Recruitment Agencies - Best Way To Approach them? (IT related)

[Cliotoby]

What is the best way to approach them?

Point and shoot on jobsite/technojobs with no cover letter? (With cover letter?)

Find a job on jobsite/etc you want, then "submit your cv" to their website directly?

Ring them?

Do they ever actually reply?

Only responses ive had from people are when ive applied for a grad scheme or recently for example directly to a school, bearing in mind these are using the same CV.

Its annoying as the majority of IT jobs are advertised through recruitment agencies.

 

[5678]

Do you have experience for the jobs you want to apply for? If so, then just fire off applications with your CV, potentially a phone call too if there is a number.

It's quite a cut throat way to apply for jobs though. Don't expect a response unless they think you are the right person. Don't waste your time with covering letters for agencies. As I said, a phone call can be far more effective way of introducing yourself.

Upload your CV to Monster, Jobsite & jobserve. Agencies will search these for candidates.

Get as many buzzwords into your CV as possible, they will be searchable. (Don't put anything there that you can't back up though, or at least be able to talk about it like you know what you're doing. A bit of blagging never hurt anyone!)

 

[Adam.]

f**k employment agencies. Never actually got anywhere with them yet have been offered every job I've applied for direct.

Says it all. Bunch of slimey fuckin crooks.

 

[Cliotoby]

Ill try the monster one. Think im on Jobserve and Jobsite.

Adam, agreed so far. My cousin said I should actually go visit the c***s and talk to them.

 

[LewisTaylor]

My girlfriend works in Recruitment, as for getting work, the happier you make them the more likely they are to give you work, take it like applying for any other job. But just expect to be used and abused, they will call you the day before your required to offer work. Most of the jobs they advertise aren't job's and are to just get you on there system for when they have work to fill.

But as said they are crooks, but it's now very much part of life It's easier for a major company to pay one bill for for amount of people than pay amount of times...

 

[Cliotoby]

My girlfriend works in Recruitment, as for getting work, the happier you make them the more likely they are to give you work, take it like applying for any other job. But just expect to be used and abused, they will call you the day before your required to offer work. Most of the jobs they advertise aren't job's and are to just get you on there system for when they have work to fill.

But as said they are crooks, but it's now very much part of life It's easier for a major company to pay one bill for for amount of people than pay amount of times...

Cheers. How would they set about searching their database?

Do they look only at the title of a CV, so for networks should I have Network in the title or just my name?

 

[LewisTaylor]

Cheers. How would they set about searching their database?

Do they look only at the title of a CV, so for networks should I have Network in the title or just my name?

I can't comment on your sector of recruitment tbh, my girlfriend does construction, and I'm a carpenter

Generally if they have a job to fill its highest recomended first, then most qualified/ polite people, then if they are desperate anyone else who is on the database!

 

[5678]

Is it some sort of network engineer role you're after?

In terms of what to put on your CV, get everything on there. Short bullet point form with relative experience and all applicable technologies and terms.

For IT, agencies are the only real option IMO, most companies turn to them for staff, but don't expect to be treated especially well unless they think they can make some money out of you!

I've worked IT contracts for nearly 10 years now and deal with agencies and recruiters almost daily. Once you get to know a few and get a good rep then they will come to you. I've not had to apply for a job for the past 4 years! If you want some pointers on your CV then drop me a line via PM.

 

[...]

Also don't sign up for to many agencies , if your CV goes in from 2 of them there will always be a battle for who placed you and who collects the commission , companies hate this (i have this issue when using agencies as an employer) so try and select a few specialist agencies in your field .

one good one who appreciates your skills is the best approach , but if your skills are good and your a marketable asset to the agency then they will find you work .

my wife gets maybe 3 or 4 offers at the moment a week , but is already in a decent contract but in certain sectors the markets are good .

 

[ChrisR]

When I've been looking for IT jobs I've done pretty much the same each time and it's worked out ok.

