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Original poster

So what do you think of recruitment agencies?

26 replies

myohmywhatawonderfulday · 06/12/2018 17:16

I applied for a job online and have been ‘surprised’ at the number of agencies that have seen my CV and want to speak to me for a chat. I now feel that was probably naive on my part.

Do they get jobs in that we won’t see as regular job hunters?

Is it a case of going to the right agency and how would I know that?

I am only at the start of my job hunt and I have three and a half months to go before I leave my job. I resigned. I am a teacher but I am determined not to do that any more!

So will an agency help me or will they be all pushy?

What is people’s experiences?

OP posts:
NonaGrey · 06/12/2018 17:19

Agencies don’t work for you, they work for the employers.

That’s not to say they can’t be useful but you need to bear in mind that you are a effectively a product to them.

They’ll work better for you if you can build a relationship with them just remember where their priorities lie.

Make sure you adjust your CV for each specific job though.

NonaGrey · 06/12/2018 17:20

And yes they will know about vacancies not yet advertised.

TheMagician · 06/12/2018 17:23

They only finally offer u interviews after you managed thru yr own exhaustive efforts to get a job on yr own.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Employment advice
crapcrap · 06/12/2018 17:38

I went through an agency once years ago (didn't realise it was an agency at first) but they got me two interviews- and I got one of the jobs. Positive experience.
I recently signed up for an agency but felt that they only signed me to get meet their targets. Not so positive. They didn't particularly help me at all.
You could try signing up and see what they get you? You could always remove yourself from their books if you find something or they aren't very helpful.
Good luck x

PanGalaticGargleBlaster · 06/12/2018 17:41

Recruitment agencies are populated with parasites generally and like estate agents when you find a good one are worth their weight in gold.

Shadow1986 · 06/12/2018 17:42

You have nothing to loose. I had a good experience with a recruitment agency. In my case they knew what I was looking for and was able to get put me into something before it was even advertised.

Original poster
myohmywhatawonderfulday · 06/12/2018 17:49

Thanks everyone for replying. I guess I already knew it’s sort of a case of right place right time. If there happens to be a job that matches you.

If I haven’t secured my own job in a few months I will sign up just to maximise my chances.

OP posts:
MrsGollach · 06/12/2018 17:52

Recruitment agencies are generally full of cocky 20 year olds who say "fantastic" in every sentence and think they are important. It's generally a horrible experience. Don't even think about places like "office angels".

If you are anywhere in London there are good professional ones but you need to go in to the centre. You won't know their names as they are not run of the mill agencies.

confusedandemployed · 06/12/2018 17:53

They are either excellent or abysmal IME. Most never bother to acknowledge any contact, a select few work really hard for you - obviously it's in their interest too, but it always surprises me that there can be such a difference in service.

thetwinkletoescollective · 06/12/2018 18:32

I am not in London. I was 'head hunted' by Harris Hill once so I thought that might be a good one.
They clearly had good taste!!!

toastfiend · 06/12/2018 18:35

I've found when I've uploaded my CV to Indeed or CV Library etc. and they've taken the time to contact me off the back of that then they've been really helpful. I got my current job because a recruitment agency saw my CV and got in touch with me. I've found when I've approached them they've been very unhelpful, poor at communicating and haven't really put me forward for anything. Based on my personal experience I'd be inclined to upload your CV to a few places and let them contact you, they seem much more inclined to be helpful then.

yorkshirepud44 · 06/12/2018 18:45

If you want to work for a particular company always contact them directly. Otherwise it's a lottery guessing If they use an agency and if so, which..

I had some awful experiences with agencies but now I'm the person who chooses them for our organisation, so have the great pleasure of ignoring their calls in the way they did mine Grin

thetwinkletoescollective · 06/12/2018 18:46

Thanks toastfiend - that's great advice x

thetwinkletoescollective · 06/12/2018 18:55

I am so up in the air really about what I want to do. I have some half plans.

My ideal would be to work part time and go back to uni in September. My husband might not agree though because for all of our marriage I have been the main earner. This would mean me not earning much and also a large financial outlay.

I do feel strange though - leaving my job without another one to go to. I have been on the rise in my career the last 16 years and so this is so strange. But I have found the working culture in teaching get me down down down so I need to get out out out!

Whyiseveryonesoangry · 06/12/2018 18:58

I registered with a few agencies last year as I wanted to go part time.
I told them I wanted 25 hours a week, no more than 30 minute drive from home and gave them a fairly wide salary range.
I was offered interviews for full time jobs, in places that would have taken me well over an hour to drive to, jobs that I definitely wasn’t qualified to do, and jobs under the minimum I was willing to accept.
I didn’t actually accept a single interview an agency offered me.
I got a phone call last week, the first one from this particular agency, 18 months after I’d registered with them.
I fo7nd and was offered a job myself which wasn’t advertised through an agency. (Then ended up staying in my previous job who offered me the part time I wanted so I wouldn’t leave)

HauntedPencil · 06/12/2018 19:05

Linked In is where jobs seem to be at the moment. Ive used an agency more often than not tbh, and not by waiting for a vacancy just speculatively sending it around.

MrsPear · 06/12/2018 19:11

Last one told me - he thought it was kind to be honest apparently - that I’m wasting my time looking to go back to work. My past career means nothing and I should try for a junior role although I’m a bit old for that too. I’m still a housewife.

thetwinkletoescollective · 06/12/2018 19:30

Mrs Pear what a lot of rot.

He is not God. He doesn't know the future. He was probably about 12 with the myopia of youth.

My Aunty started a brand new beauty business at age 60 (which she built then sold). My mother in law runs a very successful and amazing cic which she started at 58 and she is now 64.

Maybe the difference is they both started their own things but they are definitely not past it!!

Boxerbinky · 06/12/2018 19:42

I worked in recruitment for a couple of years.

They may know about jobs not yet advertised, as part of the job is finding jobs to put employees into.

However - they will also make some jobs up to get a bank of employees so they have candidates to put forward when a role does come up.

lboogy · 06/12/2018 20:01

Hate them. I always go direct

thetwinkletoescollective · 06/12/2018 20:10

oh by the way - I started this on my ipad and am now on the laptop which is why my name magically changed.

Asdf12345 · 06/12/2018 20:17

If you work in a field where there is a shortage of suitable people they are excellent, and can help you get a much better deal and find exactly what you want. My better half has had excellent experiences with agencies every time they have looked to move, and gets three to four calls a month discussing when they will be ready to move again.

My sister on the other hand works in a field where there is no shortage of people and as soon as it is clear she is not a top 1% super competitive candidate they run.

BeachtheButler · 06/12/2018 20:19

As someone who used to do recruiting, I found them useless. They'd send anyone along for interview, regardless of whether they were qualified for the position or not (altho' assuring us that they were). Iam not a fan.

LookImAHooman · 06/12/2018 20:25

I’ve used them when recruiting and when applying and in both cases it absolutely depends on the agency. My most recent experience - with an knowledgeable, well-connected and genuine recruiter - was what everyone wants when job hunting I could marry her, she’s brilliant

thetwinkletoescollective · 06/12/2018 20:51

Well she sounds like a star!