What good are recruitment agencies?

Question

They are basically just salesmen, but they're not even good salesmen; good salesmen can sell anything to anybody. Recruitment agencies only seem to bother with jobs or bods who would sell themselves anyway.

I went on reed.co.uk and they actually had more vacancies for recruitment consultants than IT jobs. I think that tells its own story.

Answer 1

Most agencies I've applied for jobs through won't even consider you unless you've had at least six months experience in an office in the last two years. I believe that this is discriminatory, and that anyone can be trained up, especially if they are already computer literate.

I've spent the last three years studying (Journalism, although now I would prefer to go into teaching... -_-) and working in a shop, so that's screwed things up for me. They just don't understand that students get administrative experience from dealing with their own paperwork.

I never thought I'd say this but the Job Centre is more useful!

Answer 2

Agencies do two things 1) specialise in only a few areas (yet never tell you that when you register), 2) look after number on at all times.

My local agency was crying out for new people to register, so i did. With 17+ years experience in sales/management/training they said they would have no end of positions for me.

I called back a fortnight later as i'd heard nothing. They had no record of me; told me the same story all over again and asked if i'd like to register.

The weird thing is, they seem to go through more staff than any employer i've ever worked for. Are they taking the best jobs for themselves - i wonder?

Answer 3

Its a matter of the current day job market. Just as anything else, there is a demand - supply relation in job market too. Recruitment agencies in growing and high growth economies are very competatively placed. Outsourcing becoming a parameter for operational efficiency, hiring function (barring some strategic stuff, if any) are also largely outsourced so much so that for certain positions candidates are allowed only if they come through HR placement consultants. Unless these agencies have a proven record, why do companies continue to associate with them? Secondly, sales again is a function of demand. So, these agencies look to place those people who are generally suited for large scale roles. There are also specialised agencies that cater to very specialsed segment.

Answer 4

At end of the day Recruitment agencies use you, yes you are their whore! Their client on their portfolio are 100 times more important than you, you can be replaced, losing a client to them is devastating for them and a financial blow. Remember they take roughly 50% of what you earn. Ex: You earn £10 ph. The client pays £15 to agency, that's a nice £5ph for them, or £175 pw for little work, imagine how many people on their books, who earn even more.

I have mostly had negative experiences with agencies. They promise the world, all i have had is late wage payments, lousy jobs where they want to earn bucks from you strait away. Although the last one was good as it led to a permanent job, but of course they get close to a four figure fee (£sss) for your body!

I did temping at an agency (how ironic!) for a week once, the amount of bitching that went on was disgusting. They would laugh at ways potential clients would dress or look, when interviewed. They would laugh at sent in CV's and rip them up. Amongst many other forms of bitching!

So i would say some are good, some are bad.

Answer 5

Just a personal experience one here, but I went to a recruitment agency once and they did a computer skills test. It was for things like Microsoft Word etc. It was very poor because you were penalised for not knowing obscure icons etc. Like the icon for changing a page margin or something. Each time you clicked the mouse incorrectly you were penalised. I felt this didn't adequately test your skills. They should have given a hand written document and said 'produce that in a clear type written format' and the candidate could use their initiative.

Apart from that they always call you at awkward hours and want you to be available at a moment's notice. If you can do that then they can get you work.

Answer 6

They really are a nightmare.

I was looking for a new job for months and was so frustrated. All the agencies said that since I wanted to make a sideways move into a slightly different area in my industry, I shouldn't expect my salary to even be matched, let alone raised. They also said my bonuses couldn't be figured into my salary so I should expect a big cut overall. They were putting me up for jobs I was seriously overqualified for and meanwhile there were loads of good jobs on their website that I wanted to be considered for, but they said I wasn't right for. They didn't listen when I told them what I wanted, they just kept sending me details for jobs they knew I could get easily.

I ended up getting my perfect job after just applying directly on the company website. If that job were given to an agency I'd never have been put up for it. My level was matched and my salary raised, as one should expect when changing companies and only slightly changing department type. But it's incredibly frustrating because so few companies recruit directly, for the most part people need these agencies.

Answer 7

Hello,

The main value or benefit from going to a recruitment company, or recruitment agency is that they have access to jobs or contracts you yourself wouldnt have access too.

But make no mistake about it, recruitment agencies are a business NOT a charity, meaning they are always the middlemen between you (the job candidate) and their client i.e. the employer. That means they (the job agency) are always looking to earn their commission or placement fee, if they can get you employed with a company or employer.

**No!! a recruitment agent or job agencies are NOT sales people DONT confuse that, thats often the problem here. Yes! its true they are providing a service for a client so it looks like a selling process but IMO its not like selling clothes or hifi's or TV's.

**Most recruitment agents or agencies often spin the candidate a load of glossy sounding rubbish inorder to dress up the role or job or contract, inorder to get the candidate into an interview.

**The downside of using a recruitment company is that frequently the jobs,contracts or work they have avialable is low quality, poor job descriptions that bear no reality to the actual work involved, or low pay rates i.e. minmum wage rates.

**Only use a job agent or agency, unless you are completely desperate for work or pay. (i.e. as a total last resort).

**Its very easy to end up feeling that job agents or job agencies exploit or take advantage of candidates because they know you are in a vulnerable position or perhaps desperate for the work. This is the apsect of recruitment companies that leaves a bad smell in the knose or a bad taste in the mouth, in my opinion.

**finally be especially wary of online or internet based job recruitment companies as there is even more room for colouring the job descriptions.

IR

Answer 8

Hi I've worked for 16 employment agencies and they're great for short term cash. Try finding the company you want to work full time for,then ring them about work and ask which employment agency they use. Maybe the fulltime job would come if the new employer thought you wer'e worthy to buy out of the employment agency's contract. With me I've had 5 firms buy me out of contract so far in 10 years. It's mainly when I try my best to like the job that I stay. A mechanic friend of mine got released from contract and was set on full time he loves his job. an you're right most of them rip you off if u let them. No money skint, is my moto. and a good salesman goes out and does it.

Answer 9

I think that you shouldn't generalise so much. there are lots of different types of recruitment agencies. High Street agencies will just send your CV out to every job that they can (even if it isnt really suitable) and waste your time sending you to interviews for jobs you have told them your not interested in. However there are specialist recruitment agencies (where i work we specialise in technical IT positions) who only send your CV out if you suit a job and if they think you can get it. So you are right and wrong with your question!!!!

Answer 10

Problem with REED and BROOK STREET is the hourly pay is very bad eg: Brook street were paying me 4.60 ph . I went to EM Recruitement for the same job and was paid 12.40 ph.

They can be good because if your tyhe sort of person who cant stay in a job for more than 6 months without going crazy then you can move on.; Also you have a good chance of bieng taken on as a permenent member of staff.