[shiser]

Hi,

I basically signed up to about 5+ of them after they invited me to their offices in London but I'm worried that some of them have a hidden agenda, rather than simply finding me a job.

For example my references. I've worked in the office of one of the biggest retailer's in the UK and after my contract ended, they specifically said to give the agency's email address, who got me that job in the first place.
However, a few of them were pushing to get names, email addresses and phones numbers of my superior and any other members I worked with. Even after I explained how HR wouldn't find my name because I was employed under a agency.
Did they just want my links, so the agency can harass my previous employers?

Another example was a phone call I had today from an agency I registered with. Hasn't put me forward for any jobs since I registered with them 4 weeks ago but calls every week to find out how I'm doing and if I had any interviews.
Had an interview yesterday to which I told her the details of to which she was very intrigued and maybe its in my head but her tone changed when I told her the job interview was directly through the company rather than an agency. She wanted names and said she'll call back on Friday which is when I find out about the result of the interview.
Is this agency trying to muscle into this deal if I get the job?

What do you guys think or is it all in my head? Any similar experiences?

Thanks

[ForKicks]

Well it is in a job agencies interest to get you a good job as that is how they are paid. So essentially they want it to be the case that the job you get is through them. As for the details, just put them in touch with the generic HR person at your old companies.

[shiser]

I understand the concept but I was just looking to see if anyone is going through a similar thing or has an opinion in regards to the topic.

[annie147218]

I used to work in a recruitment agency and although I never passed on the details of referees to the sales team, I know a lot of companies do as these contacts are managers in the relevant industy, so they're useful contacts to have to try and generate some sort of lead.

If a candidate only provided an agency's email address as a referee, it would only get me some sort of generic reference back which just confirmed job title, date and the client the person worked with. I can see why someone would want a manager that worked with the candidate because they can give them some sort of opinion on them as a person and as a worker, but that's not really relevant to a recruitment agency anyway. Where I used to work, we used to obtain and store references purely for audit purposes and these factual references used to tick that box. Agencies don't care what the person is like, as long as they turn up to work and make the agency money. Any references never even got sent on to the manager actually hiring the person on the client's site (unless they specifically asked). Doing the job of chasing references for a recruitmnt agency seemed like such a pointless task. You're right to be sceptical.

[INTit]

They are always asking for details of others jobs your applying for which is annoying and I got badly stung by one that sounded like a bit of a wheeler-dealer when you spoke to him on the phone.

I went for an interview which I felt went pretty well and they said it would take a week to respond as they had to interview other candidate which is fair enough. I told the guy I had another interview the next day and this sent him into a panic...he phoned the employer up and tried to pressure them to decide immediately. They refused to decide and unsurprisingly I never heard back - I'm sure this idiot lost me the job.

Don't trust them. They are just after the cash.

[Llamageddon]

You should keep anybody who is paid to make money out of you at arms length. I deal with agencies and salespeople and both are all smiles but some are more than happy to completely screw you over if they can gain something from it.

Most people who work in these sorts of areas are perfectly ordinary people just trying to do an honest days work, but only ever give away information that you're happy for them to use.

[Fires]

They ask about other jobs you are applying for because many agencies simply find any vacancy they hear about, advertise it, send CVs to the employer on spec and hope to get somewhere with it - they also try and kite their services to employers who have a vacancy and elbow out other agencies.

Up-front references are also often used in this way - the agency is interested because a company that has just got rid of someone may have a vacancy they can fill. However, to be fair, some agencies ask for them up front because some employers use the quality of referees as part of judging applicants.

Most big agencies are pretty honest when it comes to actually paying you if you get a vacancy, but they all lie through their teeth about your chances with any particular vacancy (or most do anyway) and a lot of low-level agency staff and vacancies involve them not giving a stuff about you as an individual job searcher.

[original_username]

Agencies are very helpful if you are who they are looking for. Basically if you have prior experience they will contact you with regard to a role they have. If not then don't hold your breathe. But they will also be contacting 10s if not 100s of others. If you have your CV uploaded with Reed you basically have your CV uploaded with the whole lot of them, or that's how it seems anyway.

I haven't gotten a job through them yet but have spoken with them. For one particular opportunity I was phoned up twice by the same consultant. In the first phone call he was talking about a graduate opportunity, lauding it up and then it got to him asking if I had heard of them. I was honest and said that I had applied for the same grad scheme a year ago through their site and got to telephone interview stage. The conversation went cold. I then changed my CV on reed and got a phone call a week later from the same dude, he said the exact same stuff but this time when he asked if I'd heard of them I said I haven't a clue who they are. I had online tests the very next day.

Lesson to be learnt, play dumb and don't tell them any more than they need to know.

[A Mysterious Lord]

I got my job through an agency.

