I’ll be honest, although a little biased maybe – always use b3! Seriously though, it is a good question.
Sometimes your hand will be forced in the sense that some companies don’t use agencies, whereas others only use agencies. However, when you’re looking for a new job, you need to keep your options open – the most important thing for you is to get the best possible job.
Applying directly to a company can be an easy route, depending on the company though! Some are set up with excellent HR departments and smooth interviewing processes. Some however are not. I have heard stories of people turning up and the interviewer having no idea who they were or why they were even there! One of the biggest problems applying directly can be that you have no support – you have to do everything yourself. Enter the agency…
Now, very much like companies, agencies also come in all shapes and sizes. Generally we are all seen as money hungry sharks willing to sell your soul to the highest bidder – and if the jobs not right for you, then so what? We’ve got our pound of flesh, thank you very much! I actually like people thinking of us in such a way – it makes my job so much easier by simply standing out as an honest, friendly and respected organisation. I have used agencies to recruit staff for me, as I have used agencies to help me find a job. With very few exceptions, they were all sharks – which is what gave me the idea to set up b3. I wanted to provide an ethical and professional service to both employers and prospective employees alike.
A good agency will be honest, friendly and provide you with all the information and support that you need in order to make the right decisions for you and not for them nor anyone else.
A good agency will give you honest feedback and keep you posted whenever there’s news – good or bad!
A good agency should be your friend that advises and does not pressurise! In a nutshell, a good agency can be a godsend and a bad one, a nightmare! So should you go down the agency route, then choose wisely and accept nothing but the best!