What is the deal with recruitment agencies when job hunting?

Question

I haven't hunted for a job in a while, so I posted my resume on Monster.com as "public". Now I am getting all these calls from recruitment agencies, but not direct employers. Mostly these recruiters are looking for contract workers and consultants. So - does anyone have an experience working with a recruitment agency (good or bad), and what exactly is their role in the employment process? Also, any insider tips for job hunting? I've been sending out resumes for a little while and I am feeling discouraged.

Answer 1

The advent of Monster and other job boards have turned recruiting into a fishing business.

The recruiter has a job/jobs to fill, the job descriptions contain "key words". If your resume contains these words you get a call.

Recruiting companies make money 1 of 2 ways. Direct placement recruiters charge the company a fee when they HIRE a candidate(you) permanently. Anywhere from 10 to 30% of your annual salary. This fee really doesn't affect you, you would be offered a job at X dollars and then you say yes or no to taking it.

The other type of bottomfeeder, er I mean "recruiter" are the temp agencies that run employment mills. The have immediate need jobs, like someone dies or quits without notice, and need them filled today. They have a pool of people that have come into the agency office and take a bunch of skill tests that they can then call and place with the job. Or they try to fill a "temp to perm" position where you are basically a trial employee, it may work out, it may not. I have found that alot of companies that do the "temp to perm" have really crappy working conditions, but there are the few that are good opportunities. This type of recruiter makes their money by charging an override on every dollar you make. You actually are paid by the agency, and you are considered an agency employee even though you work for another company.

How to avoid these pariahs is an entirely different question and would require too much space to get into here. Good Luck to you!

Answer 2

i am a contractor and they have small jobs whether it is a week or a few days, but at LEAST you're making money better then $0. I keep calling in once a week to talk to whoever is staffing that week especially if it is a big staffing firm owned by Robert Half International. They put me on the availabilty list and the staff whoever it is will find the "perfect job" that matches what I used to do before.I was a check processor at the Federal Reserve Bank and I had that position for 6 months. Anyway, it seems discouraging that I am not always working every week, but the staffing managers "work" on whatever matches my check processor background. It took them 7 weeks to find something. The client (which is a potential supervisor) calls the agency and asks for what kind of qualifications he/she is seeking in a temp. This means the background. Some temps have 3 yrs experience working while some have less. Then if a temp is available according to what the client wants then the temp who is registered with that agency will get a call. If nothing comes in that I am qualified to do once the week is over, I will call in Monday. So my advice to you is the recruiters who work at these agencies search for you I would suggest that you register for numerous agencies as well to get work. some agencies are really slow in finding work for me. Who knows? One of these assignments that they send you on, might be permanent. My sister also works at as a temp and she is almost being hired by the "client" by the end of the year. Both her supervisor and her supervisor's boss is encouraging the president to hire my sister. The president of the company will see if they have the funds to pay her. Below is a list of agencies that will help you. I highly recommend them. Good luck.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I have run a recruitment company for 25 years, prompted by being on the receiving end of trying to find a job through them. Being in limbo not knowing one way or the other if an application is to be followed up is the biggest and most common crime. People get into recruitment because it looks like money for old rope, they play the numbers game not meeting candidates just firing their CV off to all and sundry hoping it might stick, if it does they charge an arm and leg for just a few photocopied CVs. After a while they find it's not easy meat and get out, leaving a nasty smell for the people who try to do it properly. Clients are ripped of because the agency has in some cases NEVER MET the applicant,never checked out the truth in a CV, candidates are treated in a sub human fashion never called back, not even receiving a "Thank you" acknowledgement for sending in their details or followed up with a call. Agencies used to be regulated under the Recruitment Agencies Act and were licenced, New Labour kicked that into touch! Please don't tar all firms with the same brush, we have a standing order tha ALL applications are acknowledged the same same day, no exeptions. All candidates are interviewed before being sent to a client, CVs checked for authenticity, all feedback from interviews, good or bad, is relayed to candidates promtly.

Answer 5

It really depends on your job field. In some fields, recruiters have access to jobs you would never find yourself. But don't kid yourself by thinking that they recruiters are there for your benefit. They might help you find a job, but they only care about one thing -- money. First, never pay anything yourself to a recruiter. If they don't get ALL their money from the employer then just tell them no thanks. Secondly, realize that if a recruiter introduces you to an employer, that employer will have to pay a large fee to the recruiter if he hires you, so he will probably be less likely to hire you than if you had applied directly to the employer (avoiding the fee). And thirdly, keep in mind that recruiters are very willing to waste a lot of your time sending you to job interviews that you might not be qualified for because they are only thinking about getting their fee, not about your benefit.

I got a job once through a recruiter, and it worked out well. Another time, I was interviewed at a company that a recruiter referred me to, and the employer said that he would have offered me a job if I had applied directly, but was unwilling to pay the recruiter's fee unless he found an applicant who was perfect.

Answer 6

Basically, they are there to help employers do less work in the hiring process. They cut out the "riff raff" that the ers really don't want to even bother reading through. Are they good? Different experences w/different companies. Me personally - after 9 months of job hunting, I found my job through a temp agency. Three years later, I'm still happy at the same company.

Answer 7

Recruitment agencies make their money being paid by companies when a job is successfully filled. There should be no cost to you. They are a great resource, as sometimes they have job leads that aren't posted elsewhere. If nothing else, you can get some good interview practice by interviewing with their leads. GOod Luck!

Answer 8

Exactly why is everyone with blond, why can't you just have jet black hair with some blonde or blonde tresses with some jet black hair. Right now you don't have to choose.

Answer 9

They are only trying to get to you first so they can solicite you to companies. They want the money too. Don`t use them wait for the company to call. Or not, sometimes they can find you a job fast, but try your luck first.

Answer 10

Do more networking. Meet people and ask them where they work and if there are any job openings there...Be bold! It helps to have an "insider" help get a job...I know from experience.