For Those Who Gained Employment through Recruitment Agencies, Please Share Your Experience?

LRockSand on 09/03/2016 - 17:10

Hi there,

I am seeking a change in career, now interested in entering the financial services industry. I'm still holding onto my current full time job, hence the time/energy constraint in job hunting and networking.

I'm thinking of relying on recruitment agencies to find me a suitable position, however they appear to have quite a negative reputation in online forums such as Whirlpool. I myself have never dealt with them, so cant personally say (sent a couple of emails however haven't received any reply, guess that's not a good sign)

I however, know a couple of people who got their job at one of the big 4 banks through agencies, so this question is directed to those people: How was your experience in dealing with them and please also share some details re ease of securing a job, fees involved, general experience and follow ups, etc.

Cheers

Education & Work

Comments

  • CyberMurning on 09/03/2016 - 17:23
    +6

    not good.. feeling just like a commodity and the agencies are sucking our blood to make cash for themselves.
    not interested to the candidates and give boring faces until the company (the agencies client) showing interest and then suddenly become very friendly.

    • RockSand on 09/03/2016 - 21:32
      +2

      This.. What I read mostly, that they are really bad at following up and contacting the candidates. Some also said that they purposely posted fake job ads to attract candidates and obtain their CVs.
      The agencies don't have a good reputation around here, however I'd just like to know if anyone actually have some success with them.

      Anyone?

      • CyberMurning on 09/03/2016 - 21:43
        +4

        they keep putting fwd jobs that you already said you dont want to do, only because they can get high commissions on those jobs!
        also keep telling us do not register with other agencies, but never give us jobs…

      • [Deactivated] on 14/06/2016 - 18:57

        I initially applied for a job in a completely different area and was forwarded to my current job to take it or leave it. The job was alright but quite rural. The employer who hired me was quite open about discussing it and they took a big pay check for "finding me". But the recruitment agency practically did nothing. Only forwarded me on to see the employer, asked the employer to make a contract then forwarded it to me. They didn't even forward the details about where to go for the interview and did not pass on the contact details of the employer.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/03/2016 - 19:00
    +10

    They're possibly the most unethical people on this planet. Full stop.

    • altomic on 09/03/2016 - 23:55
      +2

      wait, let's not forget rental real estate agents, personal injury lawyers and used car sales people

  • coco1458 on 09/03/2016 - 19:51
    +1

    Recruitment agencies are more "we'll give you the option to attend a government funded Certificate course and then we'll never call you back"
    They don't care that you want a job, they're just there to get the referral fee from the course providers.

    Don't waste your time, generally you should just go directly and apply with the company or the central employment website for the field

  • holdenmg on 09/03/2016 - 20:12

    My experience with vacancies and placements is that it is now more about "networking" and "hearing about openings" or opportunities.

    This is particularly so in constrained financial times where companies are going to be paying a (considerable) fee for finding the right candidate.

    I'd strongly recommend register to go to the FINSIA Event tomorrow
    "Victoria YFP – Young Professionals Networking Kick-off" 6-8.30pm (Free)
    https://www.finsia.com/events/event-registration/?eventCode=…

    or if you are a Graduate… 22 March. ($20)
    Graduate Edge: Hear real experiences on how to land that first job
    https://www.finsia.com/events/event-registration/?eventCode=…

    • RockSand on 09/03/2016 - 21:35

      Thanks for the links! I myself am not so good at networking, been to a couple of events without any result :/

      • [Deactivated] on 11/03/2016 - 22:41

        I despise networking too. So fake. I usually give up 2 mins in and just start talking about something random. Sometimes that works EVEN better and the person LOVES me or they think I am immature, irresponsible and not taking my career seriously.

  • pyramid on 09/03/2016 - 20:13
    +2

    Applied at almost 300 jobs via agency and always got standard reject response…

    • RockSand on 09/03/2016 - 21:34
      +2

      I've read somewhere that they sometimes post fake job ads to attract candidates and obtain their CVs. I have since been staying away from job ads if it was posted by an agent.. Not even a rejection email for me.

