How to compare recruitment agencies (Blog)

UKFF Mod · 13-08-2009, 10:10 AM

When you first start freelancing, one of the hardest things to do is compare the different recruitment agencies you encounter. When you hand your CV to the agent, how much do you know about the company that will be representing you to their clients? Here's a quick guide to some things you should consider.

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If you have any comments to make about this blog post feel free to start the debate below!

Malvolio · 13-08-2009, 10:35 AM

Thanks a million for pubishing this. I really needed cheering up...

Azazel · 13-08-2009, 12:16 PM

We're a lovely bunch, honest.

What you need to do is go out into the car park and check the agent's cars. If they have Porsche 911s, it's time to run.

No fee for this advice.

Azazel.

Malvolio · 13-08-2009, 01:16 PM

Don't know or care about permie recruiting, but from where I sit the perfect agenct (a) has a valid job that he's allowed to resource, (b) knows some suitable candidates from his own records not a randome selection off Jobserve, (c) understands their abilities and isn't just looking to tick off a list of technical qualifications and industry verticals and so (d) can put good people in front of his clients who can actually do the job.

I haven't seen any evidence of that for at least five years, which is why the original article made me spray coffee all over the keyboard. And people say freelancers live in fantasy land.

Azazel · 13-08-2009, 01:26 PM

Malvolio,

I'm not going to say there aren't some really ****e standards at there. There plainly are. I can't stand other people in recruitment that try to protest that it's a small minority. It's a sizeable chunk of the recruiting world.

And it's instilled in them from the day they join the company. I know of some tactics for sourcing jobs that I know wouldn't surprise you (as you have a lot of experience in this game) but would turn the hair white of people outside this world.

But there is, honest to ****ing god, decent recruiters out there. And if I could make one addition to that article, I would probably say "most wideboys work for, or used to work for a big agency".

PLENTY of people will disagree with that, but in my experience those poor souls come through the door on day one, they're told SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL and given targets to hit, they're told to simply fill a position by using someone that matches a few keywords and then spat out the month they don't hit a target. To them that's the culture. Live fast, live wide, burn out. I've interviewed them and if I was to take them on I would have to completely re-educate them.

So like I said, I'm not going to lie or brush over some of the unsavoury characters in our game, but at the same time I will NEVER say we're all like that.

The SMG · 13-08-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malvolio

I haven't seen any evidence of that for at least five years, which is why the original article made me spray coffee all over the keyboard. And people say freelancers live in fantasy land.

The thought of you doing that has just made me laugh out loud!

Malvolio · 13-08-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azazel

So like I said, I'm not going to lie or brush over some of the unsavoury characters in our game, but at the same time I will NEVER say we're all like that.

Of course you're not. I've spent too much time working with agents with a PCG hat on to think that there are not good guys around, and I've seen more than a few in my profsessional life as well. But they are increasingly rare and the bulk market is geared to the commodity broker types, not the agents. The big boys have screwed the market, set unrealistic expectations in the clients' minds (epsecially the drones in Human Remains) and now it's getting difficult we're seeing the downside.

But you will admit it gets frustrating having some 25 year old with exactly 9 months history in the game (I look them up on Linkedin, its frightening how many of them are utterly unqualified for the job they're doing) telling me, a 30-years experienced senior PM, that I'm not qualified to manage an office move or an application delivery.

Actually there's a challenge for you. I'll PM you my website, there's profile and case studies pages on there, how many roles have you had recently that are within my scope?

CrazyMoose · 14-08-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malvolio

Of course you're not. I've spent too much time working with agents with a PCG hat on to think that there are not good guys around, and I've seen more than a few in my profsessional life as well. But they are increasingly rare and the bulk market is geared to the commodity broker types, not the agents. The big boys have screwed the market, set unrealistic expectations in the clients' minds (epsecially the drones in Human Remains) and now it's getting difficult we're seeing the downside.

But you will admit it gets frustrating having some 25 year old with exactly 9 months history in the game (I look them up on Linkedin, its frightening how many of them are utterly unqualified for the job they're doing) telling me, a 30-years experienced senior PM, that I'm not qualified to manage an office move or an application delivery.

Actually there's a challenge for you. I'll PM you my website, there's profile and case studies pages on there, how many roles have you had recently that are within my scope?

How are you finding the market Malvolio? I'm interested to hear if starting a contracting career is the best thing to do right now. My wife is seriously considering jumping back into the job market but with so much uncertainty it's a bit of a daunting prospect.

Thanks
CM

Malvolio · 14-08-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyMoose

How are you finding the market Malvolio? I'm interested to hear if starting a contracting career is the best thing to do right now. My wife is seriously considering jumping back into the job market but with so much uncertainty it's a bit of a daunting prospect.

Thanks
CM

If she hasn't got current skills and an active history as a freelance, or a niche skillset that may be in demand somewhere, I can't say I'd reccomend it right now. My problem is not a shortage of abiliity and expereince, nor of work to go for, but a vast oversupply of candidates for every role: people apply for anything regardless of abiltity, the agents are swamped and it's pure chance if you even get noticed. And if you do, there will be two or three people in the shortlist who have exactly the right skills in the same industry and clients will naturally go for them first.

One way to prove it is to try it. Look up a dozen roughly suitable jobs on Jobserve or one of the other sites (ContractorUK has a pretty good search engine), and see what happens when she applies.