Why recruitment agencies are useless - by a candidate
I am looking for jobs in the local areas. As I work in recruitment myself, I'm not at all surprised when I discover that it's difficult to find a job without going through a recruitment agency. New locations are tricky to work out; who does what, where, when and how etc. You would think that a recruitment agency would be able to help wouldn't you?
Here's the problem. I am looking for a change of pace with a new job in another sector or change of career doing something completely different, however I seem to be pigeon-holed into this one category of work. It's not the employers that are doing that. A well trained HR officer or manager should be able to peel away the layers of a CV and work out if you will be good for business. Yet the dumb recruitment agencies I've worked with so far can't see past the box they've neatly dumped me into! They tell me that they're not putting me forward for other jobs to protect the client. Hello? I'm sure they can make their own minds up and tell the difference between a dodgy CV, and someone who just wants to expand their horizons! All that I am asking is for an opportunity to get my CV and a covering letter in front of a potential employer. Maybe that could then lead to sitting down and having a conversation with them if they like what they see. Is that too much to ask?
As far as I can see, it's the recruitment agencies that are putting up all the road blocks to self development. They are making it impossible for candidates to make contact with the right people in a company because they interfere too much. Everything out there is seems to be bogged down with 'new business preferred suppliers' and Christ knows what else for that matter. Recruitment agencies are an unnecessary evil and I'm hoping that this credit crunch will shut some of them down. With their KPIs and targets, no wonder the recruitment market is like this.
If you're in this line of business already, I bet your thinking 'Why can't you find your own job then if recruitment agencies are such a stumbling block?' The reason I can't is because of the commitment and the long hours I put in to do a professional job in my chosen sector. It's hard to find enough time to do all the searching that would be required.
My gripe is really about those unprofessional agencies that are stuck in this world of KPI's, CV's to interviews, and interviews to placements. They way I do things, I'm more interested in getting the right candidate to the right job. I make as much, probably more than the 'KPI monkeys' and my candidates respect me when I say 'No, they don't fit'. I also don't make false promises that I can't keep.
Honesty is missing in recruitment and the dishonest car salesman type recruiters are everywhere!
By: Derek
Comments from visitors
I enjoyed reading your post about the job application as it seemed to strike a perfect chord with me and the various emails/letters I send as requests to people.
One of the things I've noticed that it's pointless sending a communication to someone asking for more than one thing as the second (or third) is invariably ignored, requiring me to sent a prompter = "thanks for part 1, what about part 2, and 3?".
More often than not I get a completely incorrect response which usually requires the task to be explained again: usually in words of less than two syllables.
People just do not take the time to actually read what is sent to them be it email, fax or letter. A collossal amount of time is wasted because of this basic inability.
From what I've read, I don't have a great deal of confidence in the recruitment industry such that it is....
One of the things I've noticed that it's pointless sending a communication to someone asking for more than one thing as the second (or third) is invariably ignored, requiring me to sent a prompter = "thanks for part 1, what about part 2, and 3?".
More often than not I get a completely incorrect response which usually requires the task to be explained again: usually in words of less than two syllables.
People just do not take the time to actually read what is sent to them be it email, fax or letter. A collossal amount of time is wasted because of this basic inability.
From what I've read, I don't have a great deal of confidence in the recruitment industry such that it is....
0
Click to rate 
Report
This was sent to me by a friend.
First, here is his letter of application, to a recruiter, for a job for which he is eminently qualified.
QUOTE
Dear Sir
I would be interested in further information about this position.
I know the (xxxx) system as I worked for Company Y/Company Z . I started in a xxxxxxx office in 2002, (....detail removed....) This was a very demanding public facing position.
(....detail removed....)
In 2008 I returned to the UK (I am a UK national and therefore have the right to live and work in the EU) (....detail removed....)
Prior to working for Company W I worked for a UK Company Z specialising in xxxxxx. I was Marketing/Operations Manager but (....detail removed....)
I speak some French, Dutch (fluently), and Polish (conversational). I am of course a native English speaker, and capable of producing my own programmes and documentation.
