[Egh]

[FannyAdams]

[FannyAdams]

By the way Foxy, have you found a job yet?!

[Egh]

[phat-dave]

Is anyone familiar with these two recruitment firms please?

- Opus Mitchell
- Oakland Partnership

I'm seeking some feed back as I'd like to register with them when I arrive in the UK.

Thanks

[REC]

[Foxy79]

Hi Fanny,

I did get a job offer but I wasnt too keen because the location is too far from where I live. It wont be able to cover my travel expenses. By the way, have you heard of an agency called Allanlane? They called me regarding an IT position. I have never heard of them!

[strangefruit]

I'm at my wits end and thought I'd throw this out there. I am a recent arts graduate (shoot me now) with virtually no admin experience. I've been trying for small-fry admin and assistant roles directly with the kinds of media companies I'd like to work with. Of course though, with negligible experience I am having no luck, so would like to enrol with agencies specialising in media, publishing, and creative-type junior roles. Problem is, I don't think anyone would take me on, for precisely the same reason as I'd encountered when applying direct to firms. NO EXPERIENCE! Probably agencies themselves'd be even less willing to take a risk on an unknown quantity. So, finally to get to the point, I'd like to know if anyone has had experience of agencies in Central London that take on candidates with little more than a wing and a prayer. I have a first class degree and good academic record - just looking for that first admin job that might lead to bigger and better things. Temporary, permanent, contract, full/part time, doesn't matter.

[michaelwinner]

1. Manned by fat uneduated females who don't understand the area of work you are looking for e.g. Finance when they are working as a 'Specialist Financial Consultant'. I had some girl from Hays probing my cv and had never heard of City and Guilds before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. They ring you up on a withheld number and insist on you coming into their office yet when you arrive the point is not to see how you comport yourself or probe your cv further (which it is supposed to be), it's a case of them actually reading you cv properly and then realising they can't help you anyway. A waste of time for both them and you!!!!!!!!! They have a penchant for you filling out loads of unnecessary paperwork BEFORE they talk to you (wasting more time!)

3. They are never truthful. Why do they feel the need to book an appointment with you over the telephone, tell you they will email you confirmation and then never email you. They aren't professional enough to end the telephone conversation by saying 'Sorry, I can't help you'.

4. They try to match you to daft roles like Chief Financial Controller of Enron Corporation because they see you are studying the CIMA qualification! Hilarious.

IN SHORT, THEY ARE ALL A FUCKING WASTE OF TIME. THEY WILL TRY AND RIP YOU OFF SALARY WISE, KNOCK YOUR CONFIDENCE TO TAKE A SALARY CUT, TALK RIDDLES ABOUT HAVING A VARIETY OF ROLES FOR YOU, ADVERTISE NON-EXISTENT ROLES ACROSS THE WEB, RING YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER TO OFFER THEM A REPLACEMENT FOR YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB (THE CHEEK) AND GENERALLY DO NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU - ALL THEY ARE BOTHERED ABOUT IS 'PLACING PEOPLE' IN WHATEVER ROLE THEY CAN TO HIT THEIR TARGETS AND EARN THEIR COMMISSION.

Because this shit country is so fucked up, they are naturally taking over the whole recruitment process, spreading like Subway outlets.

My best advice: Do not deal with these clowns, get yourself fully qualified in whatever area of work you do e.g. qualified accountant and write to employers direct with a cover letter and your cv in mass yet personable mail shots. If you go down their route and play their game you will jeopardise your career.

[phat-dave]

[gum]

they are all a bunch of assholes...even the more well known like morganspencer, adept, headway, gordon yates, la creme, next, etc...all a bunch of fakes...they make u waste ur time to sign up and never help u after...go directly to employers...forget those stupid agencies!!!

[brunel]

I currently work/temp for an agency called Support Horizons, based in Berkshire. Support Horizons supplies temporary support workers to clients with learning disabilities. The agency runs in the same manner as a larger company, such as Reed, with one important exception. Support Horizons is a Community Interest Company. They have a board of members, some of which are disabled, who have a say in what the company does. Anybody who works for Support Horizons can become a member of the company. I am completly satisfied with the agency and have signed myself up to become a member. I found the staff very friendly and approachable. Support Horizons is a very small recruitment agency, therefore they take an interest in the candidates as well as the clients.

[ChopChop_Onion]

[Susan N]

If you are searching online for jobs, then you should use job search engines to cut down your time. In the UK, there is indeed.com, www.jobbind.com, and others. By visiting one site, you get connected to many career sites.

Hope that it would help,

Susan N

[brunel]

[Bluey]

Yes, it's true - recruitment agencies are profit driven enterprises who get their income from the client, not the candidate, so they spend their time wooing them, not the job seekers who are a mere nuisance between the client and the cash.

They will simply forward a small number of strong CVs that meet but probably exceed the job spec which means 90% of applicants are likely to be tossed aside after a cursory glance. Competition is tough for the candidates who could be potentially competing with dozens if not hundreds of applicants - over supply with little demand for them.

