can be determined by what they have done in the past).