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  • #2191657

    Should I use a IT staffing agency?

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    by zegna250 ·

    Looking for permanent, full time work (not contract work).I’ve been sending out resumes on my own and have been getting some bites. Recently two IT staffing agencies (RHT and TEK Systems) contacted me. They both wanted to discuss how they can assist in my job search. I’m sure this is covered in a thread somewhere (read the one from 04), but what are pros and cons of working through a IT staffing agency?

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    • #3267043

      Hmmm

      by tony hopkinson ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      Pros
      A lot of businesses use them and aren’t set up for direct contacts.

      Cons
      They do not know what your skills mean or entail, so sometimes jobs you could do, they won’t notify you about, meanwhile you’ll be wading through large quantities of completely unsuitable opportunities.

      They are in it for their cut, not to satisfy their client’s or your needs. Some have been known to massage cvs, or ask you to do it, nobble you if you are competing with a more lucrative opportunity, flat out lie about the job to get you there, especially if they are on an interview fee. Never pass details of what opportunities you are still in for with one agency to another.

      Be extremely suspicious of anyone who wants you to pay for this service.

      Don’t sit about thinking you passed the responsibility to them to find you a job, all they are is a link between you and a potential employer.

      If they start talking about exclusivity or money for their services, you start talking about guarantees or your money back.

      Staffers are unfortuantely a necessary evil, they are evil though, don’t lend them money, don’t turn your back and don’t trust them with anything valuable, such as your reputation.

      Best of luck.

      Any recruiters who see this and think I’ve been a bit harsh and want to tell me about it, I’m currently happily employed and there are currently no IT vacancies where I am employed.

      P.S. when they are collecting parameters for the search, be broad. Most of them are technological morons, if you say you want a job in state x, they do a search for all jobs where that state has been specified. All the ones where no state was specified are excluded.

      Once agency didn’t send me jobs for a year because I’d put Europe in location and they hadn’t noticed the UK is in that area, or england for that matter.

      • #3266540

        TEKsystems

        by cedrics ·

        In reply to Hmmm

        TEKsystems isn’t too bad. The husband of my current supervisor does long term contract work through them with HP and Northrup Grumman(sp). He likes it-he’s been with them for two years and travels a lot, but he does big projects like deploying hospital networks and stuff like that. Gets a nice travel per diem. Never heard him complain…

        • #2974483

          TEKsystems sucks

          by cypressknee ·

          In reply to TEKsystems

          I’ve worked for them on many contracts because I need money but I have had trouble getting paid on more than one occasion. I suggest anyone dealing with TEKsystems take a tape recorder with you and tape every promise they make but don’t put in writing. Good luck to anyone dealing with them.

      • #3266459

        Its all about Money Really

        by stephenmoriarty ·

        In reply to Hmmm

        Just remeber how much they make in placing you, I was amazed to find out how much they got and for how long, just in placing me in my last position, I would of rather had that money in my pocket in terms of salery ect.

      • #3266428

        It’s not what you know, it’s who you know

        by lynnnard ·

        In reply to Hmmm

        I do think you’ve sold recruiters short.

        The bottom line is, use whatever works. A good recruiter will PRESENT you to a company using a relationship that you don’t have with the company. The % of interviews for candidates presented is high. What is your % with just sending a resume to an employer? Normally yours will be one of hundreds (a handful being equally viable), and the % of interviews will be very low. If your % is high, forget about recruiters & do it yourself.

        Most recruiters proactively sell candidates; they don’t just send resumes, close their eyes & wait to see what happens – they try to MAKE things happen for you & for themselves.

        I always chose to work with companies that colleagues had been satisfied with, unless I wanted a particular job & a less-desirable company had the exclusive – in that case, tough luck. Most reqs aren’t exclusive though, so call around to see who else has the same req if the first recruiter turns you off.

        I agree, don’t pay for services. Be selective about who you work with – choose individual recruiters (more so than companies) by word of mouth. Beware of lowballers & sleazebags that may submit your resume for particular positions without your explicit permission. Help recruiters help you. If a recruiter is not technical, be patient. Tailor your resume whenever possible. Have a 20-sec elevator speech. Question recruiters about any other candidates that have been submitted & what the feedback was on them to further refine your resume (recruiters should not present more than ~3 candidates for a position at a time – preferably 1, the best). Get in touch w/ recruiters quickly when you see a job posting that interests you. Don’t assume all they know is in the posting – interrogate them if they aren’t forthcoming w/ more info. Be assertive & proactive with recruiters.

