PA and Secretary Community - Deskdemon.com

Can anyone out there tell me what it is about agencies - they ask you to come in to register with them and do not even have the courtesy to contact you afterwards.  You email your CV to them and they ignore you and do not even have an automatic set up facility on their PC's to at least acknowledge that they have received your email - I just don't get it and paranoia is sinking in fast

Some people just have no manners - this is business we are talking about - how on earth they manage to run theirs I do not know!!

I have to agree with you. I've always made it my responsibility to stay in touch with my agencies, working on the theory that although there's one of them for me, there's hundreds of me for them. Recently though, the old (not that old- I've only been in this market for seven years) style of building a relationship seems to have completely gone out of the window, even with agencies that I've done work for before.

Bethalize
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff

Agencies have a high turnover, given that agents work on commission.  After an assignment, it's not surprising to see new staff when checking in again.  

Some tend to have their favorites, usually those that can be rented out for a lower pay because that's the "maximum a client can pay" -- lowering a temp's cut increases theirs.  

It's usually best to register with every agency out there.  Once you accept an assignment and have your foot in the door at a few firms, you can network to see what else they have to offer.  

With those new friends it'll be easier to be in the loop of job openings, rather than rely on commissioned salespeople.  Not all agents will say you are available, even when you are, so you might be contacted by the client before the agent has a chance to line up one of their other favorites.  

 CopyBoy007
DeskDemon Forum Board Staff

Administrator's note: this thread moved to Admins 4 Admins as content more relevant to that forum.


winkiebear
Deskdemon Editorial Board Member

I recently was looking for a new job as the company I had been working for went our of business.  I registered and tested with almost all of the temp agencies in the Northern Delaware area.  If  I did not check with each one on a weekly basis I never heard from them. Never even got an interview in three months from any one of them. Temp agencies are not what they used to be.  I even took the time to lodge a complaint with the powers that be at these agencies and did not get a satisfactory answer, if I got an answer at all.

The internet and close networking with the members of my IAAP Chapter got me interviews.  And a new job three weeks ago. In fact just after I accepted my new position I got a call and e-mail from Chrysler Corp. that stated they really want me and could I start on Monday.  The call and e-mail came on Friday.  I e-mailed them that I had accepted and started a new position.  I'm not sure they even got that e-mail, no response.  I guess I was kind of hoping they might come up with a counter offer that I just couldn't refuse.  Oh well, I am truly happy where I am now and I am learning a lot.

Bank to original topic, in my opinion, temp agencies and all but useless.  They had better realize that we are clients too and without us they wouldn't be making any money at all.

Just my two cents worth.

DDiva

I totally agree.  I am currently trying to organise a move from Glasgow to Leicester (to join my SO who has a new job).  I have spoken to a number of agencies, sent them my CV and asked if I could possibly register and be interviewed by them in their Glasgow office and go to Leicester for any job interviews that I was offered.  They seem unable / unwilling to help - don't they get that it is really difficult (and expensive) to get time off work to make a ten hour round trip just to talk to them, especially if I have to do it time and again for job interviews.  Instead they tell me to "pop into the office when you've moved here".  I can't afford to just quit my job and move house - what if I didn't get a new job for a while?

I am trying the job section of the local papers because I feel I might have more luck with a direct approach.

I can't be the first person that has done this - you would think they would have come across this situation before.

Can you tell that I have started to get really frustrated with this??

Agencies are a complete waste of time in my view.  I signed on with all of the agencies in my town last June when I was looking for a new job and some out of town as well.  In total I registered with 15 agencies.  Out of those only 3 agencies managed to get me an interview within the first week and then nothing (even though I was told by all that I was just the type of person their clients were looking for).  I was phoning every other day, calling in once a week for updates and checking their adverts in the papers ensuring that they were putting me forward for the jobs.  I finally found my own job in November last year through the local papers and as a test I decided not to let the agencies know.  In January this year I had a few letters from the various agencies telling me how much effort they were putting in on my behalf to find the position that best suited me and to my knowledge they are still "looking".

However, I have found that if you want to temp then the agencies will bend over backwards to find you a position.

I suppose the easiest way to ensure you get a good service from the agencies is to let them know that when you do get your dream job, and they helped you find it, you will ensure that when you need good staff you will contact them as they "were the best".  Blackmail, I know but maybe it will work!

I also found my new job from an advert not thanks to the agencies.  I had only registered with 4 agencies.  One had a job but I eventually went for the interview nearly 6 weeks later.  I registered with one because they had a job for which my CV was perfect but the job had gone - as usual.  Another one called me and told me about this great job then nothing for a few days. In the meantime I accepted that other job and when the agency called to arrange an interview, I told them I didn't even know they had put me forward since they never rang me!
I found my job on either reed.co.uk or fish4jobs.co.uk, can't remember.  Companies do put their jobs online on their own website as well.
Good luck.
Bea

Caroline

I know it is frustrating, but it may simply be easier, in the long run, for you to make the move south and register once you're there.  You could always temp for starters, and that would also give you a good way of getting to know the local companies and the layout of the city (assuming you don't know much about it already)

My own personal experience of agencies is much the same - they don't contact you.  That said, I was registered about 4 years ago with an agency (I decided I needed a proper job with a regular salary, lol!) and they phoned me last week to see if I was still job hunting!  Needless to say I hadn't heard from them much after the first month or so . . .!

Good luck, no doubt you'll keep us posted with your progress!

Jackie
www.iqps.org
DeskDemon Forum Board Staff