Job agencies?

[Leazes1986]

What are your opinions of them? I've been through a few before and more often than not i've wasted my time. The problem is it seems more and more jobs seem to be coming from agencies these days. I applied for a job a week ago through one i've never used before (Per Temps) and they've given me an appointment to go in tomorrow so i can fill in some stuff and register properly, then they are gonna put me foward for the job. Has anyone got any experiences with Per Temps? Reason i'm asking is i'm absolutely sick of wasting my time and spending money on wasted trips. I have a generally bad opinion on agencies now because of being messed around before and i don't plan on wasting more time/money. I'm considering giving it a go tomorrow though as i really need a job and I might just get somewhere. It might just be that i've used shite agencies in the past. Anyway, opinions?

[AyeDubbleYoo]

They're absolutely essential if you want to find a decent job (especially in a big company), but they do mess you about and some of them are just downright shit at their jobs. Not surprising when you consider most of them didn't have what it takes to make it as Estate Agents.

 

Make sure when you meet them you treat it like an interview and sell yourself as much as possible. I've made the mistake in the past of being too casual with the agency, but at the end of the day it is them who decided which CVs the client gets to see.

[Syrette]

Useless for me. They quite simply have never had anything for me, and I'm hardly lacking in experience or after anything overly specific.

[Guest firetotheworks]

Ive worked for two and they've both been shit. They take a cut of your wage just to treat you like shit is the worst thing about it, theyre only interested in turn over and getting new recruits from my experience.

 

Some might be OK but Manpower and Search were shit.

[pedro111]

From my experience its just total fluke whether you get anything or not.

 

You are just a number to them and more often than not they will just put anyone forward for jobs, the first one they come to on the list whether you are the best qualified or not.

 

 

[Dinho lad]

I hate agencies with passion. There is no need for them...arseholes. Never ever been any use to me.

[Disco]

Agencies have helped me in the past but i'm not a fan. Such a pointless middle man in the process for lazy companies.

[LoveItIfWeBeatU]

I don't like them but a lot of companies don't do their own recruitment so you have to go through the agencies. The worst thing they do is ring you up and say things like "would you be willing to work in Zurich?" when your profile says you want to work in Tyne & Wear and are not willing to travel outside that area. Another thing they do is ring you up to find out where you have been getting interviews and the name of the person who interviewed you. They do this so they can try to rob the contract off other agencies. They don't get paid unless they fill the role so it's in their interest to get someone who fits the bill the job. They rarely get back to you unless you get the job you've gone for.

[Fatwax]

I've had generally good experiences with them.

 

The cut out of your wages is a bit annoying though.

[ElDiablo]

Reed are really good, I've been struck off for not turning up but they gave me about 5 chances which is really good of them, specially as to how much I fucked them about, pay is great too, £10 an hour one week last summer which for an agency is amazing.

[Colos Short and Curlies]

Sounds obvious but the more you give them the more you will get from them.

 

Especially now agencies will be getting 100s of applicants so you will have to stand out from the crowd.

 

Think about a career plan, how do you fit presently to where you want to go? How far are you prepared to travel? Map out your skill set rather than just past employment history.

 

Basically if you can sell to them a prime candidate who is likely to impress employers then they will push you for whatever they have, but make sure you are clear on what you would and wouldn't consider so that you aren't going to pointless interviews.