For anyone who has dealt with an employment agency - need advice (job application, applying)

[Robert321]

I'm considering using an employment agency to finally end my employment drought. I've never used one before, so I have a couple of questions:

1) When I approach an employment agency, do I need to tell them the specific field I'm interested in, or will they recommend fields to try based on my past work experience? I'm coming from a design field, and since my industry is dead, I know I will be looking at other fields/positions for a while. But I'm really not sure what fields to look at. Will they be annoyed or unhelpful if I walk in without a clear direction?

2) Are they worth my time? Or am I better off applying directly to ads off the net?

Thanks,

Rob

[GypsySoul22]

Agencies often just want to hook you up with 'anything' to get the fee. They will get you into low paying jobs sometimes because they get the extra off the top.

I have dealt with a variety of agencies in my working life. Some have done nothing for me and if I waited for them I would not have gotten a thing. Sometimes they send you out and the client changes his or her mind about using them. You may get something from them but my advice is DO NOT RELY on them. Keep looking for yourself, too.

[moved]

They're not worth it.

[JS1]

Do it anyway, it's free! You have to use all your resources to find a job, not just one. Network, on-line job applications, and agencies.