        You can be your own recruiter – go out there & network & develop your own relationships – maintain those relationships & the next time you want a particular job, you may have your own in – through your connections; 6 degrees of separation is real. If you help someone find a job or an employee, they will feel some sense of obligation to help you connect later.

        Actually, we’re not all techno-morons; I just left 25 years in software dev/IT to recruit, so I understand both customer requirements & candidate abilities. I did deal with some moronic recruiters over the years, but some others got me great jobs.

        • #3267343

          I already know how to suck eggs

          by tony hopkinson ·

          In reply to It’s not what you know, it’s who you know

          I was simply pointing out to the original poster that you need to give them a shake and a careful sniff before you ingest them.
          Every now and then you get a bad’un you know.

          Aside from my first job everyone has been through a recruiter. That’s nice, I’ve only been out of work three months in total since Jan 81. However I’d estimate, I’ve wasted thousands of pounds over that time being sent on wild goose chases by the liars, cheats and thives that the recruitment agencies seem to attract like flies to ***t.

          The tricks I mentioned have been perpetrated on me or on colleagues. I did n’t make them up and as far as I can make out the only people who suffered for theis sort of behavior is the victim.

          One git who cost me an interview was the MD of the agency and declined to discipline himself.

          Morons we can cope with, it the damn crooks that are a problem.

        • #3075242

          I used to work for TEK Systems, but …

          by psifiscout ·

          In reply to It’s not what you know, it’s who you know

          I did some work for TEK Systems and for the most part it was an ‘OK’ experience, they made the contacts, hired me on for the position and paid the agreed pay.

          But they did ‘oversell’ my skills resulting in bad blood between myself and the client, I showed up at the jobsite and knew nothing of some of the products they wanted me to configure (TEK told the client that I was well trained in ‘ALL’ MS products, yet while I was well versed in NT I knew little about Office and Outlook, at the time).

          The TEK recruiters like to paint rosey pictures for the client and the contractor, I was sent on a job to do an install to an existing network and to remove some old machines, I was told not to bring any tools or hardware as it would all be on site, thankfully I ignored the advice and brought everything I needed, as nothing was as it was described, the network was an ad-hoc operation, peer to peer with a Win98 computer acting as a print server.

          In order to get things they way the client wanted them I had to completely rebuild the network to include figuring out how to build a server without a Server OS (NT 4.0 Workstation sufficed but not the best of solutions for a Win 2000 network).

          TEK also took to the practice of trying to get me to sign multiple contracts in one sitting, telling me that the pay for all of them would be the same only to find out after signing that they weren’t the same (my fault due to inexperience at the time) so be cautious.

          TEK likes ‘form letter’ contracts. Get everything in writing. If it isn’t in the contract, don’t beleive it.

      • #3268381

        Tony, you know how you can tell …

        by too old for it ·

        In reply to Hmmm

        … if a recruiter is lying?

        Their lips are moving.

        • #3268338

          I find that a bit out of line

          by gregdc ·

          In reply to Tony, you know how you can tell …

          Sorry if this offens you, but as a Recruiter for the last 18 months, I DO NO LIE to my Clients or my Candidates. If you Lie you are killing you future with everyone. I am smarter than that.

          I move my lips quite often. When I tell my client that I have a great client, it is because I have spent time to find out what they need. When I tell my candidate that I have a good opportunity, it is because I have to spent the time to know what their skills are and what the client needs.

          Now, if the client lies to me, or the candidate lies to me. I will find that out, sooner or later, and that is the END of the relationship.

          So please drop the generality. It is a Lie

        • #3267339

          Well it might have been a tad harsh

          by tony hopkinson ·

          In reply to I find that a bit out of line

          comparing you to politicians. I tend to the used car salesman approach myself.
          LOL

          You are the middle man you are selling me to the client and your client to me. Of course you are going to put the best interpretation to both sides. Is that lying, perhaps not, but for a lot of your colleagues that gap between not telling the truth and not telling a lie, gives them far too much room to manouvre.

