I've been looking for a job on and off since 2007. During that time I've taken one new job, so I'm clearly very picky - or more likely there really aren't that many solid jobs out there.
However, the company that I work for is far less secure than it was when I joined in 2011. Therefore it pays to be a few steps ahead of the game and have my CV out there ready for when I need to make my next move.
Unfortunately, this isn't 2001. Head hunting doesn't happen anymore (those that say they've been head-hunted have actually been mugged into taking jobs that nobody else wanted).
Because my CV is out on the main job websites (Reed, Jobsite, etc.), it gets picked up by salespeople - sorry, recruitment agencies - and I get numerous phone calls and scattershot emails asking me if I'd be interested in some job which is clearly totally unsuitable for me for various obvious reasons.
The most obvious of these is the fact that I'm a permanent employee in my current job. In fact I've never contracted in my life, so why would I start now on an "amazing opportunity for a 6 month contract"?
I know that recruitment agencies want as many candidates on their books as possible, but they also want to shift vacancies fast, as well.
But, by sending out lots of shoddily-worded emails targeting candidates with no interest/experience in contract work, these agencies are making themselves known for peddling bad jobs. I'm also guessing that the candidates they put forward are also as clueless.
The thing is that candidates aren't all stupid.
I recognise phone numbers and email addresses that keep offering these "fantastic opportunities", and as a result I'd never go through any of these recruitment agencies.
If you are a such a recruitment agency, change your tactics now. Would be candidates such as myself are tired of your sales pitches and are now going directly to employers to cut out the middle man.
I will be writing more about the world of job hunting and recruitment in this blog soon, as it is something that I do spend a lot of time on and might even help you to understand what recruitment agencies need to do, what you need to do when looking for a job, and what employers should be doing - and in that final case I would recommend that you go back to recruiting the old fashioned way; recruitment agencies aren't the best option anymore.
