Job in recruitment?

JonB · Afraid of Mileage Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

Hi.

I have been headhunted for a job as a recruitment consultant? It all sounds pretty rosy, but i'm not really convinced. Has anybody worked in the sector? What is it like?

Cheers.
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..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Head hunted? How?

Recruitment agents fall into two categories IME.

1) Professional agents who find decent jobs, usually specifying in particular sector.

2) Scumbag parasites who will stick you in any old job, doing any kind of monotonous task, so they can earn a cut of your hard work. Thinking of your high street agencies here.

Be careful which one you are thinking of becoming.

Frost · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2004 Karma :

Agreed. Be careful.

D O G · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Karma :

Be prepared for the following:

- Long hours - most people want to see you after work, as they already have jobs, so expect to be working till 8 most days;
- Lots of running about the place trying to work contacts at businesses, trying to build relationships with people who really can't be arsed to talk to you;
- Highly commission based income - when times are good, you are quids in, when they're not (like now), you are chasing any placement you can get;
- Lots of shit (and sometimes good) candidates bothering you all the time for updates you just don't have;
- Being widely regarded as a parasite by clients and candidates alike.

If you like selling, being underhand, and don't mind exerting a lot of effort being pushy and generally annoying salesperson type person, then go for it.

Oh, you haven't been 'headhunted' - someone has offered you a job. This is already an example of recruitment consultant flannel, get used to peddling it.

Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

D O G speaks soothly. In fact, he's said exactly what I was typing but with far, far less vitriol.
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JonB · Afraid of Mileage Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

OK, excusing my faux pas. I was having a whine and moan to a customer during a ride back in my current job and later on I got a phone call from this guy at this place called 1st Place recruitment in Bristol. He sent me a file in my email and to be honest it sounded too good to be true.

Probably just took advantage of my vulnerable situation at the moment as I want the get the fook out of my job.

Thanks for the advice and maybe next time not only will I not head towards a pathetic working role, but I will actually get my phrases right. Laughing

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D O G · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Karma :

Want a good career?

Get into a job which gives you a decent professional qualification. Degrees don't mean shit.

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Is this like that PeterNSR modelling thing?
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Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

Yes, I've been offered jobs all over the UK for roles I'm not qualified or experienced to do (including recruitment/telesales/online marketing), nor that I particularly want. They have found my CV and contacted me on the back of it. Rolling Eyes

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Annabella · Like a person, only smaller Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Don't do it.

It was the worst job I have ever had in my life.

Not only do you have to be professionally two-faced, lie on a daily basis to both clients and candidates but you also have to be completely cold-blooded and uncaring.
I worked in quite a small market placing people into Social Housing positions. The jobs weren't particularly well paid in the first place, and then you had to take a cut of it - so a £10 an hour placement quickly became a £6 an hour job for the candidate.

I went home thoroughly demotivated every day. The culture is competative and the majority of recruitment consultants only cared about how big a margin they could negotiate and how much money they earned. Very, very few actually had anything interesting about them.
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Handsome · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Karma :

Colin 1 was one if I remember right...
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Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

Oh and you need a degree to be a Notetaker in university... Cool

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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

I have worked in recruitment. I wouldnt recommend it but it keeps the wolf from the door.

I've done two jobs in high street recruitment. The thing that bothered me was, that you are supposed to be trained up by people who have no interest in you doing well, as if you do, you are a threat.

This means they only help the people stay who they see as not a threat. I've seen this in a few sales jobs.

You can do the best job you could possibly do, but if you dont hit the numbers they want, or if they take a dislike to you, you are out.

The other thing I dont like in this sort of job, is that to establish dominance, you are expected to suck up unfair criticism or jokes at your expense, and if you dish it back, its seen as you being arrogant.

If you can tug your forelock while lazy fuckers tell you how they are great while looking like they are scared of you, give it a go.

I reckon it could be an ok job, if it wasnt for the shitty management style that has people fighting against each other like cat and dog rather than helping each other.

Call centre work is better to be honest.

I suspect being a rep would be similar but better.

Be aware that the rate of staff turnover in recruitment is high. They have no interest in helping you, its just sink or swim.

If you are good at brown nosing, it could be the job for you.

I'd love to get into a technical job to match my engineering degree, but mostly I do shitty sales stuff where they treat you like shit, because you are a disposable resource rather than someone worth investing in.
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