        • #3267159

          So old I used up my sugar coating quota

          by too old for it ·

          In reply to Well it might have been a tad harsh

          Maybe a little harsh, but at least the opinion is out there.

          The older I get, the less I want to deal with a recruiter and the more I want to deal with an agent. (Preferably LeBron James’ agent.) http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2005/05/10/Sports/james_agent050510.html

          Inventory my skills, find a place than needs [b]and will use[/b] my skills, then go and get me the best salary, sign-on bonus, shoe deal … whatever it takes … and get me hired there.

        • #3267151

          Recuiters and the promotion of untruths

          by tony hopkinson ·

          In reply to So old I used up my sugar coating quota

          Well candidates and clients lie as well. So there.
          LOL

        • #3266155

          true that

          by too old for it ·

          In reply to Recuiters and the promotion of untruths

          I’ve had to go in on a number of “cleanup” jobs after someone with an inflated ego or resume got done making a muck of it.

          Clients can be their own worst enemies. They come it will ill defined or undefined requirements. Or overblown requirements: The minimum requirements are a Medal of Honor from each of two tours in Afghanistan, a BS from Stanford, a MBA from Wharton, a wall full of certs and 25 years Vista Experience just for a $7.00 an hour help-desk job.

          I think a lot of the latter comes from being “unable” to hire directly, and hoping the contract agency will get them some candidates they could bring on permanently. As an example, I have been working on an open letter to a hospital HR department as to why their rather expensive display ads are the joke of the local IT community. Or at least don’t pull results. Maybe I should post that up here as a new discussion.

        • #3266128

          I will not argue that there is sales involve

          by gregdc ·

          In reply to Well it might have been a tad harsh

          First off, I will not lie for a client or candidate to get a placement. PERIOD. You may or may not believe that there are people like me, up to you.

          When you talk to your supervisor at your next review, I am sure that you will tell them ALL the bad things you have done this year, the time you have been less than productive, and the time that you didn’t tell all the truth about how the project was going.
          Then again your supervisor and their bosses are noted for telling the exact unvarnished truth about the company, the finances, and what they really think about their customers.

          Ok, Now that we have all had a laugh. I wish people would tell me more truth, and less “white lies”. Are you really as good as your resume says you are? Is the company really as stable as the PR says? Is anyone out there telling the whole truth? I doubt it. The last person to do that was Jesus Christ, and people put Him on the cross for that.
          And yes that includes me. I will not claim sainthood in this area. I just hate lies so much I would rather loose a placement than tell a lie or color the truth.

          So, to tell you the truth, I do

        • #3266051

          Are asking me to believe

          by tony hopkinson ·

          In reply to I will not argue that there is sales involve

          that your profession would put my best interest in front of their own? Just because I didn’t go in to recruiting or HR doesn’t mean I’m some of sort of idiot.

          Our interests don’t even parallel.

          Your contact me trying to source a job for client A for which you feel I’m a good candidate. During our conversation you find one of your competitors has put me forward for another of your clients (B) for which you’ve already provided two candidates. The job for B pays more.

          You ideal solution is obvious I get lower paid A, one of your candidates gets B. You get paid twice. Santa leaves the building.

          Is this my ideal solution ?

          Is it your clients’ ideal solution ?

          Given I and the the other successful candidate meet your clients needs have you done anything wrong ?

          I don’t knock people for operating on their own self interest. People who try and tell me that they aren’t though are either poor liars or good lunatics. I don’t trust either.

          P.S.
          I’m much better than my resume, I have to dumb it down for non-technical types.

        • #3074773

          OK I will end it here

          by gregdc ·

          In reply to Are asking me to believe

          Tony,
          OK, since you do not know me, you want to group me with the worst of the profession. That is your choice. I am not a liar nor a lunatic. I am a person that puts my Christian beliefs first, my business practices second. (Now you can rant on that one for a good long while if you want,again, your choice.)
          The answer to your little situation is:
          – I would encourage you to apply to both and take the best offer!
          – I encourage my client to hire the best person for the job (that means making a offer that meets and exceeds the candidates needs)

          I have had candidates take better offers than my clients made. That was my client’s goof. And I do congratulate the candidate on finding a better job.