I am 42, married, one child, and able to move to any location within about 2 months, sooner if essential. I assume this position would be Company Z at xxxxxxx, I know the area as I have friends living nearby.
I would like an indication of the seniority and salary level, as my minimum requirement would be €60k/annum, as well as leave and other employment conditions.
Best regards
xxxxxx
UNQUOTE
Here is the reply from the recruiter, asking answers to questions already answered.
QUOTE
Hello xxxxxxx
Thank you for sending me your email and informations.
As I am recruiting for Company X for various positions, it is essential that you send me answers to the following questions (sorry if you did it for one of them) :
1/ what is your availability (to start in xxxxxx) ?
2/ what is your salary expectation (for a job in xxxxx) ?
3/ what is your nationality and ability to work in xxxxx ?
I come back to you soon.
Best Regards
xxxxxx
UNQUOTE
Question : Do these people actually read what is in front of them, or do they just try to tick boxes?
First, here is his letter of application, to a recruiter, for a job for which he is eminently qualified.
QUOTE
Dear Sir
I would be interested in further information about this position.
I know the (xxxx) system as I worked for Company Y/Company Z . I started in a xxxxxxx office in 2002, (....detail removed....) This was a very demanding public facing position.
(....detail removed....)
In 2008 I returned to the UK (I am a UK national and therefore have the right to live and work in the EU) (....detail removed....)
Prior to working for Company W I worked for a UK Company Z specialising in xxxxxx. I was Marketing/Operations Manager but (....detail removed....)
I speak some French, Dutch (fluently), and Polish (conversational). I am of course a native English speaker, and capable of producing my own programmes and documentation.
I am 42, married, one child, and able to move to any location within about 2 months, sooner if essential. I assume this position would be Company Z at xxxxxxx, I know the area as I have friends living nearby.
I would like an indication of the seniority and salary level, as my minimum requirement would be €60k/annum, as well as leave and other employment conditions.
Best regards
xxxxxx
UNQUOTE
Here is the reply from the recruiter, asking answers to questions already answered.
QUOTE
Hello xxxxxxx
Thank you for sending me your email and informations.
As I am recruiting for Company X for various positions, it is essential that you send me answers to the following questions (sorry if you did it for one of them) :
1/ what is your availability (to start in xxxxxx) ?
2/ what is your salary expectation (for a job in xxxxx) ?
3/ what is your nationality and ability to work in xxxxx ?
I come back to you soon.
Best Regards
xxxxxx
UNQUOTE
Question : Do these people actually read what is in front of them, or do they just try to tick boxes?
+1
Click to rate Report
As a Recruitment Consultant myself, I have been fighting with the stereotype that is often associated with 'sales' people, and the opinion that we are all out for commission and that is it. Since working in recruitment, I have discovered that you can be honest an successful, and as a Christian, I have been developing my career in a way that places my beliefs and honesty first.
So what I am pretty much trying to say, is that not everyone in recruitment cares about commission and money. I tithe the bonus that I receive. However, I also respect the fact that I work for a company that aims to make money, and as an employee that is what I am required to do; honestly.
We aren't all that bad, and I hope you have positive experiences with Recruitment Consultants in the future!
So what I am pretty much trying to say, is that not everyone in recruitment cares about commission and money. I tithe the bonus that I receive. However, I also respect the fact that I work for a company that aims to make money, and as an employee that is what I am required to do; honestly.
We aren't all that bad, and I hope you have positive experiences with Recruitment Consultants in the future!
-1
Click to rate Report
Recruitment agents are interested in one thing only.........commision.
If there is a single person that honestly believes they care about placing their clients in a job for any other reason then they are incredibly niaive.
If there is a single person that honestly believes they care about placing their clients in a job for any other reason then they are incredibly niaive.
0
Click to rate Report
"Recruitment Agencies are the ones who identify right candidates for client companies"
Rallo you're having a laugh aren't you? I agree with Fonus. In fact I took a call only yesterday from man who turned out to be a complete ****. He quizzed me on all my skills (presumably didn't read my CV) and failed to how understand how they were related. He then spent time trying to convince me I wanted to go for a job when it was too long a commute. I'd specified I wanted to work in the area where I live, not several counties away. He then got all in a strop when I suggested the job wasn't for me and proceeded to mock me for not having had any interviews in the last couple of weeks (actual reason as I said I want to work local and I'm prepared to wait). He ended by just hanging up on me. A real professional in the making there (NOT!).
