Hello people!

So I played the placement agency game since I arrived here. Lots of 3 long hour interviews including ridiculous exams to see if I could freaking type and equally daaah stuff. Anyways, after many "we SO have a position for you", followed by "it seems THEY are really interested" and phone-tag-games, nada, zilch, zero, zip. So last week I decided to apply for the same position one of the agencies was "pushing me for" and oh surprise... the actual company wants to interview my pretty Mexican self this week (this after the agency said it was a no-go). I wonder what exactly the deal is with these agencies and if anyone has experiences they'd like to share.

So vent away peepz, or share good stories -- whichever your experience, it will help us all!!!

Good luck job hunting, L.

I've had good and bad experiences. They treat you like you're made out of gold when they can place you because that's how they get their cash, once you're done with your contract, they don't give you the time of day. They're good to get your foot in the door and/or to make more money since contracting jobs pay much better than permanent positions. But most of them are like car salesmen. 'Nuff said.

Diana

Went through employment agency myself. It was a quick way (I got the job within 1.5 weeks) to get into the position although the pay is not as good and no benefit. But you get to know the hiring person and if you are temp to fill out a permanent position, you might be offerred permanent employment. That's how I got my job.

But, my experience is, the employment agency is not too keen to see you hired as permanent because although the agency received "placement" fee, it was not as big as the hourly fee they make off you or if they do the full "headhunter" service. In my case, the agency takes 43% off the hourly pay the company pays for me.

If you are applying directly, make sure you have not signed anything with the agency because you might get in trouble for being employed directly by the company while you know about the employment opportunity through the agency.

Good luck!

I hear you both. I just sent a "letter of resignation" to said agencies.... so that I don't get in trouble indeed. After all, they emphasize that employment is "at will", so they can grab their "employment" and put it where the sun don't shine (oh my, that was not classy)