      • pyramid on 09/03/2016 - 21:38

        My comment was reg my wife's job searching… Finally found some job via Gumtree but they pay peanuts ie $10 per hour.

      • [Deactivated] on 14/06/2016 - 19:04

        Absolutely true! Most posts at the moment from them are extremely fake where the details are so vague with no location and income is substantially above average. The one I had applied to was a popular location with in a more attractive field. However they forwarded me to another position and I asked about the initial position which they couldn't even give me details about and even stumbled about what ad it was. They had no idea there was a job in that area..

  • Master Bates on 09/03/2016 - 21:55
    +2

    If you're applying for a permanent position, it is highly likely that you will be dealing with the company directly. If applying for a contract role, you will likely be dealing with an agency who will technically be your employers but put you onsite with their client.

    Whether you see recruitment agencies as good or bad, they have their place. Yes there are cowboys out there, but that can be said of any industry, be it tradesmen, the medical profession, anything really.

    My thoughts are if you see something you're interested in, apply for it regardless of who has put the advert up. Just let it be known that in every case, the person reviewing your resume is looking for the best person for the job. If you don't have the required skills, it is likely you won't get a call.

  • kima on 10/03/2016 - 08:10

    Agencies don't care about you personally so you can use them but you can't rely on them to find you a job. They are not looking to find you a job - they are looking to find employee for their clients. They sift through workers and pick out the best and they are not going to give you their good roles if they think you are only worth a lesser role.

    Their fees are so high that some companies might like you as an employee but refuse to pay the fee and since the company has agreed they won't hire the agencies candidates directly - this in turn can cost you jobs with those companies.

    The main thing agencies are good for is negotiating good wages if you are bad at doing it yourself. Just make sure the agency's fees include a % of your wage so they actually have a reason to fight for a hire wage rather than a set amount.

  • StewBalls on 10/03/2016 - 09:09

    As someone who frequently has to sift through the detritus these agents send to us for interview, then field calls from eminently qualified & suitable candidates asking why they have been summarily culled by these incompetent morons, my advice is to steer well clear of these parasitic agencies.

    Just do your own cold canvassing & direct applications, the potential employers will at least get to see your wares, and the initiative shown will stand you in good stead with most jobs.

  • Muimuimorris on 10/03/2016 - 09:50

    I am with Stewballs. I used to experience the same when I worked at the bank. Apply direct to the bank even if they don't have a role. Put your profile on their careers website. The bank's talent recruitment people won't need to pay a fee to the recruitment agency by you applying directly.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/03/2016 - 22:39

      Ditto this.
      To the OP - what roles did your friends get at banks via recruitment agencies? The ONLY one I know of is Client services - ie the call centre. I did see a credit analyst role recently though. But I think the agency copied the ad rather than they were actually hired to find applicants.

    • smurfinaus on 30/03/2016 - 14:46

      Will try this as im still looking for work. Have to say past experience is this as well PLUS networking with friends is imminently better than going through agencies (plenty of negative responses and plenty of none as well).

  • [Deactivated] on 10/03/2016 - 11:38

    Have used dozen and half big player in the recruitment agencies in applying for jobs in the past decade. I work in the medical FMCG industry (customer service, logistics, inventory).

    I highly praise 'Pharmaceutical and Medical Professionals', they're very profession in their presentation of both themselves and you, they get to know you far more so than any of the other recruiters I've used, and have on many instances go above and beyond for me. Following up is near perfect, whenever they know something I know something. I'm based in Sydney so YMMV with your local branch, I recommend then to anyone in the medical industry.

    Honorable mention: DCL Recruitment.

    The rest are shit.

    When I sit down with any recruiter it's as much of an interview of them for me as me for them, I lost count of how many are late, makes no attempt to check to see if you need water, ask you same question you've previously answered because they were just going down the sheet, have to be chased to follow things up, mis-communicated things to potential employer, etc, etc.

    • RockSand on 10/03/2016 - 13:52

      Thanks for the insight!