[castlelgr]

[mailramz]

hi REC,

I am an international Student, doing my MBA in finance. i will be graduating in july,2008 and would apply for post study work scheme (new catogory instead of IGS). i am interested in pursuing a career in financial services and hence took subjects like corporate finance (valuation, trading), capital markets (fx, equity markets, bond market, etc..), derivaties and risk management (swaps, futures, forwards, finding interest rates, bond prices etc..)

i did my dissertation in 'valuation of CAPM on UK markets (FTSE 100, FTSE 350, AIM 1000) from 1997 -2007; the results of which i found out that CAPM failed to predict the changes during the IT boom till 2000, recession till 2002 and the boom again till 2005/6.

i am currently looking to enter the financial services (the likes of investment banking). I require your advice on how to go about in getting entry job in financial services.

[Bluey]

[Foxy79]

I had a terrible experience with Allanlane. The recruitment consultant called me and told me that I stood a very good chance in landing a job with NHS. I was excited and I went to see him. He assured me that I will surely get the job and I have nothing to worry about. He called me the following day saying that NHS has already shortlisted the candidates and my application was too a bit too late and its not me! WTF??? I was so pissed. I just dont get it! How do these people do their jobs??? I was really dissapointed..

[Darren799]

haupt recruitment are by far the biggest shambles of a recruitment company you can get...
they take 'untaxable elements'???
from your wages and just seem to pull a figure out of the air, knocking you for your hard earned dough.

[Jase1982]

Having been out of work for 6 months now, agencies are my specialist subject.....

I don't think they're deliberately poor, just, as I believe has already been mentioned here, uneducated.....not sure how much training they receive, but I don't think their training ever targets the right area.

In my experience of agencies, most advisors I have dealt with have fantastic interpersonal skills and would be great working in a customer service environment....as for even a basic understading of ANY profession, which they are seeking to match to the right candidate??? Doesn't exist. My main gripe would be that these jokers are supposed to be selling me to a client, yet they often don't bother to read my CV....and it's clear they don't, the advisors often don't make any effort to hide the fact they haven't read my CV...

I'm also frustrated that certain agencies tend to put me across to clients at a particular salary....for instance, the position will be listed at between £18K - £24K and the advisor will stick me across at £20K...reminds me of a conversation I had once with an advisor...he informed me what the job had been listed at, and then proceeded to ask me what salary I would want between £18K - £24K...I said well, obviously I am currently on XXX, but wouldn't obviously turn down £24K....he then stuttered something before then saying they'd put me across at £20K....to my mind, making the client aware of my financial expectations would, or could effectively rule me out of the running....

The best agencies are definitely ones that are specifically designed towards a particular sector, they tend to know what they're talking about, and recognise how to fit the right candidate to the right position.

All standard agencies that I'm signed up to like, Matchtech, Workshop, Advanced Recruitement, Staffwise, and Office Angels to name but a few are all the same. Quantity over quality, uneducated, poor communication...etc etc

I've been through agencies before and had success, so I believe it is purely pot luck as to whether you get anything through any of them.

[Redbandit]

I have to say that as a recruiter I'm both amazed by peoples lack of thought - as a recruiter we have to deal with clients who make unreasonable demands and refuse to pay even when satisfied - we have workers who fail to turn up for interviews, or jobs...
I work in a specialist recruitment field now and its normally pretty good - however ask yourself this - you've a job - you find and meet a candidate - go through the job with them - the company web site - then prep them for the interview - you call the morning before to check all's ok - it is - and then......... THEY DONT TURN UP>> OR CALL ..
THE CLIENT GOES MAD - SWEARS AT YOU - DEMANDS MONEY FOR WASTED TIME... I kid you not...
The candidate - when you finally get hold of them - couldn't be bothered - or was busy and as we're 'only recruiters' we don't deserve common decency...
PLEASE remember that it IS a job and we do expect to be treated with respect not contempt - if you think its SO easy = try it - you will find that it needs long hours - often for poor pay....

[Spongeola]

I’m really not surprised that so many of you have had such bad services from recruitment agencies. Most of them recruit consultants who come from a sales background and can think no further than the amount of commission they are going to take home at the end of the month. They have little concern for what you really want and probably no understanding of the industry you are looking to work in.

I am a recruiter and would advise anyone looking to register with an agency to judge whether or not you want them to work from you based on the initial conversation you have with them. It is probably better to call rather than drop in as this will enable you to ask questions about how they are going to find the right job for you. You should be able to establish quite quickly, based on their attitude, whether or not they are offering a professional service and worth your time and effort registering with.

It is better to register with the more specialist agencies and don’t be put off if they don’t immediately have exactly the right role you are looking for. I have dealt with candidates who have been given the complete run around by other agencies and to add to this they will market your details without your knowledge so don’t let them get their grubby hands on your CV in the first place unless you are absolutely sure they have your best interests at heart. I spend at least an hour with all my candidates getting to know them as people as well as fully understanding the contents of their CV and their future goals. I deal honestly and openly with my clients and my candidates.

Just remember it is your future, so don’t leave it in the hands of someone who doesn’t really give a dam; do your homework and make a good few phone calls before you make your next move. Good Luck.

[32ford]

Greycoat Placements and Masseys both in London. Absolute abortions. Steer well clear of these 2. Will me u about, advertise jobs that dont exhist. A minority of agencys are ok BUT most are no more than shit bag 2 bob firms, god knows how they stay in business.