Good IT recruitment Agencies

[michaeljclark]

Hi all

I am about at the end of my tether where I am

Does anyone on the might PH know of any good IT recruitment agancies that haven't been a bunch of muppets?

Need to get out and go somethere where I'm not suffering from seagull management, and where senior IT managers don't need to be re trained every week becuase they can't find the documentation to avoid asking me

Sorry for the rant but any help welcome - and [sales mode on] just incase anyones interested or knows of anything: I'm in Infrastructure looking after HP Blades and EVA4000, McAfee ePO, WSUS2&3 and my main area of expertise is Altiris Deployment Server [/sales mode off]

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

Hi Mike

I feel a can of owrms opening here as this queston has been asked before and varios people have their own (strong) opinions of agencies.

Anyway - I may have been able to help however we are based in Bristol and I see youre in Kent.

The main thing is to get someone working on your behalf, not simply sending out your CV willy nilly to whomever and wherever.

Best of luck.

Edited by Obiwonkeyblokey on Wednesday 11th July 08:22

Edited by Obiwonkeyblokey on Wednesday 11th July 08:35

[michaeljclark]

Yeah I know agencies do not always have a good rep - just like the one I spoke to yesterday who said that becuase my CV didn't have the words "team leader" on I wouldn't be shortlisted (team leader role - but it didn't actually say they wanted someone with that particlar skill on the spec)

My CV clearly stated that I ran the system that they had on the job spec, somewhere there is a City/Canary Wharf based lawer firm that won't get to see my CV

Anyway

I work in the City of London in the Gresham Street area

[Fittster]

What's your skill set? Certain agencies focus on certain technical skills.

[UpTheIron]

michaeljclark said:

Yeah I know agencies do not always have a good rep - just like the one I spoke to yesterday who said that becuase my CV didn't have the words "team leader" on I wouldn't be shortlisted (team leader role - but it didn't actually say they wanted someone with that particlar skill on the spec)

My CV clearly stated that I ran the system that they had on the job spec, somewhere there is a City/Canary Wharf based lawer firm that won't get to see my CV

Anyway

I work in the City of London in the Gresham Street area

If the client said that they wanted "Team Leader experience" then the agency will simply interpret that as all CV's going forward needing show exactly that.

If you were the team leader, then why doesn't your CV state that? "I ran the system" does not mean team leader to me, it sounds like 2nd / 3rd line support.

What was your response to the agency? Did you seek constructive criticism of your CV? Did they suggest / you offer to add the relevant wording?

Agencies have to filter all sorts of crud, and if you don't work with them then you'll not often find your CV on the top of the pile.

Also, what sort of skills & experience do you have, as this may influence how you find roles - rather than responding to job adverts you may be able to approach agencies that specialise in your field (i.e. combination of product and role).

[michaeljclark]

Fittster said:

What's your skill set? Certain agencies focus on certain technical skills.

I manage:

Altiris Deployment Server 6.8 SP1 for deployment of SYSPREPPED PC images and Application Deployment
McAfree ePO 3.6.1 Managment Console for managing the Anti-Virus on 400+ PC's/Servers
WSUS2 (migrating to WSUS3) for PC & Server Microsoft Patching
Legato Networker 7.2 for Server backups
Call Xpress for computer based voicemail
RightFax 8
We have also just installed £250,000 of HP blades and EVA4000 - did the physical build of the kit, imaging of servers and disk presentation for that too

I also help with Exchange 2003, AD (about to migrate to AD2003) and all the other Desktop/Server type bits - I work in a team of 4 - desktop manager, me and then two younger blokes.

I also help the Desktop Manager with our Disaster Recovery environment!

Ooops - almost forgot that I can also setup Chinese windows - no mean feat that!!!!!

Mike

Edited by michaeljclark on Wednesday 11th July 08:54

[michaeljclark]

UpTheIron said:

If you were the team leader, then why doesn't your CV state that? "I ran the system" does not mean team leader to me, it sounds like 2nd / 3rd line support.

Unfortunatly I'm not a team leader as there are only 4 blokes in the team (see my previous post), the 4 of us look after 300 users in London, Guernsey, USA, Hong Kong and Taiwan. We're not allowed titles, and, as such it isn't on my CV.

3rd line is about right, but my point was that on the job spec they were recruiting for a team leader, but from the blurb it was not a requirement to apply for the job.

[Carrera2]

michaeljclark said:

3rd line is about right, but my point was that on the job spec they were recruiting for a team leader, but from the blurb it was not a requirement to apply for the job.

I think it probably was - most companies who want team leaders don't want someone who could be a team leader, they want someone with experience.

[Aerofoil]

It probably wasn't a requirement, but you would need something exceptional on your CV to get an interview for a team lead role, with no team lead experience on your CV.

[michaeljclark]

Carrera2 said:

I think it probably was - most companies who want team leaders don't want someone who could be a team leader, they want someone with experience.

