Rank: Forum user 
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Hi guys,
While I am well aware of most of the recruitment agencies in SHP mag and the general "high street" types does anyone have a recruitment agent that they can recommend?
Secondly and a bit of a daft question, besides agencies are there any other avenues that can be used to seek H&S jobs?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Morning Russ,
My experience with agencies has been quite disappointing. Unless you happen to walk in with the right quals/ experience for a job they have live they are not much interested and offer nothing better than doing it for yourself.
They also have a much more limited range of jobs than is available on the market.
In this technological age you can register with plenty of job sites (total jobs, fish4jobs, etc.) and set it up to send you relevant alerts when jobs come in (SHP do this too). Also, you can make your CV live on some sites so agencies will come to you, like Monster jobs and CV library.
In my opinion its all about the scatter gun approach. Good luck!
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks WatsonD
Yeah I am on those sites, I just hate the way they contact you with jobs that are so far away from your actual skill set, it gets wearing but is the only way I guess.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Sadly my experience of agencies is very negative and also in-house recruiters. I'm sure there must be some good ones out there - just never come across them yet!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Agree with #4
In all my years I have never found a decent agency - they just want 'easy fits' i.e. people they can easily find jobs for - right experience/qualifications etc. Anybody that takes time and effort is too difficult in terms of time and hence less profitable to find a job for.
Always remember, at best you 'the candidate' is at best 3rd on the recruitment agents list of priorities
1. Get a placement - so the recruitment agent gets paid/commission etc
2. Keep their client happy
3. Just maybe keep you happy 'the candidate', with finding you a job which may or may not be suitable for you.
Sometimes dealing with them is a necessary evil in life.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I have worked for 7 different employers since starting full time work. 2 of these were due to takeovers, for one I was directly approached by a former colleague, three I found by my own efforts (direct approach and response to a direct advert) and the remaining 1 was in answer to an advert from an agent. During that time I had been registered with a few agencies who never managed to find me a suitable job.
I have successfully recruited on 4 occasions, each time posting an advert in the relevant press (pre-mass-internet) and hired excellent people after sifting through a mountain of CVs. None of the people I hired were via the many agencies who responded.
I am now self-employed and if I need to take someone on (very unlikely) it will be via personal contacts, failing which I would avoid agencies like the plague, relying on this site and similar.
Russ, the best advice I can offer is to network as widely as you can, not being shy about asking for openings, trawl the various recruitment sites and register if and when you have to, but don't expect them to find you a job.
As Ian Bell says, remember who they are working for and why.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Major issue. most of them they advertise the jobs which they knew they are not available any more
Secondly , in oil and gas sector, i saw them they have unfair approaches ..(i always name oil and gas is dirty business) ..
in last 16 years , only one time i found short term job with agencies ...Good luck any how
SHV
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Rank: Super forum user
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SHV wrote:Major issue. most of them they advertise the jobs which they knew they are not available any more
Secondly , in oil and gas sector, i saw them they have unfair approaches ..(i always name oil and gas is dirty business) ..
in last 16 years , only one time i found short term job with agencies ...Good luck any how
SHV
I also strongly suspect agencies advertise jobs which do not actually exist!!
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Rank: Super forum user
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They certainly advertise jobs that have long been filled and are are no longer available - sort of the same thing I guess. I assume they do it to make themselves look busy/successful etc in getting clients etc.
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Rank: Forum user
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Don’t think much of agencies I have applied to loads recently trying to get a H&S trainee role to get experience
and had no luck one even phoned me last night at 20.50 which I thought was a bit
late for them to be phoning
they asked if I was working I said yes and I was just about to say I am looking for a health and safety role .
but they put phone down on me very helpful agency I guess.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Agencies are nightmares, if your looking at getting an agency to find you work then your doing something wrong.
You can get work if you have an excellent CV drawn up, Look online and red as much as you can for making the best CV ever.
Secondly you need to basically "Sell" yourself in a covering letter, There are many examples online and you can read up about this and from others experiences. Its not hard work and most of you will probably find it satisfying.
I've already had 2 jobs that I've managed to get without them advertising, basically if you can talk yourself into an interview if you willing to give it a go and not be put off by a few rejections.
I class Agencies on par with Double Glazing Salesmen and Cold Callers.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Ian Bell2 wrote:They certainly advertise jobs that have long been filled and are are no longer available - sort of the same thing I guess. I assume they do it to make themselves look busy/successful etc in getting clients etc.
Ian, before the rise of the Internet an agency friend told my wife they put jobs in the window which do not exist just so that job hunters come in. You know, those jobs offering very good money and perks, when you enquire - "Sorry but it has just been filled". Surprise, surprise.
I suspect online agencies do the same in order to get a load of CVs on their books and impress clients. Horrible industry, worse than estate agents in my book.
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Rank: Super forum user
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RayRapp wrote:Ian Bell2 wrote:
I suspect online agencies do the same in order to get a load of CVs on their books and impress clients. Horrible industry, worse than estate agents in my book.
I forgot about Estate Agents, Ray ha ha
I think they have got worst in the past few years, Its all a numbers game with them, I saw once at an agency a league table from staff showing how many people they managed to get Registered in a Week, as if it was some sort of competition.