Rallo you're having a laugh aren't you? I agree with Fonus. In fact I took a call only yesterday from man who turned out to be a complete ****. He quizzed me on all my skills (presumably didn't read my CV) and failed to how understand how they were related. He then spent time trying to convince me I wanted to go for a job when it was too long a commute. I'd specified I wanted to work in the area where I live, not several counties away. He then got all in a strop when I suggested the job wasn't for me and proceeded to mock me for not having had any interviews in the last couple of weeks (actual reason as I said I want to work local and I'm prepared to wait). He ended by just hanging up on me. A real professional in the making there (NOT!).
+3
Click to rate Report
Agencies are completely redundant and seem to be populated by the biggest, incompetent morons imaginable. End clients do NOT rely on them to judge whether a candidate is suitable or not - simply because they lack the competence.
They simply shouldn't exist! Companies should put in ads and they would get responses from good people. Agencies are all about PREVENTING candidates to get in touch with companies so that they can exploit them and hijack the relationship. The problem is that companies out of PURE HABIT use them, and entertain this useless element of the labour market.
There is no END of the errors they do [the agencies]; simple things that a teen ager would achieve, they just dont have the skills. It is so absolutely DEGRADING to have to deal with them as a high calibre academic! They are simply the absolutely most unsuitable people to assess whether someone is right for a job or not. IT's only low educated KIDS sitting in dodgy suburb offices and that haven’t been able to find a proper job that works with them. Why would they be in ANY position to evaluate others suitability for a job???!!!
In many other European countries “headhunters” are highly experienced people with degrees in behavioural sciences. In the UK it’s just bloody KIDS!
STOP ENTERTAINING THIS - PUT IN YOUR OWN ADS!!!! BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT CAN SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS. EGENTS CAN NOT!
DON’T BE LASY IN finding YOUR KEY RESOURCES – PUT IN AN AD!!!!
They simply shouldn't exist! Companies should put in ads and they would get responses from good people. Agencies are all about PREVENTING candidates to get in touch with companies so that they can exploit them and hijack the relationship. The problem is that companies out of PURE HABIT use them, and entertain this useless element of the labour market.
There is no END of the errors they do [the agencies]; simple things that a teen ager would achieve, they just dont have the skills. It is so absolutely DEGRADING to have to deal with them as a high calibre academic! They are simply the absolutely most unsuitable people to assess whether someone is right for a job or not. IT's only low educated KIDS sitting in dodgy suburb offices and that haven’t been able to find a proper job that works with them. Why would they be in ANY position to evaluate others suitability for a job???!!!
In many other European countries “headhunters” are highly experienced people with degrees in behavioural sciences. In the UK it’s just bloody KIDS!
STOP ENTERTAINING THIS - PUT IN YOUR OWN ADS!!!! BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT CAN SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS. EGENTS CAN NOT!
DON’T BE LASY IN finding YOUR KEY RESOURCES – PUT IN AN AD!!!!
+3
Click to rate Report
In the good old days the company selected suitable candidates themselves. Just a thought....
0
Click to rate Report
Do the client's ask them to scrape as many email addresses off jobsite as they can and then spam the entire database regardless of whether or not the person's skills match the person they're after? The things that spring to mind are indeed big fish and bottom feed alright!
+1
Click to rate Report
You need to know that Recruitment Agencies are the ones who identify right candidates for client companies, rather than hunting the right jobs for the candidates available. Often, there are candidates that think too highly of themselves and think they are suitable for the job and that agencies are necessary to help them. As a Professional Recruitment Consultant, their job is to ensure these "useless" candidates stay out so to not waste client companies' time. RC work for companies not for candidates.
