Question about some of the Bangor jobs listed... (Belfast, Winterport: real estate, apartments)

[tanzer21]

So I'll be moving to Maine next February and I've been frequenting the bangordailynews website as well as the mainecoastnow and ellsworthamerican to look at the jobs and renting in those areas. It looks to be relatively cheap so far. I was looking at probably getting a place to rent in the Searsport, Winterport, Stockton Springs area. Mainly due to the fact that they're halfway between Belfast and Bangor. Reason for that is I can most likely get a job at the Bank of America center in Belfast since I'm already in an online fraud field and could do it there...but I was looking at some of the staffing agencies in Bangor and they had some interesting things as well. One in particular but the kicker is most of them charge a fee to get jobs from them...is this normal for that area? Also..if I'm living in these areas what kind of high speed internet options do I have? If any?

[Submariner]

My experience using head-hunters was in the 80's, at that time they did charge their fee in one of two different methods. Either up-front, or an allotment taken from your first year's salary [like 10%].

These were head-hunters that placed coast-to-coast and overseas. So it was not limited to any one state.

Also in many areas a finder fee is common for renting apartments. We have found that whenever a realtor recommends an apartment, when that renter moves in, the realtor will commonly show-up saying that they referred the renter and wanting their finder-fee. If a landlord lists his units with a realtor, he generally knows this and agrees to it in advance. We have always avoided using realtor listings for that reason. But still if a realtor reads the ads in the newspaper and referrs a renter, that realtor will still be expecting to get his finder-fee. [equal to one month's rent].

[tanzer21]

Oh wow..didn't know about that. I'll have to make sure when I'm looking I check into that beforehand because I don't want to get blindesided on that deal. As for the staffing agencies thanks for clarifying on that. Wasn't sure if that was a scam of some kind or not but I haven't really had to deal with many here in AZ. The one good thing I can say about AZ is it has a lot of jobs. Thanks for the help

[MAINEr]

I've used several temp agencies in Bangor and they have temp and perm jobs and have never been charged a fee. Kelly Services, Manpower, Bonney Staffing are a few. Areaguides.net is helpful in apts (in some areas)

[DavidoftheNorth]

"I'm already in an online fraud field and could do it there..."

We already have enough online frauds...

[irishmom]

Recruiters make their money by charging a percentage of the annual salary to the employer not the employee. The service they offer is to the employer..by doing all the leg work to find qualified people to fill positions. If an employment agency is wanting a fee from the employee it's probably a scam of some sort, that is my experience at least. Especially avoid anything that wants money up front, before getting you confirmed employment. Good luck!

[DavidoftheNorth]

Originally Posted by irishmom

Recruiters make their money by charging a percentage of the annual salary to the employer not the employee. The service they offer is to the employer..by doing all the leg work to find qualified people to fill positions. If an employment agency is wanting a fee from the employee it's probably a scam of some sort, that is my experience at least. Especially avoid anything that wants money up front, before getting you confirmed employment. Good luck!

Irishmom, you sound like a Jewishmom!

[Submariner]

Well, I did say that my experience was from the 80's.

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by DavidoftheNorth

Irishmom, you sound like a Jewishmom!

LMAO!!! Coming from predominately jewish neighborhoods in NYC that doesn't surprise me at all! I also speak almost fluent yiddish...LOL

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Well, I did say that my experience was from the 80's.

Prior to becoming a nurse I was a controller at a real estate investment company in New York, between dealing with recruiters to fill positions I would hire for and my husband's recent job searching I have found that recruiters haven't changed that much.

I didn't enter the job market in New York until after graduation from college...which was 1989...so it probably was different when you were out and about job searching. There are so many scams online that it's better to look at local papers for jobs and leads on actual recruiters in an area.