          So, please rethink your opinion of me and my way of doing things. But, yet again, your choice.

          Fini

        • #3077239

          Hey I asked the question

          by tony hopkinson ·

          In reply to Are asking me to believe

          you answered. If we were to have business dealings, I shall bear in mind that in my book, your are a loon.
          LOL
          On a more serious note, I wish you great fortune in rescuing the repuation of your profession. You might want to switch to the ancient greek religion though, with cleaning the augean stables as a metaphor.

        • #2544676

          Time to get over it …

          by reacttome ·

          In reply to I will not argue that there is sales involve

          Ok, we get the point, you are the 1 in 100,000 used car salesmen that do tell you that this car was a refurb from Katrina. But stop taking this so personally and accept the fact that we as a workforce have some real issues with the people in your profession. Why don’t you do a little root/cause analysis and stop applying your comments to the symptom but rather the problem …. your peers.

        • #2544671

          OMG

          by reacttome ·

          In reply to I will not argue that there is sales involve

          And I totally missed that you used the “Jesus Christ” card. I think it a tat hypocritical since you probalby a large number of Hindus (India), Muslims (Singapore), Buddists (China) in the IT industry. Not to mention us agnostics. Wow, what a turn off.

          BTW – it offends me as am IT Consultant and IT Professional to see a headhunter refer to themselves as an IT Consultant. Unless you DO have a masters degree in CS, IT, or SE.

          enough … 🙂

        • #2544670

          Wake up!

          by tig2 ·

          In reply to OMG

          This is a zombie thread. Unbunch the tighty whiteies and get over it.

    • #3266426

      Don’t rule out contract 100%

      by sjohnson175 ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      I was desperate to leave my last place and took a contract gig to escape. I was a W2 contractor and the only real downside was no vacation, sick or holiday pay.

      The contract led to a full-time job at the same company (although with a different group, have to love budget games in big companies) and the benefits are even better (salary is less but total compensation makes it a wash).

      As for staffing firms. They come in all flavors from huckster to hero. As Tony said. They’re part of the game but should by no means be the only play you’re making.

    • #3266424

      Contract vs Permanent

      by lori.obrien ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      Contract does not give you benefits. It can be short or long term. Personally, contract is great for single people with little to no ties or responsiblities that leave them having to stay close to home. I found contracting to be awesome: financially, experience wise and location (travelled alot). Downfalls were always benefits. So if you can contract, do it!

    • #3268385

      Pros and Cons

      by too old for it ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      Pros: The agencies have the jobs. This is because at a corporate accounting level, it is cheaper to have contractors than employees.

      Cons: You will get $15 an hour for $24 an hour work.

      No benefits, or if there are any, really expensive benefits.

      You will always be looking for work.

      When you apply to a permanent position, prospective employers will hold contracting against you.

      Whatever your salary requirements, prospective employers think you are only worth the $15 an hour.

      You wind up a unwilling participant in Contract Nation, that symbiotic though psychopathic relationship between knowledge workers who think they can earn more while working less and companies who are convinced that world-class quality and absolute best practices can be accomplished by a disposable workforce.

      • #3073967

        Excellent Post

        by psinger1 ·

        In reply to Pros and Cons

        What “Too Old for IT” has not explicitly said is that “staffing Agencies” = “contract Work”. You have heard the term “Contract Programmer”, and may think it must be a high-powered job. In fact, 99% of the time, the contract is between the client company and the agency. You have no contract. If the agency needs to shaft you in order to protect their contract, that is exactly what they will do.

        If you must go this route, do not let yourself get put into an open-ended position; insist on one with a fixed term (6 months to a year). The idea is to compensate for being viewed as one of those low end contractors by getting lots of experience (= worked at many different assignements).

        It is also possible that you may be offered a “contract to hire”. Some of the larger sites only hire under these circumstances. In this case, all these warnings do not apply.

        • #3265400

          Contract to Hire

          by too old for it ·

          In reply to Excellent Post

          I forgot about contract to hire. It seems a lot of companies, unable to exorcise HR, use contract-to-hire to find good staff.

          Heck, I’ve always said that my best resume was a business card and my best job app was a couple weeks on the bench to show what I could do.

