Recruitment Agency

I've worked through agencies a few times. They are normally rubbish tbh. Smaller companies will happily pay a little extra for agaency staff in my trade as if work drops off we are easy to get shot of.
 
Mrs Seabiscuit said:
Tell me was I wrong to ask those questions?
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You've done nothing wrong at all there. Sounds like you're dealing with a **** recruiter tbh.

I've been placed in roles twice through recruitment agencies and don't have a bad word to say about the good ones who only send you roles that actually fit your experience and requirements.
 
When I got my new position the recruitment agencies certainly helped but they were a nightmare.

Whilst I was still looking they rang my current employer offering them help in replacing me! Luckily they guy on the phones knew me well and said nothing but that could have been disastrous!

I've been at my new place 6 months now and only on Monday a call came to reception from me from a recruiter asking if i needed work. I don't have a desk phone in my new office and get no calls, so I'm not pleased about them ringing up from 'Blah blah recruiting' potentially giving the impression I'm looking to leave a job when I'm not.

But, they did help be get this job. A few of them got pretty shirty when I turned down roles when offered, but i suppose their commission is on the line...
 
Mrs Seabiscuit said:
A little update if you will.
After talking to Mr Seabiscuit and going over meeting with this `agency` yesterday.
We were thinking it not unreasonable to ask the agency a few questions
  • What can you do for me extra that I cant do from just looking through the same jobsites you have on your computer screen?
  • Do you offer a cv writing service? I am happy to pay a fee.

She was most upset and offended by these questions using lots of exclamation marks to say how upset and dissapointed she was for me to ask this.
She had promised to send me useful cv tips and help, and the job description I mentioned in my op straight after meeting. She hadn't done this and I emailed her asking for them this morning and then asked the above two questions. By 10:30 am I thought Im gonna ring. I did only to be sharply told I`m emailing you now she then just hung up.
Tell me was I wrong to ask those questions?
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1) This is rude.
2) A recruitment agency shouldn't be charging you for CV advice.

If you want me to have a look at your CV for you, I can (I have worked in recruitment for a fair amount of time - I am not not a recruiter).

There are good and bad recruiters out there. This one sounds awful.

BB x
 
Like any industry, good and bad. The good ones are great and can really make a difference in helping match you up to suitable jobs whilst getting you an in and making sure you stand out from the crowd.

The bad CV farm, spam companies and candidates in the scattergun approach.

Bad agencies won't have much sway with the hiring company, nor will they offer a personalized approach. Good companies will be well embedded into the hiring company, with a good reputation for sourcing reliable candidates that fit the brief.
 
My last two jobs have been through a 'Headhunter' aka Recruitment Agency. I have not had a bad one yet, they seem to push for a good deal (Some have a fee to your employer equal to a % of your final agreed salary, others a flat finders fee)

But you have good ones and bad ones out there. Same as everything if they don't act professional dump them, most likely all the good employers would have already done so.

P
 
As with most industries, you can get good recruiters and bad recruiters - same goes for estate agents through to lawyers. The individuals who've been in the industry for a while are likely going to have an ongoing concern for their clients and candidates, as opposed to recruiters who jump around or in and out of the industry.

A good recruiter can help your career on two ways - advise you and help you secure ideal roles, as well as helping to shape your company if you're responsible for recruitment.

As a headhunter, my two biggest clients have are companies that have come around due to securing jobs for former candidates - one firm was established by a former candidate, whereas the other is a small institution which now employs one of my long term ex-candidates (I placed the guy back in 2007!)
 
BrightonBelle said:
1) This is rude.
2) A recruitment agency shouldn't be charging you for CV advice.

If you want me to have a look at your CV for you, I can (I have worked in recruitment for a fair amount of time - I am not not a recruiter).

There are good and bad recruiters out there. This one sounds awful.

BB x
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Really? yes please that would be fantastic! :D Ill send you it through trust. If you give me your address I will send you and Freefaller some of our homemade beer. :D such awesome people on here! :D
 
recruitment agency are on a win win win situation they sell you on . when they get you a job for an sample to a firm they charge them £20 an hr while you get an £9.oo hr giving the agency an £11 profit per an hr , now for the exciting part if that firm wants to take you on a full time basis for being an good worker etc the agency can charge that firm anything from £1000 plus.
obviously the figures that i gave is only an sample but in the real world its more.
 
chillidog said:
recruitment agency are on a win win win situation they sell you on . when they get you a job for an sample to a firm they charge them £20 an hr while you get an £9.oo hr giving the agency an £11 profit per an hr , now for the exciting part if that firm wants to take you on a full time basis for being an good worker etc the agency can charge that firm anything from £1000 plus.
obviously the figures that i gave is only an sample but in the real world its more.
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Isn't the employers NI coming out of that 'profit' though?

Also, it's pretty reasonable to expect a payment for finding a good resource ...
 
chillidog said:
recruitment agency are on a win win win situation they sell you on . when they get you a job for an sample to a firm they charge them £20 an hr while you get an £9.oo hr giving the agency an £11 profit per an hr , now for the exciting part if that firm wants to take you on a full time basis for being an good worker etc the agency can charge that firm anything from £1000 plus.
obviously the figures that i gave is only an sample but in the real world its more.
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It entirely depends on what terms are agreed between the candidate/agency and between the agency/client company.

You will find that a typical "markup" is 15-20%, either on your hourly rate (if contracting) or as a fee % of your perm salary. These are subject to all sorts of terms and conditions and rates will vary from agency to agency and contract to contract

You need to remember that the recruitment agency will be handling all of your time sheets, booking system, PAYE etc (If you are a contractor).

Or if you are permanent they will handle all of the on-boarding, contract agreements and give you advice and updates throughout the process

This all costs them money!

They also have to pay their recruiters, who are responsible for putting you in the right place at the right time so you could actually get a job in the first instance.

I will echo what everyone else has said
  • There are good ones
  • There are bad ones
  • The ones worth your time are those who add value to the job hunting process, whether you are a full time employee or short term contractor
  • Seek a recruiter with KNOWLEDGE of the industry sector you work in that is backed up by experience and solid relationships with the key employers in this area
 
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