0
Click to rate Report
@ MikeP
I agree in the underlying point you are trying to pass but it is not so easy to implement because, you can certainly believe it, they dont bring the foreigners for the sake of taking the jobs away from the nationals. I could write pages about it, but the matter of the fact is that while the Anglosaxon policies, and I include the Americans, have developed a great Manager and Business culture, they are lacking in technically prepared people and that is where EU foreigners are highly qualified in. In addition to this, this same Business culture has sought to maximize their profits, and they have done that by means of bringing cheap labor force from Africa and South America, giving rise to well known issues.
I agree in the underlying point you are trying to pass but it is not so easy to implement because, you can certainly believe it, they dont bring the foreigners for the sake of taking the jobs away from the nationals. I could write pages about it, but the matter of the fact is that while the Anglosaxon policies, and I include the Americans, have developed a great Manager and Business culture, they are lacking in technically prepared people and that is where EU foreigners are highly qualified in. In addition to this, this same Business culture has sought to maximize their profits, and they have done that by means of bringing cheap labor force from Africa and South America, giving rise to well known issues.
-2
Click to rate Report
"In France, they will ask you to write by hand a cover letter (what they call "lettre de motivation" so that they can make up a psychological profile of yours by interpreting your writing. They have the most horrible and disgusting discrimination policies in Europe."
Someone did an interesting experiment in France. They applied for a number of jobs with with well qualified cvs using Maghrebin (Arabic if you like) names such as Muhamad Ben Ali. The rejection rate was almost 100%. They then resubmitted the same cvs, changing only the name (to a typical French name) and the rejection rate was significantly lower.
On the other hand, France for the French, they look after themselves first, perhaps it's an example the UK could follow, it would solve a lot of problems.
Someone did an interesting experiment in France. They applied for a number of jobs with with well qualified cvs using Maghrebin (Arabic if you like) names such as Muhamad Ben Ali. The rejection rate was almost 100%. They then resubmitted the same cvs, changing only the name (to a typical French name) and the rejection rate was significantly lower.
On the other hand, France for the French, they look after themselves first, perhaps it's an example the UK could follow, it would solve a lot of problems.
-9
Click to rate Report
Well Fisherman, suffice to say our big fish sank to the bottom of the pond did he not?
-9
Click to rate Report
@Scum Busting
They dont have it that easy. On the one side, because the same job is placed in 20 different websites on the same day, thus they have to compete with other recruiters. In addition to that, the insiders, people who are working in the industry have better access to the hiring managers than the recruiting themselves, let alone by the fact that the insiders will cost the hiring manager nothing, while a recruiter charges around 5000 pounds for each perm placement. But the British recruiters have only themselves to blame for their disorganized, careless way of working contrary to the German example described below
They dont have it that easy. On the one side, because the same job is placed in 20 different websites on the same day, thus they have to compete with other recruiters. In addition to that, the insiders, people who are working in the industry have better access to the hiring managers than the recruiting themselves, let alone by the fact that the insiders will cost the hiring manager nothing, while a recruiter charges around 5000 pounds for each perm placement. But the British recruiters have only themselves to blame for their disorganized, careless way of working contrary to the German example described below
+3
Click to rate Report
I personally have given up applying through British recruitment agencies. The author has exactly described, with absolute insight the issue there. They are incapable of thinking out of the box. They don't have the breadth of mind and intelligence to estimate a cv and asses that such educated candidate can perfectly fulfill a given task. You have to have the AAA string of characters that their client mentioned. If that is not ad litteram written then they completely ignore you. For example. You are an experienced Data Analyst, capable of programming in SQL and PL/SQL and you have been performing datamining complex jobs.You apply for a simple Excel data entry job and they will discard you because you have not written that you have experience with Excel.
+1
Click to rate Report
Recruitment agencies work on wastage. During a recession tens of thousands unemployed persons will be seeking work. The Recruintment Agency does not care if it cannot find you a job, only that if an employer has a vacancy that they can fill it and get their commission With tens of thousands of unemployed applicants they hardly need lift a finger.
+2
Click to rate Report
Scum Busting - 12-Apr-11 13:48
I am including for you guys, for your own amazement a sample extracted of pure reality.