    • #3268335

      networking

      by jeffburrell ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      The only goal of an IT staffing agency is to connect an employer with a prospective employee for a fee, either paid by the employer or the prospect. Whether it matches your qualifications or not, they are looking to fill a job.

      I would recommend contacting friends, relatives, or work colleagues to let them know you are in the job market and what you are looking for. Another idea would be to check with your college alumni association(if you went to college) on networking events with fellow alumni. Also, check in newspapers or trade publications for these events as well

    • #3268318

      As a talent scout for IT let me say….

      by gregdc ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      There are two reasons to use “recruiters”
      1. You don’t have time to look for your next job in the middle market (Below the F1000 and above the Mom & Pop shops – Recruiters are rotten at working with either of those groups). Get a recommondation from someone that has used a recruiter and found them to be straight with them. Then be honest with that recruiter. Tell them what you will, and will not take, work-wise, dollar-wise, location-wise, travel-wise, etc. Don’t let the recruiter send you resume out without your express permission and only to a select client with a real job openning that the recruiter has qualified. When the interview comes up, listen to the recruiter, they have information that you NEED to ace the interview. Like the Myth Busters say in their show, “Don’t try this on your own, they do it for a living!” Most recruiters get paid in proportion to your salary, they will help you get the best deal that can be had (it is in their best interest).

      2. You want to change areas and need the new contacts in the new industry. Listen to the recruiter, they are good at what they do. They know where and how to position you with the client.

      NEVER PAY A FEE TO A RECRUITER FOR A JOB!!!

      Always find a recruiter that has done the work you are looking to do. (If they can’t talk from experience of having done the work, they shouldn’t be talking the client tell them how good you are, they don’t have a clue!)

      Give the recruiter time to find the right opportunity (2 to 3 weeks) then move on to a new recruiter.

      Never lie to the recruiter or to the interviewer

      Greg
      Global Recruiters of Roselle.

    • #3268314

      Depends on your qualifications

      by bg6638 ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      I have worked in IT for 30 years, but only have an AAB degree. Staffing agencies tell me not to bother them because I don’t have a BS in CS/MIS, along with virtually every cert you can get from Cisco, Citrix, Msoft, Redhat, etc., etc., etc. The addage that 8-10 years of experience can take the place of a BS degree sadly no longer applies! Thus, unless you have considerable experience, AND a BS (preferably a Master’s), AND a ton of certs, don’t even consider using a staffing agency! In a tight job market, not only do you have to meet each and EVERY qualification an employer has for a position, you must have additional skills to separate you from the 75-100+ other candidates who have applied too!

      • #3267292

        I have to disagree…

        by ttosun ·

        In reply to Depends on your qualifications

        I’ve been in IT for over 8+ yrs. now (a newbie compared to some of you) but all my IT knowledge is based on experience and an MCSE 2K/2K3 cert. I am now on the job hunt…relocating to Florida from NY, and I must say, I’ve got quite a few recruiters calling me based solely on my exreince and cert.

        I went to college but switched majors in between my 2 yrs and didn’t have the patience to continue for a degree. I’m too much of a hands on person to sit in a class and be lectured to. Plus, in IT I think it’s much more valuable to have real world experience and a few top level certs than a Bachelors or a Masters for that matter.

        I know what you’re thinking…”but you need a degree if you want to be a higher success”…let it go. This is your grandfathers idiology. You don’t need to be taught how to be a great leader or manager in school. I believe this experience only comes from starting at the bottom and working your way up, in the real world workplace NOT in a classroom.

        Surely some of you will have strong opinions about my comments, but we can save that for a different thread. For now, lets just help out zegna250.

        Do your research. There are ways to make yourself stand out.

        Good luck.

        • #3267149

          Its the area that you are in AND who you know

          by bg6638 ·

          In reply to I have to disagree…

          I’m stuck in the central midwest due to aging parents, and in my previous post I just stated what 5 employment agencies told me. The state job services dept suggested that I retire at 55, since I lack a BS and employers are demanding a BS and more to obtain any IT job! How’s that for help locating a job! Nearly all the positions I’ve applied for have had in excess of 100 applicants. When there are that many applicants, it is very likely that 50% or more resumes are not even looked at!

