Identifying and researching recruitment agencies

Bookworm55

How do you go about identifying and researching a credible agency? I'm in the candidate position here, not the recruiter position.

In most cases, the agencies I have had success with have been the very big names - Reed, Hays and Adecco. In Reed and Hays cases it was an accountancy-specialist branch of the national agency. Other times a friend or colleague had recommended an agency - this is especially true of small, local agencies.

Is there a directory of accountancy-related agencies available somewhere that I've overlooked?

There's a chance I might need to start looking for a new job soon, and I don't want to miss out on opportunities because I forgot about Nigel Lynn or Hewitson Walker or someone.

Beyond that, how do you go about researching an agency and deciding whether they're right for you?

I'm afraid I've been a little unscientific in my approach. It's usually been less a question of whether the agency is reputable, and more if I feel I can get on with the consultant. Not that we have to be great friends, it's more of a cultural feel especially on the formal-informal axis. I've read their website, looked at the jobs they're advertising, even how they're advertised (style etc)

But is there a better way of doing it?



ps - I considered adding this to the end of this thread here - *** Working with.. not against... recruitment agencies *** - but decided to give it a thread of its own.