[ChickenLicken]

I agree with people who say Reed are one of the worst agencies. I have worked for them on an ongoing temporary assignment in the past, that ended up being for 8 months. I always turned up on time, did my job really well etc etc... no complaints from them or the company I was assigned to, in fact I got very good reviews from both parties.

Fast foward a couple of years and I go back to my local Reed branch, having updated my online registration and explain that I am, once again, looking for temporary work again. Obviously in the current economic climate, I realised that getting a temp job might prove difficult and take a while, but on the basis of having been a good employee I expected Reed to take some kind of interest in me! The receptionist was very nice, checked my online record, looked at my CV and spoke with me for a few minutes about what I was looking for and then told me to call the temp desk every few days to remind them I am still looking. This was fine, so I left and did as she said.

Every time I called, I got stalled by someone else on the telephone saying that the temporaries consultant was at a meeting, with a candidate etc., and taking my name and number stating that she would call me back that afternoon. Of course I got NEVER got a call back. I am not the type of person to give up at the first hurdle, but I find this behaviour un-professional and unacceptable. I know that in all the jobs I have worked in, if I had behaved this way, I would have been reprimanded or sacked. In fact, it would never occur to me to treat people like that. If she had no work for me, all she had to do was to call me and tell me that she didn't have anything/didn't think it was likely they would have anything/wasn't interested in looking for me or whatever the reason might be...

The only comforting fact is that I know I am not the only person to be treated like this by them as around where I live and amongst the 'professional' temps I know, they have a really bad reputation.

I have worked for 2 other agencies and have signed up with them (as well as 2 new ones) again. Adecco has always treated me really well and been very communicative and they were honest and told me that at the moment they have nothing, but should anything suitable come in they would contact me. That is the kind of treatment I think we should expect! Honesty and professionalism. Office Angels have also been professional and kept me informed of what is going on so that I at least feel like they are taking some interest in me. I know they have a lot of candidates on their books, but one 1 minute phonecall a week is not much to ask when you have gone to the effort of signing up with their agencies, filling in their reams of forms and going to an interview with them.

I know that there are too many candidates chasing too few jobs, so really the agencies can treat us how they like. It just seems a shame that people have to be so rude about the process.

[tofftrader]

BBC Scotland recently produced a programme which described some of the 'dirty tricks' used by some recruitment agencies, particularly posting non-existent jobs simply to get hold of lots of fresh CVs.

Read our story here

[Cipriann]

Hello everyone,
my name is Ciprian, 25 years old and i live in Deva (country: Romania) and looking to be an au-pair, case Carer, Carer children, manipulator, merchandise or any help in England...
I am a calm and brave man, I know a lots of interesting things, know how to use any apparatus domestic patience and I need to listen to any man, I love: animals, sports and nature walks. I noted that i am non-smocker and non-aloolic. So this is me in a few words.
Best regards.
Cipriancry@yahoo.com
ID Yahoo: Cipriancry
ID Skype: Cipriancry

[Lupy]

I think that instead of spending all of your energy slagging recruitment agencies and consultants off, you should get off your A*** and do something constructive. If you are sure your arguments are correct, why not find yourslef a job as a consultant to find out what it is really like in the industry (or maybe you consider yourself too good or not fat enough for this industry)

Just a couple of points for you to consider.....

1. There are nearly 3 million un-employed people in England. For each job I advertise I get 200 - 300 applicants to screen. Out of these, I end up with around 5 that are suitable for the role. My clients don't have the time to deal with this amount of un-suitable people, hence the reason they pay me to do it!

2. We are here to put you forward for relevant vacancies, not teach you how to apply for them. Get some CV writing advice and build a top class CV and you might be in with a chance.

3. If we get a good CV that has potential but we do not have a job available at present, we invite you to the office to make sure you present yourself well in person as well as on paper. A good consultant can find a good candidate a job once they know the person better.

4. Being 'fat' does not contribute to how a person works, however you will find that 'fat' people are always more happy and bubbly as they are not constantly starving themselves hence making them feel miserable.