A recruiter has my cv as I have sent it to him one month ago. I even called him to follow up and made sure he actually read it because usually they just grab a handful and the rest finishes unread in the bin. Today he posts a job advert. In that cv it was clearly shown that I had exactly the experience that is described in the job of specs in today's advert. Why did he post it instead of having taken my cv from his DB and directly assign the job to me ? Because they dont care to learn who they have, because they dont even know what they have, because they are a mess, because dealing with a recruiter is like playing bingo. It is a matter of luck, that you are read or noticed.
A recruiter has my cv as I have sent it to him one month ago. I even called him to follow up and made sure he actually read it because usually they just grab a handful and the rest finishes unread in the bin. Today he posts a job advert. In that cv it was clearly shown that I had exactly the experience that is described in the job of specs in today's advert. Why did he post it instead of having taken my cv from his DB and directly assign the job to me ? Because they dont care to learn who they have, because they dont even know what they have, because they are a mess, because dealing with a recruiter is like playing bingo. It is a matter of luck, that you are read or noticed.
0
Click to rate Report
There are huge differences in the way the recruitment agencies work in Europe.
1. In the UK, they are staffed with young girls in their early twenties with no education.They will be scanning your cv in 30 seconds trying to find the "AAA" word that matches the "AAA" word written by their client. If they cant find it, you are out. For that reason, in England, if you have not heard from a recruiter on the same day you sent your cv, you have been discarded.
2. In Germany they are all university graduates and each of them examines only the cvs of their specialization, engineering, medicine, law etc. They will require from you all of your diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc . They will always confirm reception and will usually take weeks before they come back to you, which they always do, even if you have not been shortlisted, but you will get an explanation as to why you were not hired. If you have been shortlisted, they will pay you the flying costs and hotel, frequently 3 or 4 stars hotels, so that you can attend the interview. Even if it is coming from overseas. They will pay you all the costs of your traveling and staying. The same goes for Switzerland and Austria.
3. In France and Spain, the first thing they will ask you is about your age. Plainly like that. If you are over 30, forget it, you are out. In France, they will ask you to write by hand a cover letter (what they call "lettre de motivation" so that they can make up a psychological profile of yours by interpreting your writing. They have the most horrible and disgusting discrimination policies in Europe.
In England, in principle, a recruiting company is not entitled to ask you about your age or marital status, but I met once a recruiter in a restaurant, just by chance, and she told me that the customers do tell them under the table, "don't send me old candidates". So, age discrimination does take place in England as well.
1. In the UK, they are staffed with young girls in their early twenties with no education.They will be scanning your cv in 30 seconds trying to find the "AAA" word that matches the "AAA" word written by their client. If they cant find it, you are out. For that reason, in England, if you have not heard from a recruiter on the same day you sent your cv, you have been discarded.
2. In Germany they are all university graduates and each of them examines only the cvs of their specialization, engineering, medicine, law etc. They will require from you all of your diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc . They will always confirm reception and will usually take weeks before they come back to you, which they always do, even if you have not been shortlisted, but you will get an explanation as to why you were not hired. If you have been shortlisted, they will pay you the flying costs and hotel, frequently 3 or 4 stars hotels, so that you can attend the interview. Even if it is coming from overseas. They will pay you all the costs of your traveling and staying. The same goes for Switzerland and Austria.
3. In France and Spain, the first thing they will ask you is about your age. Plainly like that. If you are over 30, forget it, you are out. In France, they will ask you to write by hand a cover letter (what they call "lettre de motivation" so that they can make up a psychological profile of yours by interpreting your writing. They have the most horrible and disgusting discrimination policies in Europe.
In England, in principle, a recruiting company is not entitled to ask you about your age or marital status, but I met once a recruiter in a restaurant, just by chance, and she told me that the customers do tell them under the table, "don't send me old candidates". So, age discrimination does take place in England as well.
-1
Click to rate Report
Rick Bonafide - 12-Apr-11 11:17
I have read all of the comments and the main post too, and I realise we are all in the same boat. Towards nowhere down a waterfall. If we have ended up at a recruiting agency we are hopeless because this means we don't have the networking it takes.
