Success Direct or through an Agency ?
Discussion
Just wondering of those that have found work in the past or more recently was that through your own efforts of networking/direct approaches/online applications or was it with the help of an agency?
Years ago mid 90s to say 2005 I found agencies could get me into a new role a click of a switch. I didnt even have to find the jobs the agency found them for me and discussed them over the phone. i had another good experience in late 2014 and got a new job from 2 very straight forward interviews (more informal chats than grillings) but thats probably more down to those interviewing me not being experienced in holding formal interviews......so none of those horrible questions you get today "tell me about a time when.........")
roll forward to 2018 and two things strike me with the agencies.
1 - there is so many more of them now all competing for the same number of vacancies
2 - they tell you what they think you want to hear.
I am registered with about 6 big agencies and I am fed up everytime they ring (which isnt very often) asking me who I have already approached, what my notice period is (they should already know I am unemployed!) read the CV! or they start talking to me about roles in which I have zero experience.
My belief is that with the exception of maybe one agent I am more likely to land a new job off my own bat. Maybe I should set myself up as an agent LOL.
Years ago mid 90s to say 2005 I found agencies could get me into a new role a click of a switch. I didnt even have to find the jobs the agency found them for me and discussed them over the phone. i had another good experience in late 2014 and got a new job from 2 very straight forward interviews (more informal chats than grillings) but thats probably more down to those interviewing me not being experienced in holding formal interviews......so none of those horrible questions you get today "tell me about a time when.........")
roll forward to 2018 and two things strike me with the agencies.
1 - there is so many more of them now all competing for the same number of vacancies
2 - they tell you what they think you want to hear.
I am registered with about 6 big agencies and I am fed up everytime they ring (which isnt very often) asking me who I have already approached, what my notice period is (they should already know I am unemployed!) read the CV! or they start talking to me about roles in which I have zero experience.
My belief is that with the exception of maybe one agent I am more likely to land a new job off my own bat. Maybe I should set myself up as an agent LOL.
There's no absolute answer unfortunately.
I've heard of two success stories this week from my clients; one with a recruiter and one from direct contact.
It might depend upon industry and your level, so maybe that could shape your approach.
The bottom line is, if your skill set is in short supply, you should not be overly concerned. If it isn't, then some targeted approaches to relevant recruiters and direct to organisations you're interested in would be the recommended approach.
Good luck!
I've heard of two success stories this week from my clients; one with a recruiter and one from direct contact.
It might depend upon industry and your level, so maybe that could shape your approach.
The bottom line is, if your skill set is in short supply, you should not be overly concerned. If it isn't, then some targeted approaches to relevant recruiters and direct to organisations you're interested in would be the recommended approach.
Good luck!
First job - only got because I was direct and proactive - no agency worth their salt would have touched me.
2nd job - Agency. Industry change between 2 totally unrelated things but same skill set.
3rd job - Same industry; They called me.
There is no fixed rule. Job 1 was a bigger coup than job 2, so I'd say direct > agency based solely on my experience. Job 3 was either blind luck or 3 years of careful positioning within the industry. From that I'd say that if you're staying within a similar role, it's your reputation that makes the difference not having your CV altered by a 22 year old in a badly fitting pinstripe suit.
2nd job - Agency. Industry change between 2 totally unrelated things but same skill set.
3rd job - Same industry; They called me.
There is no fixed rule. Job 1 was a bigger coup than job 2, so I'd say direct > agency based solely on my experience. Job 3 was either blind luck or 3 years of careful positioning within the industry. From that I'd say that if you're staying within a similar role, it's your reputation that makes the difference not having your CV altered by a 22 year old in a badly fitting pinstripe suit.
I’ve always got jobs myself. My experience of agencies has been that they’re all liars who think they’re s
t hot but never get the result for me, just waste my time.
The last one I saw said I’d be lucky to earn any extra money over my current role and to lower my expectations. I ended up with a job paying over 50% more than the previous one.
t hot but never get the result for me, just waste my time.The last one I saw said I’d be lucky to earn any extra money over my current role and to lower my expectations. I ended up with a job paying over 50% more than the previous one.
Mixed bag.
I got my first job by a direct approach, then had three on the trot via agents. Junior roles seem to be their bread and butter, although at the time (millennium) it was easy to job hop.
After that my next role (big step up) was a direct application and was also to people I already knew.
Then I was head-hunted (literally, chap had got my CV from who-knows-where, wasn't really looking but had the call out the blue).
Next role was a friend who needed help. And I'd never do that again - makes the employer-employee relationship impossible.
