Agencies do not Find Prospects better Jobs – No
No. Employment agencies do not find prospects better jobs. In fact employment agencies over promise and under deliver. Employment agencies charge an upfront fee to introduce prospects to the same companies that are advertising in the local newspaper. Some agencies collect the fee from the hiring company; choose one of these agencies over an agency that will charge you a percentage of your salary. You won't get a refund if you are hired and it is not a good fit. Only approach an employment agency when unemployment insurance has run out and you have nearly run through your savings. The Unemployment Office where you file for unemployment payments has real listings; get a referral from them whenever you can. There are companies that will give hiring preference to individuals getting a referral from the Unemployment Office.
Employment agencies say that if you follow their guidelines that they can find a better paying job than the one you were downsized out of. My experience shows that agencies only have listings for entry level positions, limited term positions, or part time jobs. Or the placement official continually sends you on job interviews for which you are over qualified or that do not match your talents.
It is difficult to negotiate a better salary when the hiring official knows you are desperate. The hiring official knows that you are desperate and willing to take any job just to get back in the job market to bring home a pay check. Only the desperate will use an employment agency to land a job. Even though it is a meat market and highly competitive, you will probably do better going to a job fair. At least at the job fair, you may be able to meet the hiring official and get a better understanding of the current needs. Take names and follow up with officials you meet at job fairs. Networking lands better jobs. Be persistent but not obnoxious; don't be a drain on the hiring officials time.
I've even had employment agencies call me in for an interview to find out how to do business with the company that just laid me off. Then tell me that they will call me when they hear of a position that I am qualified for. Of course they never call. Such interviews are a waste of my time and of course, they don't even reimburse for gas to come to an interview gotten through false representation.