However, they can be crafty, for example asking if you have any interviews coming up "just so they don't pass your details to them", when in reality it's so they can take it for themselves.

[pearlwinselot]

yes, "good and experienced" job agencies are worth to trust especially for those who don't have job and for those who are planning to change their career paths. the company as well as the candidates both are mutually benefited from this and should take advantage of their multiple contacts to the HR's of those companies.

[rock_climber86]

(Original post by shiser)
Hi,

I basically signed up to about 5+ of them...uys think or is it all in my head? Any similar experiences?

Thanks

i signed up to a few and they suck. Office angels gave me positive vibes about how they want me cos my advanced excel and good vba skills. A week later? ignored my emails, i called and fobbed me off phone saying they'd put my application forward blah blah. So i've kinda given up hope of them finding me a job - they're probably just wasting my time! Grrr....All the jobs I've EVER had i've found on my own accord. Never via an agency. Guess that says it all tbh - donno why i'm bothering registering!

[Duck and Cover]

Is there a Brook Street near you? I got a temp summer job through them a couple of years ago, and I was placed in my current permanent job through them as well (a different branch). I'm sure a lot of it depends on the individual agent as well, and I'm sure there's quite a broad difference between the different branches too, but I found them very quick and helpful.

So many are like you described though, constantly pushing to get you to give them leads for other vacancies!

[Em_Huong]

Was wondering if I could get some advice, I applied for a job ad that was put up by an agency, a lady calls me the next day and speaks to me about a different job role (but still in the same job expertise I've been looking for) with a media agency. I've looked them up and it seems like a pretty great place to work at. The lady said that she will enquire if this particular role is still available, now, would it be a bit of a liberty if I emailed the company myself with my CV to see if they have anything suitable? Would the job agency find out? I don't particularly want to get a job through an agency.

[Arsene Wenger]

Applied through quite a few and they've been rather useful. However, there are a few that are useless like Office Angels. Went in there with my CV, was told that they don't accept printed versions of CV's, was told to e-mail it, e-mailed it and got no reply. Went in to see if they received my e-mail and apparently they had not. When I returned home I e-mailed it again and just got ignored. I was also told that I was was not suitable for any of their roles when I have office experience and meet the requirements.

[rock_climber86]

all agencies suck! they are out to make money and dont give a crap about u! all the agencies i signed up to messed me around! One kept ignoring my communications re: job she supposedly put me forward for. So i told her i wasnt interested and a few days later she said ive got an interview. Basically told her to stuff it! I knew she was wasting my time! I hope never to have to deal with an agency again!

edit: avoid office angels in particular. They're awful!


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[singh246]

Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.

[Fred_robson]

Anyone actually had any positive experiences with recruitment agencies?Or has anyone gone on to get a job in the area they were looking for?Thanks,

Fred

[ForgetMe]

(Original post by rock_climber86)
all agencies suck! they are out to make money and dont give a crap about u! all the agencies i signed up to messed me around! One kept ignoring my communications re: job she supposedly put me forward for. So i told her i wasnt interested and a few days later she said ive got an interview. Basically told her to stuff it! I knew she was wasting my time! I hope never to have to deal with an agency again!

edit: avoid office angels in particular. They're awful!


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Aww, you've just destroyed my hopes I've been looking at jobs on office angels website.

[lillo87]

hi, I have been dealing with two different recruitment agencies within the last two months. one of these is quite a big and recognised recruiter.... I applied for a specific role with the use of language skills- I was interviewed from the agency and told that my experience and language skills were matching the role. the employer was interested in my cv...so far I was promised an interview with the employer. Well...I am still awaiting after a month but in the meantime the agency updates me regularly about any vacancies which I am not interested in. The agent, that interviewed me, never had the professionalism to call me back. So, if a multimillionaire recruiter does this, what we can expect from others... . Agencynumber2 I was contacted by an agent (local recruiter from Midlands) about a specific role I applied for, This is what happened: The first call: I was interviewed and asked for a second telephone interview + a copy of my passport. Day 2: The phone rings just before the appointment, "Sorry can we arrange the appointment for tomorrow at the same time as I am busy?," the professional agent asked. "Yes, that is fine", I answered without any doubt. Day 3: "Sorry, I do not deal with interviews as my colleague M does, so she will call you back tomorrow at the same time", the professional agent said. Obviously, I couldn't say anything else and accepted Day 4: The phone rings before the appointment and I am not available so the famous M leaves the following message, " I have been told from XX colleague about you and the appointment that we have later. I am sorry to say that I wont be able to interview you at that time; if you can call me back and I will arrange another appointment for you?" I ended this story by not calling this agency as I think they are just trying to hold their targets and personal jobs but at the end of the day I do not think these people will last long. What I believe that rules (law)should be tightened for agencies to use candidates details. However, I really hope that the professional agent will look at this forum and might realise that sooner or later he will be in my same position.