I tend to use CWJobs almost exclusively as it's been the best site for me in the past, just keep your CV up to date (re-upload it every few days when actively looking for a role as it puts it up to the top of the pile again on the views that recruiters see) and get a reasonably general cover letter on your profile.

This makes it quicker/easier when applying for jobs through the site as you've already got a template cover letter there to fill in the blanks such as name, job ref etc.

Then just apply for stuff, one stage a while ago I was applying for a silly number of things a day just to see what would 'stick' as there's a lot of stuff out there you just never hear back from. Don't be too precious about choosing stuff to apply for if you're in the position of just wanting a job, apply for anything and everything that's relevant

As above once you get into things the work can start coming to you, I still get calls seeing if I'm available for positions when my cv is about 18months out of date on the sites and I'm really not looking for anything now. Guess that does depend on which areas you're working in though as some will be more in demand than others.

 

[Cookie]

My CV on the job sites is 3 years out of date and I still get at least 5 calls a week, especially at the moment. Pisses me off. Stoopid agencies.

 

[BatFastard]

I got my first job through an employment agency and to be honest I couldn't fault them for finding me the position. I got offered an interview next day - did get a ton of calls every day from different agencies though asking for experience which weren't on my CV but otherwise I got a job quite sharpish.

 

[MarkCup]

I'd call and arrange a meeting with the agency first of all.

If you find a reputable one, meet with them, convince them of your abilities etc. and if you tick all the right boxes you may find they'll go out of their way to place you.

I was out of work for 5 weeks last year, toured the agencies, settled on two. Met both of them and gelled with the consultant from one of them.

He then seemed to spend every other hour for the next two weeks trying to find me something...in the end I got the perfect role through.

Crooks? Maybe. Find the right one though and you're laughing.

 

[sbridgey]

My CV on the job sites is 3 years out of date and I still get at least 5 calls a week, especially at the moment. Pisses me off. Stoopid agencies.

Forward them to me Cookie, I do networking

 

[Cookie]

Forward them to me Cookie, I do networking

These are HD roles. I've only been in a dedicated networks role since August last year, so the agencies don't know that yet. Not about to update my CV on there either.

 

[sbridgey]

Shame. LOL.

 

[Cliotoby]

Ones been in touch (Not heard of them before), but only because one of my contacts has just been placed in a major job by him, so hes mentioned me and the guys been in touch asking for my cv.

Hopefully something will come of it.

What sort of questions do they ask then?

What I did in my degree, perhaps my skills or something?

 

[Addicted]

Already been said I imagine as I'm a bit late, but I just put my CV on Jobsite/Monster/TotalJobs, and had a gazillion calls in the next following weeks from Agencies (had 12 just in the first day). Oh and email spam, expect a lot of email spam - it's probably worth setting up a separate email for it, or at least filter them.

It was good at the time, but there are so many agencies which are useless - for the life of you whatever you do, do not allow ComputerFutures to add you, they are utter pants and are nigh on impossible to get removed from which breaches a ton of laws but seem to get away with it.

They all generally ask the same - "what 'role' are you looking for", what your current situation is, when you are available for interviews etc etc. A lot of the time they won't have read your CV before ringing you which is stupid on their end so expect to answer questions you clearly have on your CV, I proceeded at this point to ask to be removed from their database, if they can't be arsed to read my CV before getting into contact then I can't be arsed to deal with them.

The only recruitment agency I found useful were Big Red Recruitment, and it just so happens thats who I got my current job through. There was no hassle, no retardedness and it all went smoothly.

Edit: Also try and avoid "Monarch Recruitment" - the same woman ended up ringing me 10-15 times are starting the "new" conversation every single time, an absolute moron - we'd go through the same process of "I've found your CV on ______, so what kind of roles are you looking for?" - even though usually I'd already spoke to her the previous day and answered the exact same questions.

 

[Gray]

My CV on the job sites is 3 years out of date and I still get at least 5 calls a week, especially at the moment. Pisses me off. Stoopid agencies.

This.

I've been bombarded with calls this week, not sure where the increase has come from?! I've Had 4 today FFS.


