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I have read with interest previous comments on recruiters and have to say I totally agree. Apparently I can obtain a recruiting certificate within 5 days and shell out 1,800 for the course. My gripe is that like many people leaving the Armed Forces, our key skills and experiences are totally not valued or worthy of recruiters these days. I do not believe they have learned in a week of 'death by lecture and essay' enough about the skills sets from the Armed Forces.
I have recently applied for approx 82 positions, yes that's 82 jobs over a period of 3 weeks. My CV has been checked and double checked by experts and a top London Recruiter and still I am not getting past the doors of recruiting agencies. I have been informed of all the underhanded tricks they use and as previous comments made on this site indicated, all they are bothered about are their KPIs!
I have been applying for jobs that junior ranks do on a daily basis within the RAF, Navy and Army. I have ensured that my CV matches what the company require. Most jobs do not even equate to what a manager has achieved or does achieve in the military environment. What I have also heard is that a company may ask for only 10-15 applicants from the recruiting agency, so the job may still open and there could be another 30 to 40 applying not knowing that really their CVs just get binned, and the recruiters already have their sweet list.
Are you telling me that a recruiter or 2 recruiters will go through about 150 CVs for example to make sure they get the best people? I think not. More likely they do a quick search on keywords in a semi-automated fashion.
Apparently this is experienced by many personnel leaving the Armed Forces with so many skills and qualifications to offer, and those with a 1 week course under their belt can dictate to senior managers that we are not good enough or do not meet the criteria. I beg to differ because if they actually took the time to look at these people properly theyd see what they REALLY have to offer. I wonder what the average age of the recruiter is now? No prizes for guessing?
One particular agency comes to mind and I do hope that they read this. People need to know more about recruiting agencies, and the agencies need to do a lot more home work on particular skills and qualifications. Why is it that ex Armed Forces personnel make good teachers? Recruiters can you answer that one and be clever boys and girls, waving your 1 week certificate in the air? Could it be that they have a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer and youve just binned that CV?
Comments most welcome, especially from all members and ex members of the Armed Forces.
By: Steveo
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You do not specify what your key skills are and what skills you can contribute to an employer. I realise that you no doubt have the key ones including team player, punctuality and organisational skills but you must really 'sell your brand' so that you stand out from the competition. I agree with the other poster of applying direct companies, instead of relying on agencies to find you work. Also how about a spot of work experience in your desired field or extra and appropriate training? Above all try not to get too despondant and keep trying
I havn't much time for agencies, they are the ultimate parasite and make a living sucking the lifeblood from people who actually do something worthwhile.
Best of luck, it's a hard life in civvy street UK, try Australia.
Ron