Warning to all students! Agencies - Beware!

Northernangel

I was originally trained as an analytical chemist, encouraged by parents and school to go into science at a time when initiatives where being run to attract women into science and engineering........I got a job and studied part-time for a HNC, then took an opportunity to go to uni full-time. This was as a 'mature' student and mostly self-funded (savings plus loans). Anyway the story when I left was that I wasn't qualified enough in a particular field and I didn't have 5 years experience in my related subject. I also couldn't afford to traipse around the country to find work. So same old debts, no experience and low paid work.

I am now taking the AAT with a view to using the skills for self-employment in the future. I don't know what I will be doing but an old friend of mine advised that a background in accounting can be useful/a path to other things - and that doesn't necessarily mean being employed in accounts.

Don't know if that will be true but I know chemistry is dead in this country, well we really don't make much over here! I do agree there is a catch 22 situation for mature candidates who do not have current employment in entering any new field. Old companies often want 'standard' 18 year old or 21 in the case of graduates since they fit the recruitment 'formula'. Trick is to find someone who recognises your skills. I managed to do that locally, then the company collapsed!

Oops.:crying:

sntowell

I have also found the same issues as with the employment agencies but find very few accountants positions advertised anywhere else unless it is through an agency.

The agencies seem to modify your CV so that when you get an interview you are telling the interviewer something different to what is on your CV. Every time I've rang agencies they say it is quiet even though they do have plenty of jobs on there websites.

I've even had my CV forwarded to companies before the agencies have asked if I'm interested in a role which is completely wrong.

blobbyh

Sorry but I must answer these;

The agencies seem to modify your CV so that when you get an interview you are telling the interviewer something different to what is on your CV.

Yes, agencies will often modify your CV to keep it up to date with modern legislation in addition to making it more attractive to prospective employers. Since both are done for the benefit of you as well as the agency, would you maybe prefer they didn't do this and you got fewer interviews?

Every time I've rang agencies they say it is quiet even though they do have plenty of jobs on there websites.

It can be quiet and some agencies may well advertise "ghost" jobs on their websites but then if they had no jobs at all to advertise who would register with them? Agencies experience peaks and troughs like all other businesses.

I've even had my CV forwarded to companies before the agencies have asked if I'm interested in a role which is completely wrong.

Well, you might think this is wrong but it's standard agency practice. This process is called "shortlisting", where the agency has been contracted by the client to gather potential candidates and put forward the most suitable ones based on balancing your needs with the needs of the client. What's the alternative? To not do this at all - do you think that would benefit you more?

All the things above you may disagree with but essentially they're done for yours and the agency's benefit. If we don't permanantly place or temporarily contract you out, we don't get paid; however, nor will we will put forward unsuitable candidates and risk damaging client relations and future business.

Of course, there are good and bad agencies as with all other types of business but if some people treat them as though they're all equally tainted, it's little wonder they won't have any success. Most consultants are very experienced at sorting the good from the bad so ultimately it's up to you how you come across to them.

Agencies DO work for many many people but if anyone here thinks otherwise, then the best thing is to not register with any of them. You wouldn't shop in a store you hated or eat food you hate so why do business with someone you hate?

Baggybooks

I was very lucky to be offered three fantastic jobs via agencies. However, I soon realised that they work for the employer, not me.

I applied for a position which didn't exist, but that allowed me to be interviewed and put forward for a role - which I was eventually offered.

Several years later, I applied for a position which did exist and again was offered the role.

Both were excellent jobs and weren't available unless I applied through an agency. I think the difficulty some applicants have is that they register and then expect a magic wand to find them that perfect role.

Years later I registered again and was offered very unsuitable interviews which I declined. Then a good one came along and I was offered the job - but I turned it down because I'd found myself the perfect job.

With any job, it's all about timing. Applying through agencies is no different. Even if you do register, don't stop looking for a job. Not all employers use agencies!

sjtoomer

I agree with you, WelshWizard. I have never got any job through a Job Agency. If they think they can quickly fit you up with a job, i.e. earn their fee, then they act all keen; but, if not, then they go deadly quiet (even the so-called reputable/specialist Job Agencies). I have lost count of how many times I have applied for a job through a Job Agency, only to hear absolutely nothing back. A lot of Job Agencies treat it like a big box-ticking exercise. Unfortunately, the vast majority of jobs are advertised through Job Agencies now. So, as job-seekers, we have to go through these middle-men. I hate that they don't say who their client (i.e. the employer) is, until you get selected for interview; I don't see what the big secret is, myself - a job is just a job, so why not be honest and up-front with candidates? I know that someone will say it is Client-Agency Confidentiality, but that it just rubbish; an increasing amount of employers advertise their jobs themselves and through several Job Agencies at the same time now, meaning there are lots of duplicate jobs on these frustrating Job Web-Sites to trawl through. I think that employers are treating AAT as another tick-box, without genuinely valuing it (as the wages offered are poor, whilst demanding it) and understanding it (unfortunately, the AAT cannot make employers value their qualifications more, eventhough I think that the AAT qualifications are good).

I am in the same Catch-22 situation, i.e. qualified but not experienced, and finding it very difficult to get a sniff of a job. I have been applying solid for 6 months now and have my CV with numerous Job Agencies (specialist and general). I will have completed the AAT L3 Book-Keeping qualification soon, after already having completed the AAT L2 Book-Keeping qualification. Unfortunately, all I can do is to keep applying for jobs...

It just shows you that these problems are not new, as the original post is 14 years old now!