Using Agencies

Agencies are an incredibly effective method of locating
your ideal job or of finding temporary work to help pay
the bills while you/they are looking for your ideal job.

"But I don't like agencies....."

Many people refuse to use agencies because of a friends
experience with a particular agency. Fine, then don't use
that agency. But equally don't make all agencies out to
be the same. Don't prejudice your chances of finding
work because of one experience.

Have you ever owned a car that cost you money all the time?

Did you stop owning cars because they are all bad?

Probably not, so why not think about agencies as a means to
an end?

How agencies work

Personally, I think that the vast majority of agencies great.
Yes they are in it to make money, hey they are a business. But
please don't think they make money from you because they
don't.

The way it usually works is that an employer places a vacancy
with an agency and the agency is responsible for finding
suitable candidates.

The agency either gets paid a one off fee by the employer for
finding someone that the company actually employs.

Or.

The agency is paid a fixed amount for employing a person or
a group of people for temporary positions. The agency pays the
candidate a fixed hourly rate for work they do on this short
term contract. They are being paid a "finders fee" if you
like for locating suitable people for the job.

Making Agencies work for you

You should always remember that if an agency is looking for
a job for you, then you are the customer, they are working for
you!

Now don't go in there demanding things :-) but you should be able
to chase them a little for the results you want.

The best approach is to locate 5 - 10 agencies that you can work
with easily. Ideally they should be located where you can actually
visit them in person on a regular basis.

This is important because they see so many people all the time and
you should build up a relationship with your client advisor so that
you are in their mind when a suitable position becomes available.

Lets say that you have registered with five agencies.

Week 1 – Talk to the lst agency every day Monday – Friday,
call in to see them in person at least once. On Wednesday speak
to all of the other agencies by phone, check in and see if they
have located anything suitable.

Week 2 – Talk to the 2nd agency every day Monday – Friday,
call in to see them in person at least once. On Wednesday speak
to all of the other agencies by phone, check in and see if they
have located anything suitable.

Week 3 – Talk to the 3rd agency every day Monday – Friday,
call in to see them in person at least once. On Wednesday speak
to all of the other agencies by phone, check in and see if they
have located anything suitable.

Week 4 – Talk to the 4th agency every day Monday – Friday,
call in to see them in person at least once. On Wednesday speak
to all of the other agencies by phone, check in and see if they
have located anything suitable.

Week 5 – Talk to the 5th agency every day Monday – Friday,
call in to see them in person at least once. On Wednesday speak
to all of the other agencies by phone, check in and see if they
have located anything suitable.

Then go back to week one again.

If you have more agencies (say ten) then you will have to
contact two of them each day increasing your chances of
getting an interview.

Why chase agencies? Many agencies use computers to store
information about clients, some still use a rolodex, either
way, by talking to a person at the agency you are making
them bring up your details, this means that you will be
fresh in their mind, it also means that they can see how
keen you are to find work.

Now when a suitable vacancy turns up who do you think they
are going to call first, you or the guy who joined the
agency the same time as you but who they don't really
remember?

You can almost guarantee you will be called first.

Part time agency work

You may have heard people telling you that "it is easier
to get a job while you are in work" - well it is true.

Employers tend to think that you are more reliable and
harder working if you have been employed even on short term
contracts through agencies.

This is usually because they see that you don't like doing
nothing (as they see it). Of course we know you have been
busy looking for work and that this is a full time job in
itself. But often they don't realise this is so.

Working part time like this allows you to earn some money
and it also allows you to meet other people. I know many
people who found their chosen line of work by doing agency
work. The fact is, you are meeting a lot of people, making
more contacts and that means you can have more people
helping you to find job leads.

I have used agencies myself and if I was ever unemployed
again, then I would register with 5 - 10 on day one. What's
more, I would take any temporary jobs that came my way
though them to help them understand what kind of worker I
am. This will help you in the long run, believe me, I know.
I've been there.

Good luck. You can get more tips at www.911resume.com