to feel despondent because of what a recruitment agent just said to me

[meredeux]

she (very nicely) told me that I have very little chance of getting my career back now that I've had a few years as a SAHM. There was lots of "its a long shot" and "we'll keep you in mind in case anything comes up".

I said i'd be flexible over salary (i.e. no minimum) and would be willing to take a job several steps further down the ladder, but it didn't change anything.

What a waste of an education and all those years working long hours and studying at nights to build up my career.

Don't despair! Do some voluntary work, do some crappy office temping, do anything! It's a tough time but it can be done. My sister took the lowest paid care worker job, worked her backside off and is now a very senior care manager.

I would say find another agency, recruitment agents can be total divvies themselves, find the right agency/agent who understands you.

I am not saying it is easy but do not let one person tell you it is impossible. best of luck!

One persons opinion. Find another ten opinions before you even think of beginning to worry. You're now what you were before but with new skills. Don't let this be a setback! Good luck!

What sort of role are you looking to get back into?

I do very high end financial services recruitment and sadly, my clients are unlikely to look at people who have spent a few years out of the market for whatever reason. Its not because we are 'divies', its because we are often lead by what the client wants and recent market experience/contacts is usually one of the priorities.

Having said that you should definitely try and do whatever you can to improve your c.v., work experience, voluntary, use old contacts etc.
Good luck.

also beware of recruitment agents. They are only thinking about what they can charge for you and so want "proven" workers who are easy to sell to employers. I am sure you will find yourself a decent job and work your way back to where you want to be but you might have to do it by yourself. FWIW we rarely use recruitment people because they are too interested in the churn and not interested enough in our business.

Sensible employers would be very happy to hear about women returning to work, flexible about pay etc etc.

Ignore her & join other agencies as well as actively sending your CV directly to companies you're interested in.

Years ago when I began working a recruitment consultant was very disdainful about my chances of getting a job thro him. I had great satisfaction when after a three month radio silence he rang me up to send me to an interview when I could honestly reply I had utterly forgotten he had me on his books, but I was now gainfully employed for three times the salary his job was offering. Therefore thanks but no thanks.

Don't let her get you down, do refresher courses, register with other agencies & look online at companies web pages in case they are advertising vacancies.

You will get something.

Forget recruitment agents, I've had nothing but bad experience with them.

Get your CV up-to-date and get some people who are good at writing to check it over. Write an enthusiastic cover letter explaining why you choose to be a SAHM and what skills etc. you have learnt in that time and why you are so excited to be getting back into the workplace.

Then get a list of all your target companies, phone the HR departments, get the right contacts and mail your letter and CV to them, then follow up a week or so later. KEEP DOING THIS until you get a job and you will if you were any good at what you did.

Keep positive and put yourself in the driving seat. Good luck!

Well bollocks to her then. Not taking no for an answer is how you're going to do this...

longtall said it better

Oh Pullupapew - no, don't listen to them!

I think recruitment consultants are the work of the devil! Very rarely, in specialist sectors, don't understand the work/skills and it always feels like you're passed on or not at their whim.

In my sector, it's obvious straight away if the consultant has a clue, because they start mixing disciplines up willy-nilly. Would this be a similar issue in your sector?

Don't take it to heart. Is your work anything you could do for free for friends/volunteering with a view to demonstrating you are still current, employable etc?

also beware of recruitment agents. They are only thinking about what they can charge for you and so want "proven" workers who are easy to sell to employers. I am sure you will find yourself a decent job and work your way back to where you want to be but you might have to do it by yourself. FWIW we rarely use recruitment people because they are too interested in the churn and not interested enough in our business.

Margo, in most cases, and certainly in my area it's not about what we can charge for placements, more that we know certain clients won't pay our fees for someone who has been out of the market for a while. Not true of all disciplines, but a lot of firms will take you on directly, just not pay an agency fee. If this is the case then the recruiter should have told you this.

I very often help people with CV's/who to apply to directly in your position OP, even when I know I can't send in their CV as the client would totally disregard them even though they would look at them directly. Because after a few years you would be my shit hot candidate/client of the future, and word of mouth/referrals are priceless in my field.

Not all Rec Consultants are sharks!

Thank you lizzylou my thoughts exactly. Again, it also really depends on which area you are trying to get into.
Using your own contacts and network is also a very good idea, as a known quantity you will be a much easier hire.

I'd change agencies, or enrol with several. Best will in the world, recruitment consultants are sharks - they want to place you, they want the commission. I do know this. DH is one!

No Trois, you know one agent who is a shark I don't think we've met?

I like to play the long game. And yes, we get paid to place candidates. Because clients pay us to do so. We provide a service that they see fit to pay for. If we provide a good service to both clients and candidate then we'll get repeat business, which is obviously the smart choice.

Although yes, there are certain fields where consultants very much need to be very ruthless. But they would be honest with candidates if they were sensible, not good practice to string people along.

Don't rely solely on recruitment agents to find a job. Think about the companies you would like to work for and send them your cv. They can save a lot of money that way so will consider your application. I found my job in this way after I was getting nowhere with agents who kept sending to interviews for jobs that weren't right for me and not listening to what I was saying.
Good luck

some shit opinions of agents on here, one of the reasons I want to leave but am scared that I wont be able to work as anything else because everyone hates 'us'. I actually wanted to help people find work (and still get a buzz when I place someone who has been seeking work for ages) so its a bit sad to read that we apparently only think about how much a candidate is worth.