You just need to look at LinkedIn to see all the Bad press agencies get from paying crappy money to advertising fake jobs (I think to just get the CVs in)
The Government needs to Regulate the Agency business and offer some form of redress to employees that feel they have been scammed or ripped off. Until that happens, they'll carry on without a care in the world, after all who's going to stop them??
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Rank: Super forum user
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I've used Hays on a number of occasions for short term work and found them good (London area jobs).
But apart from that I would agree with most of what has already been said.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Opening questions usually involve how much do you earn . Reverse the role and ask them how much they earn.
Will they tell you ???????? NO!!!!!
Plus if you earn to much end of conversation --- I am sure they try to lower the offer
Idont use them - passed experience = useless
SBH
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Rank: Forum user
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I got my current job through an agency in Aberdeen a year ago. The woman who was helping me to secure the position was 100% involved, called me with all updates (recrutation process lasted for about 2 months...) and thanks to her I'm in the best h&s job I've had so far. However, I think that it depends more on the individual person than agency's name. If someone's dedicated, they will be able to help you. If they're not, you're wasting your time. Fortunately, it's easy to tell after a couple of minutes of conversation.
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Rank: Forum user 
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imponderabilius wrote:I got my current job through an agency in Aberdeen a year ago. The woman who was helping me to secure the position was 100% involved, called me with all updates (recrutation process lasted for about 2 months...) and thanks to her I'm in the best h&s job I've had so far. However, I think that it depends more on the individual person than agency's name. If someone's dedicated, they will be able to help you. If they're not, you're wasting your time. Fortunately, it's easy to tell after a couple of minutes of conversation.
Wow, do you mind letting me know which agency you used? I'm in Aberdeen and haven't had much luck with agencies. I'm sure you know how volatile the job market is just now so I might have to visit agencies at some point in the near future!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I've said this before:
If the editor of IOSH Magazine is looking in, here is the basis of an controversial article.
But maybe you don't want to upset the advertising revenue ??
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Rank: Super forum user
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Best of luck: Its 10,000 times harder than years ago [bankers put us here & employers are using the opportunity] to get a job & any agent that gets somebody a job is a good one to them & v versa. Ruillion [spelling?] of Manchester has been in the game long before HAYS and most of the others existed so try them & Dutton International is still trading
Other avenues include direct mail shots/calls to likely employers [unfortunately most queries end up with HR who may know what is what], attending IOSH & related group meetings & getting around & around is all U can do so treat getting a job as a full time job!
When I managed agencies [Welding International & Dutton International] recruiters were all competent in their specific areas [& employers etc. were different] but now its very rare to find that competence & in most cases CV's are 'key worded' via computer programs & not people + employers have pushed agencies into corners with regards to pay etc. & they do not always know what they want/is needed
And employers know that the HSE is playing games these days so are not as interested as they were Also see other postings about this subject
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Rank: Forum user
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I've had mixed reactions to agencies. They're much of a muchness to be honest. When you have something they want, they're all over you and until that point you can do what you like.
They offer to help/listen to your woes about finding employment, use all the right words then nothing. This includes all the big names and alleged experts in HS&E recruitment.
I've managed to obtain interviews with companies doing the recruitment themselves and also had interviews arranged via agencies. It's a mug's game.
I've been at this since 2011 and I'm still applying/still getting interviews (occasionally), still being told I interview well, come across as intelligent and articulate, show enthusiasm and passion so why doesn't anyone hire me?? Grrrrrrr
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Rank: Super forum user 
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quote=Russ1977]Hi guys,
Secondly and a bit of a daft question, besides agencies are there any other avenues that can be used to seek H&S jobs?
Linkedin (I don't think anyone has mentioned this above)
look for businesses in your area that seem to be expanding and sent your CV with a cover letter.
Also look at local larger company web sites as some of them will not employ via an agency due to stupid costs. Even if they do, if you can go direct and there is nothing between you and an agency candidate they save £1,000's if they go with you. Any edge is a good one.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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I am currently in a contract role through an agency and I must admit I have had no problems what so ever.
They usually contact me once a year to inquire if everything is fine.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Safety Man 1 wrote:I am currently in a contract role through an agency and I must admit I have had no problems what so ever.
They usually contact me once a year to inquire if everything is fine.
Then you should be lucky one !it will not happen to majority of people per my and other people experiences
SHV
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Rank: Forum user
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Personally, I have no confidence whatsoever in recruitment agencies for the following reasons:
- Their agents are more interested in an applicant adding them to their connections on LinkedIn
than actually putting someone forward for a job. It's almost as if they are paid by the number of
connections they have on LinkedIn.
- They phone applicants about roles for which they know very well the applicant doesn't tick all the
boxes, hoping to at least get a LinkedIn connection from having established contact.
- There is no guarantee they always put anyone forward for a role when they say they have,
anyway.
It is always better to deal with employers directly, but unfortunately very few organisations employ directly as compared to those who use agencies.
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Rank: Forum user
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So far, my experience has been positive as it has given me solid work over many years.
They work best for full time roles.
Part time tends to be more challenging to them.
Do you want permanent or contract roles?
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