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The posters are right about the agencies just being happy for a body to fill a position and get their percentage (very high, too). Especially with young naive recent graduates, they like to dangle the "get your foot in the door" carrot. They will say things like I have a position opening now and it's just to keep you going till we find the right position for you. As long as you are doing a good job on that assignment and the current company still wants you, they will keep you there (even for years) and even if a job opens up that is just right for you, maybe an opening related to your major like marketing, advertising, or whatever, they will give that job to another person who probably doesn't give two hoots about a career in those areas and never even heard of some of the specialities. You know why they got the job? Timing. They just happen to walk in or sign up at the right time. Then, the poor naive young person spends the best years of their lives in a go nowhere job. It sucks but there are people that just don't care about you as long as you are bringing in the bucks.
You can go years without insurance and also not building up your pension. Try to find a permanent job on your own for a while and if it doesn't work, go to a reputable agency. This one you are questioning sounds very iffy. There are some good agencies out there with people that do care - somewhere out there...
As someone who worked briefly at an actual temp agency (as a temp - was filling in for someone on leave), I will say that it's not always a scam. In one instance, someone called us and wanted us to fill two positions. We found people, scheduled phone interviews and then face-to-face interviews. After those, the hiring manager didn't contact us and we couldn't get in touch with her for a couple of weeks. The candidates kept calling in asking what was going on, but we had to tell them we hadn't heard anything (because we hadn't). Finally we got in touch with her and she said she just didn't have the support to fill the positions at that time. The recruiter in the office with me figured she never actually got permission to use a temp agency and was shut down when she wanted to actually hire someone.
Not saying that's the case in every instance, but the employers themselves can flake and leave the agency to try to explain.
I certainly won't say that there aren't some less than kosher practices in agencies though. Some positions posted on the sites aren't even positions that are available at the time. One in particular was posted because they thought they would get the business and wanted to try to build a pool of candidates just in case. In that instance, it actually did come about and some of those candidates were hired for the positions, but I'm sure in others they don't get the business and the position never comes around. Other times positions are left on the site after they are filled to do the same thing. Basically the agency wants a bunch of people in their system at all times so that when something DOES come along, they can throw a bunch of resumes at the client.
I believe agencies are your best resort if you're desperate or if you're moving to a new area. If you're well established in an area and/or you're looking for work while you have a job, I wouldn't bother with them.
Update: I received an email reply from the recruiter saying that the employer has passed on my resume. There was no reason given as to why. Odd considering my experience and background were such a great match. Crazy!
Update: I received an email reply from the recruiter saying that the employer has passed on my resume. There was no reason given as to why. Odd considering my experience and background were such a great match. Crazy!
I saw that a few times as well. We'd send over candidates who seemed PERFECT. Had all the education and experience that the employer wanted, great test scores and a good looking resume and they passed over them. They never gave a reason either, though I suppose the recruiter could ask.
The temp agency sounds like they are straight shooters, thecompany may have their own processes. Often I have seen a manager who is going through a temp agency insist on interviewing several candidates and sometimes internal politics get complicated. My advice is to play it cool, keep looking and if you get a call before you find another job great.
If you are placed as a temp you will have the opportunity to determine if you want to work for the company. Sometimes you will find that the manager is a jerk, which is why s/he goes through temps. Even if that is the case you will have the opportunity to see if there is another manager you would want to work for. Do a good, even great job, even for a jerk. You will build a reputation at that facility so that should you want a perm job there you will be a strong candidate.
I personally had nothing but good experiences with temp agencies. I was signed up with about 8 at a time, so I could keep busy. A one-day assignment turned into a decade and a temp to perm assignment has got me sitting here in my bedroom 6 1/2 years later earning a great salary.
I got a e mail from a couple different staffing agencies for some short term work with UPS. I looked on the UPS "jobs" webstie and did not see the job in the e mails listed with UPS jobs?
Help,,, I have never used a staffing agency or honestly know anything about them. It is legit?
well thank you dessertlover, that was very helpful.
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