Understanding the Role of Agencies ....

  Information Technology without doubt utilizes more agency involvement than any other profession. The reason for this is very obvious, talented IT professionals are difficult to find today.  I do not discourage  IT job seekers to utilize employment agencies  ; however, it is vital to be knowledgeable on how they operate !  

 Most agencies make their money by receiving a standard commission of the new recruits salary. The standard commission today for most employment agencies is usually 25%-30%. On the West Coast it may  go as high as 35%. That means if you accepted a position they found for you, at a 25% commission  rate with your new salary at $80K, they would have earned a $20K commission. That's allot of money.  Now you know why they are so nice to you on the phone ! 

 It is very important that you understand how employment agencies operate. Here is why. From life, I am sure you would agree with me that people would almost do anything to make a buck. Especially $20,000 US dollars ! Agency recruiters are no exception to this rule. They will do almost anything for you to accept the position in which they introduced to you. This of course, includes exaggerating or even lying to you  in hope that you accept the offered position. You must be on your toes ! 

 Here are some insightful suggestions that I offer to all my job hunting clients. First, never have the agency recruiter answer important questions which may affect your decision. Ask to talk to the involved company directly. When you interview at the company, make sure you ask for business cards of all the people you meet during your interview. If you have the contact information , you can bypass the agency recruiter and personally contact the company representative. Get the answers to your questions straight from the" horses mouth" sort of speak.                     

 In addition, make sure the company you are interviewing with has a clear picture of your salary requirements. Some agencies may reduce your salary requirements just to get you in front of their clients. Only later, to inform them you need more money than what was initially suggested to them. This clever agency tactic usually backfires 80% of the time, which means that you wasted allot of your valuable time off from your current employer that obviously is limited ... 

 Another  insightful suggestion when utilizing the services of employment agencies, if you have any questions on the company benefit program in your new job offer talk directly to a HR representative at the corresponding company. Agency recruiters usually no very little on the benefit program of the companies in which they represent ! Have your questions directly answered by Human Resources. 

 One final note, if the agency recruiter informed you that you were eliminated by their client after numerous interviews which you felt went very well overall. Don't accept the agencies reason for you being eliminated by the company. Once again , follow up yourself with a company representative. You put in allot of your valuable  time in the process. You deserve to get the truth !  It is not uncommon for recruitment deals to go sour because of unexpected faults that were generated by the agency and not by you. Many of these are a direct result of your unawareness of the  inexperience level  of the recruiter that is representing you. Calling the company representative directly may allow you to act   as a mediator between the company and the agency to remedy a solution to a resolvable problem. You may even reactivate your chances for getting hired by the company of interest.....