Hi Guys,

I have just recently acquired a position as an Administrative Assistant at a vision company, through a recruiting agency called Aerotek. This is my first time ever using a recruiter and was wondering if any of you guys could share any experiences you have had with them.

I have been hearing that going through a recruiter is a pain in the @ss, and all they are looking for is their commission. I am still in the early stages of my life at the age of 20, and have not had too many jobs, which is why I am a little skeptical about going through a recruiting agency.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

Having been a recruiter I can say that all they are about is the $$$$$$$.

Sometimes that is the only way to get a job, but usually the same job is available to the guy off the street and at a higher salary because they don't have to pay the commission.

 

Thats true.

What puzzles me, is that I have to check in with Aerotek every friday with my timecard, and I am paid weekly by Aerotek. I really dislike this method, and wanted to know if I could discuss about being paid by my employer directly.

I start Monday, and I still have a chance to not start the job, even though I have signed the agreement forms.

 

i tried it once... she told me she was going to give me a call & nothing. i went out and found myself a job instead.

agencies have a quota they need to hit just like police officers. as long as they interview you and get you to fill out papers, that's their check. finding you a job on the other hand is totally optional.

 

I did that with my first job as a software purchaser. After a year I got on with the company directly with a pretty fat raise.

I think a lot of these company contracts stipulate that they get a year before the employee can be paid directly. after all, THEY put the effort into getting you the job.

For many jobs, especially higher level ones, it is the best way to go. A good recruiter has so many contacts and will give you much better exposure than you could ever get yourself. For lower level stuff, I think you're better off yourself as you can see way more openings and will have more flexibility in salary.

 

[QUOTE=steven975,Jan 6 2007, 08:31 PM] I did that with my first job as a software purchaser.

 

That's easy. The company you're working for will pay Aerotek $20 an hour (for example) for you, and Aerotek will pay you $10 an hour. That's how they make their money.

I doubled my income in the mid '90s by leaving a consulting company and going out on my own.

 

Aerotek is acting as a staffing agency in this case, not as a recruiter. This gives the employer the flexibility of letting you go easily if they dont like you.
Some companies exist with just a skeleton crew of 'employees' and the rest are just temps. The label 'temp' has nothing to do with the duration - I've seen temps work at the same position for years.

 

FYI, the more money a recruiter gets you, the money money HE gets, so it is in their best interest to get you as much as possible.

 

^ yup.

recruiters/agencies commission is a % of the benefits package of the person being placed.

having said that, like all things in life, a quick buck is better than no buck....so they may not get you the best "deal".

my very first job out of university was through an agency.....but i had heard this years ago as well....so i told the my future boss that i'll take the paper salary as long as we have a side deal with a top-up.