      • #3267227

        This is where the recruiter’s are seperated

        by gregdc ·

        In reply to Depends on your qualifications

        As a recruiter I know there are those that place bodies in jobs, and there are those that help talent meet Client needs.

        If you work with the later, they can work with Clients to see that your talent, skills, and experience mean more to them than a degree. GRN works with Accomplishments (how you used your skill and experience to create bottom line results for your business) to get interviews, that lead to placements.

        If the recruiter is only handling people with all the “right” alphabet soup, DO NOT WORK WITH THEM!

        IMHO =)

    • #3267212

      Thumbs down on recruiters.

      by jgmsys9 ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      Most of my experiences with recruiters have been negative. I find that they do precious little to get you into a job. In fact, I have only gotten two interviews in 15 years via recruiters. If you do get an interview through a recruiter, and it turns out that it isn’t a good match and you don’t get the job, they drop you like a hot potato. It’s either get the job or you’re out.

      That said, you are more likely to get interviews with high-profile companies through recruiters than not. It seems like the big boys are gun shy when it comes to dealing direct, so they’d rather have an agent working as a matchmaker.

      But in general, I can’t recommend them. They’re pretty useless to me, and in my 15 years in the business, I’ve never gotten a job through a recruiter.

    • #3073964

      Temping

      by displaced it tech ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      I have found that many employers will continue to utilize temporary employees for as long as they can manage it. As long as you are willing to work as a temp without benefits, they will be willing to pay you at the reduced rate with reduced or no benefits.

      While working as a temp may be expedient and provide valued experience, it is inadvisable in the long term. It returns a disproportionate amount of experience and professional gain in relation to benefits to the employer.

      I believe that it is important for IT professionals to insist on a proportionate return on compensationation in relation to services provided.

      I do not believe that temporary employment provides that, and I believe that it is necessary for IT professionals to insist on reciprical considereation for professional services.

      • #3076501

        Temping or consulting

        by tony hopkinson ·

        In reply to Temping

        I never got a contract to gain experience, I got it because I had it, but they only needed it short term.
        Most of my contracts when I was doing it were a short term need for a specific skillset either through not having enough in house resource, or not having one at all. The main reason I stopped doing it was because I wasn’t gaining useful technical experience.

    • #3073944

      Pros & Cons

      by cuteelf ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      Well,

      I’ve been searching for a job for a while. I”m not having too much luck looking on my own, that’s why I’ve got my name with a few local placement agencies around town.

      Here are some issues I’ve come across:
      The headhunter has NO idea what you talk about when they ask about your skills. (literally, they get glassyeyed)
      The HR ppl at the employers want a BS degree and 3 years of experience for a HELP DESK or ENTRY LEVEL position.
      The HR people interviewing you actually have some idea of what IT does, but think a job description works (in a mom & pop shop it doesnt).
      The people trying to promote this job are asking for $10/hour AND THE BS DEGREE.

      Pros:
      The head hunters have been nice to me :).

      What I do when job hunting is NETWORK THE HELL OUT OF MY BUDDIES and start for state/fed/city jobs, and then poke my name into Dice, and leave info w/ headhunters.
      This way I’ve got a few ppl looking @ me.

      Still, no job in over 4 months.

      Cute

      • #3075273

        In the same no job boat

        by skydiver44 ·

        In reply to Pros & Cons

        I have been laid off from an asst. IT mngr since Jan 05. I wasn’t really worried about finding a job with my expirience, about 13 years of computer/networking expirience. And while drawing unemployment after working here in NC for 21 years straight, I went ahead and got my 1st cert…hell I could have taught the class. Even including 5 years as Director of Operations at a local ISP doesn’t mean much. But after putting literally 100’s of apps. out to no avail, I’m at the point where I have to do something. So I’m at the point where I have to try a staffing service. I hope I don’t run into some of the bad folks you’ve been talking about and I think I’ve learned a lil’ bit reading this discussion.Thanks.
        Jeff

        • #3076499

          They aren’t all gits

          by tony hopkinson ·

          In reply to In the same no job boat

          but they aren’t all saints either.
          Rule one if you are going through several agencies. make notes about waht you are looking at with whom and never ever tell them anything about what you are doing with another agency.
          Even the ones you can deal with fail to see the inconsistency in the following two sentences.

