Okay, so I've been out of work for the past two months (laid off), and I'm looking for a job, so I decide to register with different job agencies for help. I go in, fill out all the paperwork, take all the tests (computer, spelling, grammar, math, etc.), then sit down and talk to a supposed "job placement counselor" about what kind of job I'm looking for, etc. etc. The agencies talk to me like they're really impressed with my skills, tell me I have a great skills, a good attitude, blah, blah, blah, and tell me that they will keep me in mind for whatever jobs come along. A few of the job agencies say either on their website or on the paperwork that they give me that no one will work harder to find the applicant a job. HAH! That's a laugh if I've ever heard one.

I go home and give the agency a month (since I know jobs are not plentiful right now), but never hear anything from anybody (mind you, I've not enlisted with not only one job agency, but more like five or six). I get to wondering what the hell is going on, so I decide to call the agency to rattle their cage, and to see what's up.

That's what happened to me today, I went online to see what jobs were available, and I saw several listed on a job agency site that I had registered with, but they never even had the courtesy to call me. So I got pissed and thought to myself, "I'm calling them!". I asked for the lady who I had interviewed with, and she answered the phone. I told her my name, and said that I had registered with her a few months back. Said that I saw a few jobs listed on their website that I was never contacted about, and I was wondering why. The woman asked me which jobs I was interested in, and I told her about the one, which was with a real estate company (which I have a background working for). The lady said that everybody who was going for that job had real estate background. Then she said, "Oh you DO have that background. I'm so sorry." I thought to myself, "Well, you should be!" She said that she would call the companies that were interviewing to see what was up, and then call me back. She said that she would, but I'm not surprised if she doesn't and I wind up calling HER back again.

Bottom line is, I don't think these job agencies give two shits whether or not they successfully place you in a new position. Sure they get a commission for every candidate they place (since the company pays the fee, not the applicant), but I think if you're not on their top 10 list of candidates, they don't bother with you much. I think your application and paperwork gets lost under a pile on someone's desk, or stuck in a file drawer, and is forgotten about. Of course I can't call the agencies and get an attitude with them, because if I do, they will write me off, but I tell ya it gets tempting sometimes.

sweety I am sorry they are messing with you

Thanks, me too. These job agencies are supposed to HELP people, not dick them around.

Mach said:

Thanks.

psychodelicide said:[quote]Okay, so I've been out of work for the past two months (laid off), and I'm looking for a job, so I decide to register with different job agencies for help. I go in, fill out all the paperwork, take all the tests (computer, spelling, grammar, math, etc.), then sit down and talk to a supposed "job placement counselor" about what kind of job I'm looking for, etc. etc. The agencies talk to me like they're really impressed with my skills, tell me I have a great skills, a good attitude, blah, blah, blah, and tell me that they will keep me in mind for whatever jobs come along. A few of the job agencies say either on their website or on the paperwork that they give me that no one will work harder to find the applicant a job. HAH! That's a laugh if I've ever heard one.

I go home and give the agency a month (since I know jobs are not plentiful right now), but never hear anything from anybody (mind you, I've not enlisted with not only one job agency, but more like five or six). I get to wondering what the hell is going on, so I decide to call the agency to rattle their cage, and to see what's up.

That's what happened to me today, I went online to see what jobs were available, and I saw several listed on a job agency site that I had registered with, but they never even had the courtesy to call me. So I got pissed and thought to myself, "I'm calling them!". I asked for the lady who I had interviewed with, and she answered the phone. I told her my name, and said that I had registered with her a few months back. Said that I saw a few jobs listed on their website that I was never contacted about, and I was wondering why. The woman asked me which jobs I was interested in, and I told her about the one, which was with a real estate company (which I have a background working for). The lady said that everybody who was going for that job had real estate background. Then she said, "Oh you DO have that background. I'm so sorry." I thought to myself, "Well, you should be!" She said that she would call the companies that were interviewing to see what was up, and then call me back. She said that she would, but I'm not surprised if she doesn't and I wind up calling HER back again.

Bottom line is, I don't think these job agencies give two shits whether or not they successfully place you in a new position. Sure they get a commission for every candidate they place (since the company pays the fee, not the applicant), but I think if you're not on their top 10 list of candidates, they don't bother with you much. I think your application and paperwork gets lost under a pile on someone's desk, or stuck in a file drawer, and is forgotten about. Of course I can't call the agencies and get an attitude with them, because if I do, they will write me off, but I tell ya it gets tempting sometimes. [/quo

Hang in there love!!

Thanks, Dex!

Keep your head up.