It is the insiders of the industry the ones who, by means of networking get to learn or even know personally the hiring manager, and they get to him, before the recruiting agency can get hold of them to pass them your cv. So your cv is just wasted. It has been bypassed by someone who was already in the milieu. That is, recruiting agencies rarely place anybody at all. Imagine then your chances of getting to the hiring manager through an agency, are basically equal to null. If you actually take the time to study the recruitment market, you will see that one job is advertised at least in 20 different recruiting agencies at the same time. So, an agency, cannot possibly devote any time for you other than a quick scanning to find the matching string of characters
The great despair, believe me, is the fact that it does not matter how qualified you can be for a job. You sometimes spot a job description that truly matches your profile and you even exceed it. It means NOTHING as per your chances of even being shortlisted. There are dark forces working underground and you will never know what happened. They will never subject themselves to a cross examination as to why your cv was completely ignored if you went point after point of the job description proving to them how you actually were fully qualified. It does not matter. There is something else going on that ultimately decides, it is the unconfessable thing that counts.
In all, it is a nightmarish scenario, where nobody cares, and nobody has time for anybody and nobody is sincere and nobody gets heard.
It is the insiders of the industry the ones who, by means of networking get to learn or even know personally the hiring manager, and they get to him, before the recruiting agency can get hold of them to pass them your cv. So your cv is just wasted. It has been bypassed by someone who was already in the milieu. That is, recruiting agencies rarely place anybody at all. Imagine then your chances of getting to the hiring manager through an agency, are basically equal to null. If you actually take the time to study the recruitment market, you will see that one job is advertised at least in 20 different recruiting agencies at the same time. So, an agency, cannot possibly devote any time for you other than a quick scanning to find the matching string of characters
The great despair, believe me, is the fact that it does not matter how qualified you can be for a job. You sometimes spot a job description that truly matches your profile and you even exceed it. It means NOTHING as per your chances of even being shortlisted. There are dark forces working underground and you will never know what happened. They will never subject themselves to a cross examination as to why your cv was completely ignored if you went point after point of the job description proving to them how you actually were fully qualified. It does not matter. There is something else going on that ultimately decides, it is the unconfessable thing that counts.
In all, it is a nightmarish scenario, where nobody cares, and nobody has time for anybody and nobody is sincere and nobody gets heard.
+4
Click to rate Report
Dear all.
I would like to inform you of the following post, containing three messages from myself. They are in reverse order, sadly, but it's all there. Thank you. www.weeklygripe.co.uk/a489.asp
I would like to inform you of the following post, containing three messages from myself. They are in reverse order, sadly, but it's all there. Thank you. www.weeklygripe.co.uk/a489.asp
0
Click to rate Report
The Fisherman - 8-Apr-11 16:44
great article indeed!
having been looking for a new job for nearly 2 months I can clearly relate to most of the posts and comments - recruitment agencies - even those that really specialise in a particluar field - are more or less the same - useless! wasting your time by asking you to fill out forms, praising how they are all about dealing with the candidate, finding the right employer and all those so often heard empty buzzwords.
what really gets me most upset is that you never ever hear back from them - you go to an interview, first or even second round and then instead of the recruiter updating you - they all of a sudden disappear. I mean it is common courtesy to at least in these days send, an email and even if you are not the right candidate - at least say so, but being entirely ignored really is annoying and utterly unprofessional.
not to mention that most of them call you up "i came across your cv and bla bla bla" and upon calling them back they ask you the most stupid questions that clearly indicate they never read you cv at all.
having been looking for a new job for nearly 2 months I can clearly relate to most of the posts and comments - recruitment agencies - even those that really specialise in a particluar field - are more or less the same - useless! wasting your time by asking you to fill out forms, praising how they are all about dealing with the candidate, finding the right employer and all those so often heard empty buzzwords.
what really gets me most upset is that you never ever hear back from them - you go to an interview, first or even second round and then instead of the recruiter updating you - they all of a sudden disappear. I mean it is common courtesy to at least in these days send, an email and even if you are not the right candidate - at least say so, but being entirely ignored really is annoying and utterly unprofessional.
not to mention that most of them call you up "i came across your cv and bla bla bla" and upon calling them back they ask you the most stupid questions that clearly indicate they never read you cv at all.
-3
Click to rate Report