5. Clients usually put their jobs out to a few different agencies, therefore speed is essential. If we have already met with you in person and have you on our 'database' it makes it quicker for both sides. We will not put people forward if we have not met with them.

I really urge you to try your hand at recruitment.... It is not a 9-5 job, in fact, the recruitment industry I work in is 24 hrs so I am usually awake at 5:30am filling shifts and still doing it til midnight!

[mikejdavis]

In my considered opinion a consultant is an expert or somebody who is highly qualified. This name should not apply to those in Recruitment. This is blatant telesales which often attracts individuals with little formal training or qualifications hence the limited criteria to become a sales agent is part of the widespread industry issues. Why would anyone who is qualified either academically or vocationally consider a career as a sales agent this one of the great frustrations to many candidates the dubious standards which allows these sales agents to offer their unique expertise! Furthermore the whole recruitment industry lacks any sort of transparency which i would be delighted to comment on should you wish.

[michaelwinner]

For each job I advertise I get 200 - 300 applicants to screen – Much of the reason for such a high response can be attributed to poor advertising by Recruitment Agencies (and ultimately poor processes). When job adverts are so vague, sloppy and unprofessional, which 99% of recruitment agencies job adverts are and are listed on pathetic unprofessional ill-maintained recruitment websites, it attracts swarms of CV’s. In short, the process is a complete shambles so everybody is just firing off their CV to any email address they see over any job, in the hope that one of the many idiots at the other end will see the CV and have a vacancy suitable.

Remember that the perfect job advert attracts only one application and that applicant is taken on.

Quite clearly you don’t know what you’re doing.


We are here to put you forward for relevant vacancies, not teach you how to apply for them – If that’s your narrow-minded attitude then I can see why a large number of your ‘candidates’ that you put forward for interview will and do fail. You’re neglecting your own product that you’re ultimately trying to sell.

You obviously can’t see beyond the money, but then you are a sales agent by definition so that’s understandable.

Being 'fat' does not contribute to how a person works, however you will find that 'fat' people are always more happy and bubbly as they are not constantly starving themselves hence making them feel miserable. – Fat female caramel topped coffee-swilling recruitment agents are also more ill-tempered, gobby and autocratic, a trait developed in their previous job working as a call centre team manager and from mid-afternoon headaches due to high sugar intake/ late nights watching ‘S*x in the City’ repeats.

[Lupy]

On certain points, I totally agree with your comments. However, the industry has shifted massively this last year. It is now a candidate driven market and people always try their luck when desperate for a job, hence firing their CV's at everyone possible.

Saying 'experience required' or 'Drivers only' in adverts still attracts people that have neither unfortunately.

I can see that my arguments are not going to change your mind, you seem stuck in your ways about us. So I am going to quit trying to change you and go back to running my highly successful recruitment agency.

P.S. If you need me to find you a job to get you out more feel free to send me your CV!!

[castlelgr]

To sum up.

If you dont like agencies, dont use them.

[ilovedogfood]

This topic is out of control. I would like to bring it back to earth by nominating.

Purple Recruitment.

• fail to set proper rates so your overtime can go completely unpaid
• smarmy, patronising consultants, that's you Pang
• my boyfriend declined a 6 week placement to honour a commitment to Purple which subsequently "wasn't ever confirmed". Whoops!
• If the most important day for recruitment agencies is Friday why were they unable to provide my workplace with good service. Because they had been drinking all afternoon.
• universally bad rep among freelancers and everywhere I've worked

Am I going to hell for this?

[melmui]

HAYS-(oxford street), rude , crazy and unprofessional!!

...dont use them and oh, dont get them mad either!!...lol

[mikejdavis]

Recruitment Step Change

1. Much tougher regulation being discussed for these Sales Agencies.

2. Company websites using their own personal websites for recruiting.

3. New job boards being developed for the candidate to deal directly with the employer only.

4. Companies and candidates more aware of the negatives of using Sales Agencies and the apathy is increasing.

5. Company advertisements displaying Strictly No Agencies when recruiting for new staff.

6. Professional high end Recruitment consultants are finally realising they must not be complicit in continued widespread poor recruitment practices.