          Don’t tell any other agents about this !

          What other jobs are you up for, who with, where when and have you got any contact numbers.

        • #3075773

          agencies vs. DIY

          by k.h. ·

          In reply to In the same no job boat

          i’ve experienced both processes of obtaining a job through an awesome placement agency and also by going the route of applying/interviewing/ negotiating myself. I say go for whatever works for your career move at the time. Be flexible and always go for the best you can get in an offer, don’t sell yourself short, also don’t lie/embellish, the truth will eventually turn up easily on the job when it comes to IT.
          I would say that if you go through a placement agency/recruiter, respect the good ones, weed out the bad ones, and keep the “networking” going. Even if they don’t get you a job, keep up the relationship, you enver know when they might be able to help you get the next IT job in the future.
          It is nice when someone negotiates the salary, bennies, etc. for you with a trusted company.
          Final note: always, ALWAYS get your offer in writing, have them fax it/email it to you before you accept.
          Peace Out!

        • #3264217

          On giving out names

          by gregdc ·

          In reply to In the same no job boat

          With full acknowledgement to Tony. When dealing with multiple search firm, be willing to tell them where your name is in, and for what position. Not doing so will cause big hassle for you, if your recruiter sends your name in to some place you are already summitted (by you or by another recruiter). It very likely will put the hiring manager in a bind, and they will toss you out of the concideration because of legal hassles.

          The recruiter will then drop you, too. They don’t need to look like they are not doing their work.

          You do not need to tell recruiters who you are working with, who the hiring manager is, what phone numbers you have, or the name of your favorite pet.

    • #3262910

      Try it out and see what you think, but…

      by dalicoder ·

      In reply to Should I use a IT staffing agency?

      …beware: I keep seeing people make the same mistake about recruiters. They think it’s the recruiter’s job to find them work. That is not the case. It is the recruiter’s job to fill positions. So saying, they take positions and check their database for resumes of applicants that COULD fit that position. If they succeed, they get money and this is much more time-efficient than taking an applicant’s resume and scanning the list of open positions to see if there is a fit.

      Also, this is probably less true of established organizations, but many of the newer or smaller (and, yes, probably some of the older and larger) organizations just want your resume in their database so they can say “we have 50,000 resumes in our database!” and will be difficult to talk to after they’ve gotten what they want from you (your resume).

      Now, that’s not to say that they won’t find you a job. If you are a potential fit for an opening they are trying to fill, they’ll call you (and everyone else who is a potential fit).

      I’m currently looking for work (my contract is up in 30 days) and I am working with two staffing agencies AND going out on my own. I have made the decision that if I am approached by any other staffing agencies that I will tell them “Not now, thank you.”

      I’d say, try it out. See if you experience that feeling like you are just a piece of paper to them. DON’T leave it at that, however. Go out on your own and look for work!

      Good luck!

      Dave

      • #3084064

        Exception to that rule

        by gregdc ·

        In reply to Try it out and see what you think, but…

        There is an exception to your rule of thumb:
        — Some Recruiters work with “QCC” or Qualified Committed Candidates. That means that they will find a real superstar, or someone with skills that they know their client base likes to hire. They will then “Market” that resume by calling their network of hiring managers to find the two or three that will make (or already have) a spot for that skill set. (MRI and GRN both do this)

        But you are right, most recruiters spend their time finding or creating job openings with hiring manager. But what you may not realize, is that it is speed of putting people in front of the manager that counts. So that database of resumes is gold to a good recruiter. To turn an assignment around in less than two weeks, with a great placement, means that the recruiter gets more assignments, they get letters of recommendations, and most of all they may get the new hire to recommend people that were further up the food chain as new candidates or potenial hiring managers.
        But then again, what is the real difference between being in the Monster, Yahoo, Dice, CareerBuilders database for the world to stuble over you and being in a recruiters database that is activitily looking to fill jobs?

        • #3227559

          Update: I used an agency

          by skydiver44 ·

          In reply to Exception to that rule

          Found this thread in my profile so I thought I’d update it…A tek agency phoned me about a position with an international banking firm. Set up the interview for me and a week later I had landed the job of a lifetime. Working in the Information Systems Recovery Teams. I guess ya never know what you’re going to get till you go for it(IT)…

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