Blog Post: Are There ANY Benefits of Working Through an Employment Agency?

I can't get this out of my head. I have been asked MANY times in the past to explain the benefits of working for an Employment Agency to a potential candidate. I have given the same standard answer for almost 10 years now! Rather than do that again, I am relaying the answers of my employees to that same question. Here are a few of the answers given to the question "What do you like about utilizing our services?":

• The flexibility to schedule on days I want to work!
• Not being stuck at the same place for months at a time unless I want to be there!
• The opportunity to try a job before I commit to it permanently
• Weekly pay!
• Being able to learn different skills at different facilities!

I will freely admit that an Employment Agency is not for everyone. I am willing to admit the negatives as well and have asked our employees about what they do NOT like about utilizing agency services. Here are those responses:

• Not knowing for sure where I am going until a few days before I go there
• Having to learn new systems at some facilities
• Weekly pay (I do not budget well and it does not work well for me)
• Not getting REALLY comfortable with my co-workers if I am not at a site very long

I can totally understand most of these things as well. I consider myself to be a realist and here is my honest opinion on utilizing an agency to assist in your job search:

• If you are uncomfortable ASK QUESTIONS before proceeding!
• Make sure you are with a reputable company before agreeing to work for them
• GET IT IN WRITING! Get a salary/wage amount in writing ahead of being scheduled. If a company refuses to do this, that may be a red flag!
• Make sure you understand contractual agreements. Some employment agencies have clauses written in contracts that once you work for a facility through them, you cannot return to that facility through another agency!
• Check your options. Some agencies offer temporary, temporary to permanent, and permanent placement to meet your needs. Consider "temping" while you are searching for something permanent...
• Follow up! I cannot tell you how many times I have heard of good candidates "falling through the cracks" because of a lack of follow up. You are usually doing a Recruiter a favor by following up and announcing your availability!

Good luck with your job search!