Recruitment Firms? - Page 2

ladysavage · 30th July 2009, 3:13pm

another vote for Hudson and another nul points for Kellys. the place upstairs from the Solid always used to get me work as a student, so did universal above frasers

triggerhappy · 30th July 2009, 3:15pm

Hudson seemed pretty good, although they really tried to pressure me to take a job that was well below the minimum salary I was after and got a bit huffy when I refused. I think I'm probably blacklisted by them now.

CHUCK LIDELOL · 30th July 2009, 4:26pm

I'll try Hudson and others, cheers!

Rhöna of the Rhein · 30th July 2009, 4:44pm

Pertemps have been smashing for me. tend to deal more with office jobs in scottish government, health boards etc.

MarkMono · 30th July 2009, 4:57pm

Don't work for a recruitment agency unless you're either under 20 or completely inexperienced at gaining employment. They'll take 3/4 of your pay and do their level best to keep you on their books (More temps = Bigger grants) even if means preventing you being taken on full-time by the company you're temping for.

There is nothing malicious about this, its just how they make their money.

But aye, really, its worth the extra hassle to actually apply for jobs yourself, it really is.

CHUCK LIDELOL · 30th July 2009, 5:03pm

I have been.

MarkMono · 30th July 2009, 5:09pm

I'll rephrase, its really less hassle to bug business for feedback, fine-tune your CV and work on your interview technique so you actually get jobs than work for a recruitment agency.

Recruitment agencies cut out the interview/CV part of the process, but you end up with no benefits and a third of the pay you should be recieving. Not worth it.

april · 30th July 2009, 5:30pm

The agency I worked for got me a job with the NHS, great pay, paid holidays and were really lovely people.
I actually get less money now as a permanent member of staff in the same job than I did when I was temping.

MarkMono · 30th July 2009, 5:52pm

I once ran across the motorway and didn't get hit by any cars.

i.e. You're the exception.

ladysavage · 30th July 2009, 6:00pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkMono

I'll rephrase, its really less hassle to bug business for feedback, fine-tune your CV and work on your interview technique so you actually get jobs than work for a recruitment agency.

Recruitment agencies cut out the interview/CV part of the process, but you end up with no benefits and a third of the pay you should be recieving. Not worth it.

this is true but sadly is easier said than done, a lot of big companies don't keep/read speculative cv's (i know we don't) and their first port of call is a recruitment company, even for temps. We've just had 2 1 year posts come up and we wouldnt get them filled if it weren't for the Port Dundas/Killie shizzle going on cos they were only advertised internally and through recruitment companies and they refuse to send interviewees who they think may be anything other than 100% successful.

Pete if you do see a job that you really fancy and it's through a recruitment company try and tailor your CV to match as many points on the job advert as you can (even if it means bending the truth/exaggerating a little) cos then you stand a better chance of them putting you forward for an interview. Best of luck!

triggerhappy · 30th July 2009, 6:03pm

I agree. I temped for a while, but that was purely out of desperation and never planned to do it for more than a couple of months. Got my current job directly through my employer and am much happier, and better paid, than I ever was as a temp.

Sad thing is though, since most companies are 'downsizing' (I hate that word, but can't think of another), HR functions are increasingly being farmed out to agencies, especially for recruitment. I think out of the many jobs I applied for, only about 5% were direct applications to the employer.

april · 30th July 2009, 6:28pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkMono

I once ran across the motorway and didn't get hit by any cars.

i.e. You're the exception.

I understand it's very rare to find a decent agency, but they do exist!

MarkMono · 30th July 2009, 6:35pm

My point was that its not that recruitment agencies are normally bad (Though there are plenty of incompetent ones.) its that as professional middlemen who in reality do very little they make their profit out of your pocket as a matter of course.

It is your situation that is the exception, not the agency you were working through.

mishelle · 30th July 2009, 7:29pm

Got the worst kick in the teeth yesterday. Applied to a temp agency and they actualy knocked me back!
nice confidence killer there, im one step away from working in McDonalds or something...

Addy · 30th July 2009, 9:00pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by april

The agency I worked for got me a job with the NHS, great pay, paid holidays and were really lovely people.
I actually get less money now as a permanent member of staff in the same job than I did when I was temping.

Same with Crapita, though I've no intentions of going permanent with them anyway. Seen it happen to a couple of fol who work there though who did go from temp to perm.

I'm with Joslin Rowe, they're great, though I do dislike their unwillingness to actually tell me when I've not been selected for a job, instead providing myriad other excuses (Hiring internally etc).