7. In the current economic climate 25% of recruitment agencies will go out of business due to lack of vacancies (recent report in the FT).

8. Widespread image problems associated with agencies and agents often not help with the low entry criteria required to become a sales agent\ set up a Sales Agency.

9. Company HR Departments are using specialist HR\Recruitment firms (outsourcing) whilst not perfect it's better than the sales agent.

10. Company telephone interviews becoming more common and if professional quick, effective and cost effective without the need of the sales agent.

And please do not use the name consultant this really is demeaning to qualified experts especially those in the medical profession.

[castlelgr]

Im wortless

[Lupy]

Mike J Davis....

1. Totally agree, all other idustries are regulated, why not recruitment. This would then show the good ones from the bad.

2. This would will not work unless that company are at the top of search engines when searching for jobs.

3. This would mean employers get 100's of CV's of people who cannot read adverts correctly. They pay us to screen first and leave them with the suitable candidates.

4. There is enough negative press out there, including TV programmes, already yet we are still very much in existence!

5. See point 3

6. See point 1

7. These will be the 25% discribed in this forum. The 75% that stay in business will be the the ones no one ever talks about..... The good ones!

8. See point 1.

9. Agreed to a certain extent. Pushy sales agents give RECRUITMENT CONSULTANTS the negative press they get, however, if done correctly, sales need not be like that. Recruitment should be about building relationships throughout, not just your next wage package.

10. You cannot establish a person's suitability over the phone. Believe me!

CONSULTANT = a person who provides expert advice professionally (taken from oxford dictionary) No mention of qualifications here.

[ggalin]

[Bluey]

Many industries are not regulated.

Estate agents and letting agents are as deeply unpopular as recruitment agents and often work on a commission/sales basis like employment agencies. They are not regulated. Anyone can set themselves up to let property without any experience, qualifications or knowledge of housing law. There are a few professional bodies but membership is voluntary.

[qualitystreet]

[mikejdavis]

Another common trick these sales agents have increasingly developed is the contract rate oversight. This usually happens after you have secured the position. The rate suddenly drops due to market conditions or sales agent incompetence despite the rate having been agreed at the outset.

Two of my last secured contracts have resulted in a rate drop rate of 100 pw and 50per day respectively. Believing in fair play i waited until my start date of the contract and politely contacted the agent at 9.00am advising i have pulled the contract due to your incompetence and had secured a better offer. I believe he went to the gentlemens room to snort a performancing enhancing substance....

Don't trust these idiots ever. They also annoyingly eat pastries all the bleedin time...

[castlelgr]

Mike, were dumbed by a recruitment consultant by chance?

[mikejdavis]

MAYDAY recruitment.
SOS Recruitment.

What irony in those recruiting names! idiots at 4oclock roger that....

[Amor]

Worst agencies:

Tailored recruitment

Awful,awful awful!!!! Telephone manner like a pitbull, put me forward for an interview then called me when I got out and told me she'd call me back when she heard and then never did! I have no qualms with not getting jobs but some respect would be nice. Also evening before interview was quite obviously pissed and emailing me from her blackberry in the pub, to check i was attending the interview, knew where it was etc etc.

Reagan and Dean
Made me come down to register near new bond street, filling out masses of paper work for what was supposed to be an interview for a shop assistant job whilst I was at uni. Then confessed they were a media and creative job agency and the shop they were recruiting for wouldnt be open for another few months (i have never heard of this retailer, and i study fashion retail), then told me she'd email me the job spec, I followed it up with an email, and suprise never heard anything back.

