Been made redundant, got an appointment with a Recruitment Agency - how do they work?

[littlemissbossy]

I've never applied for a job through an agency and have an appointment with one next week. They only have one job I'm interested in but as I have to register with them will they give my details to other companies?? anyone know how they work?? TIA

In my experience they will only give your CV to companies with your agreement. The idea of the meeting is for them to get to know you better and understand what you are looking for. Then if they get vacancies that they feel you are qualified for and that fit your requirements they will send you the details to check if you are interested. When you get interviews, they will give you as much background as possible and give you some idea of what to expect and what you need to focus on.

Good luck with the job hunt.

That's good SN, thanks

Yes they meet you, do a mini interview to find out more about you and get to know exactly what you're looking for, what your strengths are, understand your cv etc

Then as and when suitable jobs come in they will ring you with the details. If you agree, they will send your cv. If you say no then they won't.

I've just got a job through an agency so they can be really good

Thanks Baffy. Definately feel more comfortable about the situation now.

If they have the job now, why are you waiting until next week for an agency interview. They will be actively recruiting and sending CVs for this job NOW. An employment agents role is to ring round and look for job vacancis from employers and fill them asap to generate revenue. Their commodity is people looking for jobs.

1. An agency will never tell you a job is crap! They never turn down vacancies and will keep refilling positions where the previous person has walked out complaining about working conditions and not tell you.

2. You are their commodity they will treat you very well and make you feel like a long lost friend (until you walk out the door)

3. They don't care about your long term happiness, they work on you wanting a job and them having a job vacancy.

4. If you don't take the job offered, they lose potential revenue and personal commission. They will always pursuade you to 'give it a try'. Therefore they get their money.

5. They are a necessary evil

6. Their role is to fill jobs - they don't care who takes them as long as they get the placement fee

I worked in this industry for 4 years

Register at lots of agents in the area.
Go to your job centre as well.
Look in www.jobserve.com
Make no compromises, only accept the job offer you truely want, not the ones they want you to take IYSWIM

PS The reason agents take your picture is to remind them who you are, they see so many people they only work with the best and/or those that keep in contact with them regularly.

Gosh reading this back it isn't very positive is it !

PS when I was 19 an agency found me a fab role that started my career. Looking back I realise eactly how lucky I was because when I worked in recruitment I saw behind the scenes and was horrified

Kaloo20 that's a very negative and cynical viewpoint

I understand what you're saying - but I think the key things to come out of your post are that:

• it's best to register with a few agencies

• always remember they're working on commission so want you to accept the job (they'll only focus on the positives)

• always go with your gut instinct, don't be bullied or persuaded into a role - only accept something if it is genuinely 100% what you want.

I have been using a number of agencies over the past 18 months to find my 'perfect' role. And I have to say that although one or two were a bit pushy, I had nothing but excellent support, even after being offered roles but deciding they were not right and turning them down. I made sure I asked the questions about the cons, to avoid the chances of being fobbed off. I also asked the same questions in my interviews to see if they were all saying the same story iyswim (i.e. why is the role vacant, who had it last, why did they leave, what are the more demanding aspects of the role etc etc).

Just didn't want your post to all come across too negative. Because some agencies can be very good and very professional.

register as many as you can!.. and get the CV updated too ....good luck!

(ps at your first time registered with an agency...you may have an interview on the same day possibly within the hour!! so best to dress up smart just in case)

I've never had my photo taken by a recruitment agency!

Surely if you leave a job soon after joining they will not get their commission so it is in their interests to match you with a job as best they can.

Some will be better than others so I agree it's worthwhile registering with more than one.

Kaloo, they couldn't fit me in today - earliest appointment (with bank hol) was Tuesday. The company is not interviewing for the position until the end of next week anyway... so hopefully I will like the sound of it.

Hey, I did say my post wasn't very positive! The OP asked does anyone know how they work ... and I answered that. However Baffy did summarise very nicely for me

Little MissBossy, if you need any help with your CV over the weekend, you are welcome to send me a copy to bluekaloo at hotmail dot com and I will take a look at layout, spacing, content etc - I do all my friends CV's. Your CV is king and makes a huge difference.

• I have to use an agency at least once a year, I have a love hate relationship with all of them!