Here is the actual spec:

Server And Altiris Deployment Technical Team Leader - Insurance
Server and Altiris Deployment Technical Team Leader required by leading commercial insurance organisation and Lloyd's Managing Agent to provide expert services in relation to implementing, managing, operating and supporting the deployment of applications across the organisation to desktop and Server devices. You will be responsible for managing with strong policy and procedure the packaging of applications and patches into non-user interaction controlled deployments; implementing, evaluating and assisting in the design of end-to-end deployment solutions; developing policies procedures and other documentation required to support the deployment environment; assessing existing infrastructure and developing strategies and standards and establishing and maintaining a standard, stable and robust deployment environment. Applicants will have strong and demonstrated experience with Altiris systems management suite; strong knowledge of Windows Server, IIS, Citrix, Wyse terminals, Active Directory and other key Microsoft Server technologies; strong experience and knowledge of packaging and deployment applications including Wise and Altiris and you will have worked in a large corporate or government body with over 1,000 users. Must have experience in day-to-day deployment management and infrastructure support of over 250 applications.



there are as always a few bit's like they have 1000 users - I've only got 300 that I look after and the I don't know about Wyse Teminals, but that didn't seem to phase him - just that I didn't have "team leader" status

But to get slightly back on topic - are there any good Agencies out there?

[XJSJohn]

Spent the Better part of 12 years now working in Infrastructure & Operations started as a lowly grunt, and now a Program Manager.

As far as I have been concerned, as long as the agency finds me a good job and pays me when I invoice I have never cared what they are like.

For finding roles I find that other than being called directly by agents for roles the best place is to just apply for anything relevant on jobserve, and when getting calls, weed out the crappy roles.

Personally for myself I have always had a few guidelines for what sort of jobs i go for, worth having your own basic parameters too.

for example, I won't work for a large outsourcer, only end client or a specialist service provider to one end client. I only work private sector, and generally stay in Energy / Petroleum / Mining.

Remember that having done an interview, you too have the right to turn a job down. I have been offered plenty of contracts after interview but have declined them having decided that the person i would report to or the team i would have under me were complete liabilities.

Edited by XJSJohn on Wednesday 11th July 09:08

[E36GUY]

Michael YHM.

[michaeljclark]

E36GUY said:

Michael YHM.

So do you

[michaeljclark]

Thnaks to all those who have sent me email

Regards

Mike

[TedMaul]

michaeljclark said:

Hi all

I am about at the end of my tether where I am

Does anyone on the might PH know of any good IT recruitment agancies that haven't been a bunch of muppets?

Need to get out and go somethere where I'm not suffering from seagull management, and where senior IT managers don't need to be re trained every week becuase they can't find the documentation to avoid asking me

Sorry for the rant but any help welcome - and [sales mode on] just incase anyones interested or knows of anything: I'm in Infrastructure looking after HP Blades and EVA4000, McAfee ePO, WSUS2&3 and my main area of expertise is Altiris Deployment Server [/sales mode off]

I've not looked for a while, but Computer People iirc were one of the least daft. Truth is, I would review Computer Weekly and contact people as and when I saw fit, also scanned websites etc. Fact is, IT Recruitment folk are sales people the same as any other, very few themselves are IT folk and hence know very little about their products (you) or customers (your new employer). Some car salesman know feck all about cars, some mobile phone shop salespeople know feck all about phones, t'is the same with recruitment consultants. If you accept this and realise that they will need some educating in understanding your ideal role, most will be fine if you are polite and patient. Don't expect to send them a CV and find your perfect job, because they won't! Treat these people as ends rather than solely a means to your own and you will be ok. I've had some blinding nights out with them when i was a contractor!!!

Ted

[KingRichard]

TedMaul said:

michaeljclark said:

Hi all

I am about at the end of my tether where I am

Does anyone on the might PH know of any good IT recruitment agancies that haven't been a bunch of muppets?

Need to get out and go somethere where I'm not suffering from seagull management, and where senior IT managers don't need to be re trained every week becuase they can't find the documentation to avoid asking me

Sorry for the rant but any help welcome - and [sales mode on] just incase anyones interested or knows of anything: I'm in Infrastructure looking after HP Blades and EVA4000, McAfee ePO, WSUS2&3 and my main area of expertise is Altiris Deployment Server [/sales mode off]

I've not looked for a while, but Computer People iirc were one of the least daft. Truth is, I would review Computer Weekly and contact people as and when I saw fit, also scanned websites etc. Fact is, IT Recruitment folk are sales people the same as any other, very few themselves are IT folk and hence know very little about their products (you) or customers (your new employer). Some car salesman know feck all about cars, some mobile phone shop salespeople know feck all about phones, t'is the same with recruitment consultants. If you accept this and realise that they will need some educating in understanding your ideal role, most will be fine if you are polite and patient. Don't expect to send them a CV and find your perfect job, because they won't! Treat these people as ends rather than solely a means to your own and you will be ok. I've had some blinding nights out with them when i was a contractor!!!

Ted

Yeah, the IT recruiters in my old firm used to get a sweet expenses account for taking contractors out. It's cos your such fickle bastards they're only protecting their commission

Me being on sales recruitment, I used to get coffee and sandwiches when out interviewing

Curse you area sales managers for being so easily pleased!

[n3il123]

I have contracted through Spring for the last 3.5 years and they are very good... (accounts can be a pain sometimes but they are always helpful in getting it sorted and they are all based in the uk)

Oh and they are good at taking you out too... in fact my pimp has just sent me a mail asking us for a night out which is nice