'I see you have just graduated University and currently looking for work'

'Yes....... 5 years ago'


I've only found success from applying for jobs direct the Company.

 

[Addicted]

This.

I've been bombarded with calls this week, not sure where the increase has come from?! I've Had 4 today FFS.


'I see you have just graduated University and currently looking for work'

'Yes....... 5 years ago'

You can remove your CV's from said websites by the way, I now only get an email or two every few weeks thank god!

 

[Gray]

You can remove your CV's from said websites by the way, I now only get an email or two every few weeks thank god!

yes I know that

The calls this week have prompted me to have a tidy up and just keep with a couple of websites.

 

[Cliotoby]

So what do they say when they ring you.

 

[Cliotoby]

Anyone?

What do they want to speak to you about? Assuming this will be some sort of casual telephone interview, although not competency obviously.

Just what I did at uni, my qualifications etc.

 

[Addicted]

Check my long post above.

 

[Cliotoby]

Derp, thanks

One of my contacts has been in touch with the recruitment agency that put him in a job and passed my details to them so they want to talk now. They have grad roles on their site too which is good.

 

[Pedro19]

Some good information on here, I'm currently looking at full time employment with a IT role within a company but I'll be doing so without a degree, just college qualifications. I'll see how it goes after I sign up to some agencies.

How does the whole thing work? I sign up, they find the jobs for me and if I get one they get a commission from it and that's it?

 

[Addicted]

^ Yep

They'll do a short Q&A on the phone to see what you want to do etc, then they'll line you up with interviews.

Sometimes they may hold pre-interview interviews to see if you are suitable, but most companies won't as most are s**t and just want the commission

 

[Cliotoby]

Sweet, had two ring me today already haha.

Applied for a role in bristol last night, got a phonecall an hour ago. And just had a call from the agency that one of my contacts passed my details to.

Looking positive.

 

[Ronnie R]

Michael Page are pretty good in my experience.

 

[Cliotoby]

f**k, may have the biggest opportunity ill ever get in my career soon.

Ill have to pass an assessment centre tho FML.

 

[ChrisR]

Cool, big/well known company? Was it the one in Bristol?

 

[Cliotoby]

No ha. Major player in the internetz world.

 

[sbridgey]

I wonder who that is...

 

[Pedro19]

Just applied for around 6-8 jobs. Junior 1st line technical support. I used Reed.

Awaiting feedback

 

[Cliotoby]

I got turned down from a 1st line DST role for being too over-qualified. w*****s.

 

[Pedro19]

I got turned down from a 1st line DST role for being too over-qualified. w**kers.

I got turned down for one because I need 1-2 years experience :/

It's hard getting that initial experience!

 

[Alex_6n2]

There seems to be a lot of negative stance towards agents here... Which is understandable as there are QUITE a few crap ones.

However, take note, not every recruitment agent is an idiot or there to abuse you.

If you're getting annoyed with agents calling you because your CV is on a job board, TAKE IT OFF THE JOB BOARD. It's not hard

Find a good agent that is willing to work with you and find you the right opportunity. As a general rule avoid the larger agencies, as they employ idiots on low basic pay with terrible commission structures. Smaller agencies pay better and this attracts the best agents in the industry.

I've been in the industry over a year now and not had one single person that's been unhappy with me. I keep in touch with everyone that isn't successful and often find them a job weeks or even months later when the right thing crops up.

Agents are a useful job hunting tool. But like any tool you have to have the right one, and you have to use it correctly.

 

[Cookie]

Agents are cnuts for the most part, this is absolute fact.

Some are good. 99.99% are cnuts, though.

 

[Pedro19]

One step further, my CV got sent to the employer via the recruitment agency

 

[ChrisR]

Agents are a useful job hunting tool. But like any tool you have to have the right one, and you have to use it correctly.

I would agree, most agents are tools I've had lots of dealings with them over the years and can count the number of ones who have been decent to me on one hand. Good ones are out there and they have been brilliant for me, but they seem to be mixed in with a lot of s**t.