Graduate wanting to join agencies

[turquoise]

Hiya, I'm a recent graduate who is looking for work and finding it extremely difficult. I've had some interviews but obviously haven't got a new job yet. I was thinking about joining some employment agencies like Adecco, Select, BlueArrow etc and I was wondering what can I expect from joining? Are they any good? Because I'm really desperate for a job now, I have some experience as a receptionist and customer assistant, and done a 2 week placement during my A levels. Not much, but I do have a good degree, lol. Those graduate placement schemes are well difficult to get in so i'm not even gonna bother trying them. Please help, I hope the agencies are good cos I'm not having much luck with finding work. I want to look for work like in administration, or office based. Can you advise me on which are the best agencies and what I can expect from them, i.e. like will the call me up asking me if I want this job etc.

Many Thanks!

xxx

[jennifer_cro]

Agencies, on the whole are very hit and miss. In my experience, the larger agencies are the worst and will try and get you to go for any job even if it bears no resemblence to your skills or what you are looking to do. That is, if they call you at all.

I found the smaller/local agencies the best, they give a better service to both companies and candidates and will try and find the right job for you rather than any job.

In terms of getting some experience, you could register to start temping, may lead to a permanent role and would get you something to put on your C.V.

Good luck!

[theo_wyvern]

while larger agencies can prove a problem they should have more jobs available but also more potential candidates - take a couple of days and sign up with as many as possible, most will get you to do a few tests and a bit of form filling.

When doing the rounds take the following - passport, copies of CV, bank details

You'll chat to a consultant so be smart, positive and enthusiastic !

best of luck !

[Andy008]

My advice would be to select no more than 4 or 5 agencies (so you aren�t rushed) and visit them over the course of a morning. Always go there in person rather than calling them � this will show you are more serious about working. Bring up to date CV�s with you and a passport. You need to be specific about the type of work you are looking for.

You state that you have found work extremely difficult to come by (for whatever reason), whatever you do don�t act desperate or needy, as this will mark you as a awkward character, and it�s never an attractive quality in any situation.

You must bear in mind that recruitment agencies are highly-sales driven businesses, and work to targets � especially with temping jobs. When you work through the door, you are just another potential sale, this isn�t necessarily a problem, after all if they find you a job you like, you have work, they have their fee and everyone�s happy.

The downside is that agencies don�t like people who don�t get jobs for them. Should you not succeed in an interview don�t expect to hear from them again. That said, temping jobs don�t usually interview, so you should be OK, but make sure to clarify everything fully with the agency first.

[derriere]

I know you asked specifically about agencies but I hope you won't mind if I make a different suggestion.

Have you tried writing speculative letters to the MD of companies that you would like to work for? All of the graduates at the last company I worked for were recruited that way, even though none of them had any 'proper' post university work experience. I think it had something to do with the fact that the MD figured that if they had the get up and go to write 'on spec' expressing a desire to work for the company, that they would probably be good employees.

Might be worth trying as well as joining agencies?

[SupaAbzyBall]

I graudated in June and headed for Reed. They found me a job in admin, though the pay was low. Its worth just using them to fill the time in between finding a 'proper' job (I now work for a Bank, which still isnt a 'proper' job, hehe). The only problem I found was that the work was very boring, not a challenge and you never saw a long term future. However, dont be put off, its better than sitting at home watching Trisha and The Wright Stuff!