For what it is worth, most of my clients were former candidates of mine, we have changed people's firms by placing the right people in the right role, often very lateral candidates they would not have thought of.

It's a bit annoying when you come onto a thread and try and help someone and keep on hearing nonsense about being a shark.

OP - keep in contact with the recruiter without calling constantly and expect it to take 6-12 months to find the right role for you.

Ah, don´t get discouraged by one person´s opinion.

I once did a training to get SAHM (mostly single mums) back into work and the job coach said "mothers make the best managers cos they are good at multi-tasking/juggling priorities".

I´d been out a while but was employed again.

Good luck!

I stand by my assertion that some agents are divvies. Some are not. That is why I suggested the OP try other agents.

I have had fabulous experiences with agencies, I have had terrible experiences with agencies. I took the same CV round a load of agencies about 18 mths ago and got a very wide range of opinions - from 'nah, no chance' to one agency ringing me for a number of vacancies because their stuff matched my experience really well.

What I am saying is - do not let one agent put you off.

Recruitment consultants have a tendency to down play things so they can hope to offer you at a lower salary. I wouldn't worry about it, I got it too.

People care far less when you are actually in an interview.

I had two set backs from "recruitment agencies" early on in my career who picked through my CVs and diagnosed: No way Jose. I got exactly the sort of job they said wouldn't be possible for me.

Having said that I now several great headhunters (maybe I like them more because they are now calling me, and hence looverly [wink.]) What LizzyLou said rings quite true and they do encounter candidates who don't bother to read job descriptions when they apply to ads or follow their briefing advice before interviews. I wouldn't let them be my excuse for not pursuing a particular career if they were negative towards me but if one of them takes the time to offer insight into a potential employer, I wouldn't dismiss their advice out of hand.

People don't really like 'informational interviews' in this country but I have actually found headhunters more open to these discussions than potential employers. So, maybe what you could do is approach headhunters/recruiters in this manner: have a clear idea of what sort of job you want, even WITH WHOM (range of companies based on your research), seem like you've got a direction and are going places etc. You may just find that they are willing to engage in discussions like these which could be useful and in the end productive- at least more useful than 'here's my CV, you do all the work now.'

If you've been out of work for a while they might not erally know what to suggest - you may need to get them on side a bit, show them you're really motivated. They will be more inclined to help you.

Early on, I had a headhunter who approached a company on my behalf. It didn't work out and there are risks to this strategy but if the headhunter knows the company it can also be an inroad - then they are motivated to help you becasue they poss get a fee if you get the job.

You need to do your own research for this to work but it is one strategy I have seen people use. It may well make MORE sense to approach the company directly - it all depends on your industry and the access you think the recruiter may have.

In my case I transitioned out of an arts background into finance - lots of questions like: Can you really do this? Yours may be more: Do you really want to do this now. But it's simlar.

I am job hunting at the moment and have been since January. I have had three interviews with another two set for this week. The three interviews I had before now resulted in job offers that I turned down. I also managed to get a teaching job last year (although turned it down) so I know that, even in this horrific, practically - no - jobs climate I am still pretty employable.

I am saying all the above because any time I have ever put my CV in to a vacancy advertised by a recruitment agency, I have been turned down.

I wouldnt be too disheartened by what a recruitment agency said to me anymore, but this is my personal experience. I don't know what field you are looking to return to, but my advice to you is go straight to the employer, if that is possible.

I hope you find something soon.

Try to get your CV on line. You will be amazed at the number of job offers that come your way. Other people get the same job-offer e-mails, of course, but at least it gives you more of a chance.

There are some great rec consultants and there are some bad ones. It's the same as any other profession. The point is you woulnd't not sell your house if one estate agent gave you a low valuation; you'd shop around and get a clearer idea of what your options were. Do the same for yourself with other rec consultants and also apply for some roles directly.

Work on your CV (there are courses available if you're not sure where to start and plenty of online tutorials on youtube), post it on some job sites and just get out there to help build your confidence. You'll be fine!

Marsha, I would never undersell a candidate, for one we get paid a % of their starting salary, it would be just plain daft.

LadyHarriet, Headhunters do have amazing indepth interviews with their candidates, that is true. The guy who headhunts in our office will have spent an average of 7 hours with a candidate before he presents their CV to a client, he gives great advice re: presenting oneself etc to candidates.

OP, I would really look into another agency who specialise in your field or to apply direct. I know in my specialism, someone who has been out of the field for the past 2/3 years is best placed applying direct. Because whilst a firm may well employ them and recognise their skills they don't want to pay an agent's fee for that. And if I sent the candidate's CV then the client would automatically be subject to our introduction fees, so I would jeopardised the candidate's chances. It is pure economics.

At the end of the day, yes, Consultants are paid per placement. But good ones never forget that they are dealing with people's livelihood's and careers and that even those they can't place deserve the respect of some advice and guidance.

Good luck Op and if you are in NW, pm me

I've been job-hunting since November (with a brief temporary role over Christmas) and I have to say my experience with recruitment agencies to date has been dire. I don't expect them to find me an amazing job the instant I approach them- I do expect them to return my phonecalls, acknowledge my emails and contact me when they said they would. Anything else is downright rude in my opinion! My mum (tries to help as much as she can, lovely mum :) ) will send me email addresses and telephone numbers of agents, but what's the point when they just say, "Yeah, we'll keep you in mind", and then throw my CV onto the ever increasing pile of unemployed graduates they have on their books? It makes me feel even more rotten when I feel like I'm chasing these people for answers about positions they say they've put me forward for.

:(