NL RECRUITMENT

THESE ARE THE WORST. They often advertise on gumtree, I went along for the group interview (telesales, I am a student...) told us how it was a 6 week training period etc etc, I didnt get the job but my housemate did, they then laid her off after the 6 week period blaming "economic climate", but I know several more people that have fallen victim to this, they save money by constantly taking on new people and firing them after the 6 week period as it is cheaper for them to hire new staff. Awful to deal with and totally patronising and unprofessional.

<u>The best....(/u>
ROC Recruitment,
I worked for them over christmas in selfridges on oxford street. They are brillant, did good training, were always in contact if you needed them and were excellent about letting you know about extra shifts available and any that were cancelled. I cant speak highly enough of them.

I know that recruitment is difficult...(i say this as my boyfriend works in financial recruitment) and candidates are often awful,not turning up etc etc but a little respect goes a long way .....

[MartinHetherington]

It's all pretty depressing reading but the fact remains that if you are unemployed at the moment you cannot (well perhaps should not) steer clear of the agencies. I was made redundant in November 2008 (IT Manager/IT Project Manager in West Yorkshire) and it has been difficult.

Some agencies have been OK and some have been disgraceful....but I understand their issues. Today's market for them is having to read 200-300 CVs to get 5 decent ones to perhaps short-list down to 2 to send to the client. So don't expect them to call you back or spend a great deal of time reading your CV - follow up with a call to them. If they are busy, leave a message to call you back - but don't expect them to get back to you. Call again, keep calling until you get the chance to speak to them about your CV and your application for the role they are advertising. OK you might call it ignorance but you have to take the initiative and as much control as you can in the situation.

By the way - I am back in work - via an agency and yes, they are taking a cut of the pay but that's how it is. The alternative for me was to stay at home and carry on living off my limited savings. At least I have got an opportunity in the NHS, still doing IT so I can't complain - except it's not the same rate of pay I am used to. BUT it is an exceptional market and so you have to do something exceptional.

Also let's not forget that the number of opportunities for the agencies and consultants are fewer which means less money in their pocket. Some agencies have gone out of business and some consultants have been made redundant too - Michael Winner would probably say "not enough" (hopefully he will get HIS spelling and grammar correct) but right now they are a necessary evil.

Hopefully it's a temporary glitch - suck it up and bite your tongue with these people - but remember them when they are calling you in 12 months time when THEY need YOU.

[stu8888]

Hi all.

Generally its not the agencies, its more the actual consultant themselves that put a bad name out there. I have worked in IT Recruitment for 10 years with 3 different companies and believe me I have worked with some right Plonkers.

For all candidates out there please remember that 1 in 5 consultants are good at there jobs and you will need to sell your self to these agents for them to be willing to put effort into helping you find a job.

Lastly a top tip! When an agent calls take a number or email address and contact them back, this will ensure you have there details so you can chase them for feedback. No good agent will mind you chasing them and they should be honest enough to tell you they can’t help you rather hanging keeping you hanging on.

For any agents out there please take my advice and stay in contact and be honest with your candidates, there not going to be upset with you if they don't get a job and you tell them why (they can then use this information for future applications and interviews) they will be upset if they have no feedback as to why they did not get the job.

[MartinHetherington]

Got an email from Planet Recruit reckoning that "the toughest job market in a decade: cracked" by WORKTHING+.

I got an email from WORKTHING+ last week telling me that they had matched my CV to a potential opportunity and that I needed to watch a "DVD" for more information.

So I watched the "DVD" - actually an online video....no actors were used, only real people. It was working for Kleeneze distributing catalogues etc - I'm sure we all know about it. I'm glad my 18 years in IT and all my management and ITIL qualifications and experience count for something!!!!

[fadetoblack26]

Monarch
BBT
Matchtech
Penguin
Anders Elite
Reed
Allen & York
Working Smart

All useless, avoid!

[essexgirl154]

I have seen this as well. don't be fooled - it's a crude play by a job board that is not selling enough ads trying to extract money from its huge job seeker database by preying on peeps fears of not getting a job in this very tough market. Keep your cash and spend it on a makeover before your next interview!