  • sharonlives on 10/03/2016 - 12:11

    I'm a contractor in IT (specifically IT Training and Technical Writing) and I've worked through about ten different agencies, and only found one or two agents who are proactive and call me up to see if I'm interested in roles they're searching for. The rest are just happy to take their commission, and don't care about you at all. So probably 20% out there are good, and 80% are rubbish, in my experience.

    • RockSand on 10/03/2016 - 13:51

      Hi, do you mind telling or PM me the names of those good ones? Cheers

      • sharonlives on 10/03/2016 - 13:58

        I'll PM you, but I don't think it will be relevant unless you are in the same field as me, and in Perth!

  • Spending2Much on 10/03/2016 - 13:11

    Doesn't matter what genre or industry your in…..
    Recruitment agencies….they all the same.
    Worse are the ones that take a cut of your wages each week on top of the fee they charge your employer.

    Yep, worked one casual job where I was paid less than the other guys doing same job, because they charged the owner\employer and they then paid my wages and took the tax out on his behalf.
    That fee came off my wages in the form of a couple dollars an hour.
    The boss also paid the agency fee also.

  • goodcopbadcop on 10/03/2016 - 22:11
    +1

    Finding a job is never easy. But don't expect to send your CV to a recruitment agency and they will spend their time looking for a job for you. It's against the law to charge a candidate a fee to find a job in Australia, so that's partly why.

    Anyone can become a recruitment agent. No qualifications required, small set up costs with the illusion of big money to be made. They work for the employer who has the vacancy because that is where their commission payment (can be up to 20% of the role's total package) will come from. Sure, prospective candidates are necessary, after all, how else will they fill the vacancy and get the commission? However, they are only $'s driven, and not trained to recognise potential in people. So don't expect them to be looking at your CV for more than 3 seconds unless it offers exactly what the job requires. Their only priority is to fill the job with someone who appears to fit the brief that they have been given by the employer with a good chance that the person will stay for at least 3 months (their agreed guarantee to the employer) so that they (the recruiter) gets paid. Without good candidates they won't fill the job. A good reason to return phone calls, talk to candidates and show good candidate care. Most have little concern for any of that!

    Recruiters are trying to exist in a market that is protracting for them. With the introduction of online Job Boards and advertisements, LinkedIn and numerous employment opportunities advertised direct from company websites - employers can actually do their own recruiting, and do away with the need for the expensive middle-man recruitment agency. Employers can upload their own job adverts, shortlist, interview and select. Notice how many job ads now state "No agencies required". Jobs can be full time, part time, permanent and contract positions - it depends on a company's needs. But times are tough - why would an employer pay to use a recruitment agency when they have access to the same tools as the recruitment agency? Sometimes it is all about the industry or the hard to fill roles and these still get a guernsey for agencies. The IT industry is deemed to be 'specialist' and has cowboy recruiters running all over this area, trying to fool candidates into believing that they should be represented only by them (the recruiter) for very high paying contracted work. See they get a 20% fee for every hour billed for an IT contractor, lining their pockets nicely. You do the work and they get paid too!

    So applying direct to companies, even if they don't have an advertised position might seem daunting. And it might not get your foot in the door straight away. But you have a greater chance with this method and if you follow up and do the hard relationship networking work yourself rather than expecting a recruiter to find you a job - you will show the employer that you are someone worth interviewing at least - you present well, you're enthusiastic, show initiative and have a good attitude. Use the tools that employers use - LinkedIn is the first search they will usually do. And in selecting to change careers - make sure that you can offer what employers want, otherwise you are just raising false hopes.

    • RockSand on 11/03/2016 - 14:18

      Good read.. Learned something new!
      Thanks!

    • theStinge on 13/05/2016 - 14:21

      Appreciate the insights.

  • Brainwhacker on 23/04/2016 - 11:38

    It really hard to find a good agent; I initially tried for three months without success. For my current job it took about four months before I managed to get in touch with an agent who wanted to interview me before making a placement. Before the interview could be done a role came up through the agent. Keep on trying all options. You are more likely to be contacted by an agent if your qualifications match the role requirements. In case of a career change you will probably need to netwrok for a fairly experienced agent. All the best!

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