Go into one of the agencies that you are dealing with, tell them (or better yeat show them) what went wrong, and ask for a job because you know you can do better than what they have now. You'll get a job that day.

i believe you are correct in this assumption.

i used a staffing agent to obtain fresh staff members, what a horrid experience.

we were buried under the pile of files labeled "retail employment wanted".

it was not until hans decided to pay a visit that they finally gave in.

i am unaware of what he did, but he is surely pleased about it.

I have been in that situation for nine months.

Hang in there hun. You are taking the right approach by hunting them for news. Keep rattling that cage.

i think you have a valid concern. i'd address it politely but directly, as nicely as you possibly can, with the agency. make sure they're including your file in the right categories for eligibility.

but, a lot depends on the agent's personality.

Hey Big Sistah,
I am so sorry to read that you went through this. But you did the right thing, calling them and hunting THEM down for a job. Good for you! You've always be an independent woman and you damn sure stay independent!

Whatever anger you feel towards these agencies, please try and use that energy in a positive way and keep hunting them down! Call them each and every friggin' day. Stay professional, don't show emotion. Just make sure they know YOU WANT TO WORK!

I'm proud of you sis. Kick some ass over there. You'll be employed soon.
Love you! xoxoxoxox's
Lil' sis

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

Thanks, I'm going to try not to stay pessimistic, just have to maybe call the agencies once a week to say that I'm still available for placement. Even though my belief has always been that you are on their "active" list until you call to let them know otherwise. Perhaps that's a mistake on my part?

oldmanjohnson said:

Don't know if I would "get a job that day", since there are so many people out there looking, like myself. The agency might be able to tell me about a job that I would be qualified for, but that is kind of difficult to predict, since the companies that are hiring now are super picky about what they're looking for.

asylum said:

Buried under a pile of files? That is sooo not right, and just confirms that my file may have wound up in the same predicament. I'm glad that it had a happy ending, and that you got the results you were looking for.

GooeyTheHamster said:

Thanks. I hope you find a job soon as well. Nine months is a heck of a long time to be out of work.

Agencies suck, I had no luck with them at all, even the government based one we have in the UK, and they need you to find work cus they are paying you 70 quid a week to be looking. It's so random, good luck with the search.

XxAxX said:

Depends on the agent's personality, could you explain that a little, since I'm not sure what that means. I am going to write a letter to the woman I mentioned in my original post, to let her know how disappointed I am that I was not contacted about the two jobs I saw on their website. The one job would have been only 15 minutes away from my house, and the pay would have been great! The woman tried to excuse it by saying it "was not my account", but that to me, is NO EXCUSE. I would think that the people who work at this agency would COMMUNICATE effectively among themselves, to see what candidates they have that may fit the position that they are trying to fill.

Natisse said:

Thanks, I needed that.

billyjackbitch said:

Love you too, Little Sis! Thanks for the excellent advice, I appreciate it. I will remain persistent but professional (even though at this point, I want to call that agency up and holler at them). You're right, eventually I will find a job, I just have to keep plugging.

POSTDOMINANT said:

Sorry to hear that you had an unpleasant experience with an agency, I feel you on that, they DO suck. It's hard to find a good one that will work with you effectively. I think I will hesitate to use an agency in the future, if I am ever out of work again (I hope not).

Im so sorry,I went through the same thing while I was in college. I finally had to stop waiting on the agencies. Write a letter to the main supervisor and name names! Let them know they're not doing their job.
Dont be down,its only a temporary setback,it wont be like this forever

Thanks, I appreciate the encouragement. It's a bit comforting to know that others have gone through a similar experience. What makes it even worse about this situation with the job agency is that the person I talked to is the Office Manager! Talk about unprofessional, and this person was recommended to me by a friend who I used to work with!

But I am also looking in the paper and online and applying for jobs as well. In fact, I have an interview coming up this Tuesday with a company that I had applied for online, without the agency's help. I hope I get this job, since the company does exactly what another company that I worked for for 4 years did.

Good Luck,sometimes the best jobs are the ones u find on your own

Thanks. Yes, sometimes they are.

I used to work temp for agencies. They are shit.

1) If you approach an employer you get a wrist slap.
2) They never phone you and if you phone them everyday eventually I got told "don't call us, we will call you".
3)I am convinced that everytime you sign up with a temp agency you are just another number they must use to get funding or make money or use you for their income tax purposes.
4)Never, ever depend on a temp agency for work, even if you sign up with more than one. They are unreliable and I always got more responses to my resume than going through a temp agency.

Avoid them like the plague.