I'm currently applying for lots of roles (am under notice so a little more urgency than normal), some direct and some via agents. There are some really really bad agents out there - and some really good ones - but there are also some awful HR departments.
I do think the best chance of obtaining employment is to find the hiring manager and go to them, in one of my current applications the hiring manger (who had referred me!) actually had to phone HR to ask why my application had been auto-rejected ... I am now waiting for an interview!
I have had two agents phone me back within the last week to say that the role they were working on with me had been filled in one instance by a friend of the hiring manger directly and in the other by an internal candidate. Neither agent was particularly happy as you can imagine, but they did phone back. I've also had a good agent talk to the customer and we agreed the role didn't match - they were doing a decent job filtering people for the employer.
On the other hand, at least 90% of my applications just vanish into a black hole. I chase some of them, and sometimes actually then get a response!
I got my first job by a direct approach, then had three on the trot via agents. Junior roles seem to be their bread and butter, although at the time (millennium) it was easy to job hop.
After that my next role (big step up) was a direct application and was also to people I already knew.
Then I was head-hunted (literally, chap had got my CV from who-knows-where, wasn't really looking but had the call out the blue).
Next role was a friend who needed help. And I'd never do that again - makes the employer-employee relationship impossible.
I'm currently applying for lots of roles (am under notice so a little more urgency than normal), some direct and some via agents. There are some really really bad agents out there - and some really good ones - but there are also some awful HR departments.
I do think the best chance of obtaining employment is to find the hiring manager and go to them, in one of my current applications the hiring manger (who had referred me!) actually had to phone HR to ask why my application had been auto-rejected ... I am now waiting for an interview!
I have had two agents phone me back within the last week to say that the role they were working on with me had been filled in one instance by a friend of the hiring manger directly and in the other by an internal candidate. Neither agent was particularly happy as you can imagine, but they did phone back. I've also had a good agent talk to the customer and we agreed the role didn't match - they were doing a decent job filtering people for the employer.
On the other hand, at least 90% of my applications just vanish into a black hole. I chase some of them, and sometimes actually then get a response!
ToothbrushMan said:
Just wondering of those that have found work in the past or more recently was that through your own efforts of networking/direct approaches/online applications or was it with the help of an agency?
Years ago mid 90s to say 2005 I found agencies could get me into a new role a click of a switch. I didnt even have to find the jobs the agency found them for me and discussed them over the phone. i had another good experience in late 2014 and got a new job from 2 very straight forward interviews (more informal chats than grillings) but thats probably more down to those interviewing me not being experienced in holding formal interviews......so none of those horrible questions you get today "tell me about a time when.........")
roll forward to 2018 and two things strike me with the agencies.
1 - there is so many more of them now all competing for the same number of vacancies
2 - they tell you what they think you want to hear.
I am registered with about 6 big agencies and I am fed up everytime they ring (which isnt very often) asking me who I have already approached, what my notice period is (they should already know I am unemployed!) read the CV! or they start talking to me about roles in which I have zero experience.
My belief is that with the exception of maybe one agent I am more likely to land a new job off my own bat. Maybe I should set myself up as an agent LOL.
What do you do? Years ago mid 90s to say 2005 I found agencies could get me into a new role a click of a switch. I didnt even have to find the jobs the agency found them for me and discussed them over the phone. i had another good experience in late 2014 and got a new job from 2 very straight forward interviews (more informal chats than grillings) but thats probably more down to those interviewing me not being experienced in holding formal interviews......so none of those horrible questions you get today "tell me about a time when.........")
roll forward to 2018 and two things strike me with the agencies.
1 - there is so many more of them now all competing for the same number of vacancies
2 - they tell you what they think you want to hear.
I am registered with about 6 big agencies and I am fed up everytime they ring (which isnt very often) asking me who I have already approached, what my notice period is (they should already know I am unemployed!) read the CV! or they start talking to me about roles in which I have zero experience.
My belief is that with the exception of maybe one agent I am more likely to land a new job off my own bat. Maybe I should set myself up as an agent LOL.
I applied direct, but again, niche industry.
Most of my friends leaving my part of the service have got their next roles through networking - friends of friends etc. Agencies have been a very mixed bag for them...and mostly unhelpful.
The only friend I have who did really out of an agency was someone who became a headhunter with the express intention of headhunting himself into a job...now works in wealth management and doing rather well.
Most of my friends leaving my part of the service have got their next roles through networking - friends of friends etc. Agencies have been a very mixed bag for them...and mostly unhelpful.
The only friend I have who did really out of an agency was someone who became a headhunter with the express intention of headhunting himself into a job...now works in wealth management and doing rather well.
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