July 29, 2014 at 9:22 am
I have not had very good luck with agencies in the Mid-South (US).
Seems that very few (that I have had dealings with) take the time to find a job that is within your skill set or that you are interested in.
I have had them call me about Java jobs because I took a Java class in college.
Or, they send my resume to a company (without my consent) for a windows systems administrator position. I am not a sys. admin and sure as hell don't want to ever be a windows sys. admin. UGH!
Most of the recruiters/agencies in the area refuse to disclose who the client is. I've gotten very good at figuring out who the client is by how insane (ie. writing a job description for a H1B slot) the job/knowledge requirements are.
There are quite a few IT jobs in my area, but many of them are from the same 4 local companies that go through non-H1B staff like crazy. After you have been through one or two of these companies you learn better and find more reasonable employment.
July 29, 2014 at 10:00 am
Jeff Moden (7/28/2014)
xsevensinzx (7/28/2014)
Lynn Pettis (7/28/2014)
xsevensinzx (7/28/2014)
Lynn Pettis (7/28/2014)
The problem with going to employers directly is actually knowing what employers are currently looking for talent. You can't always go be job boards or the want ads. Some employers rely specifically on agencies to prescreen potential candidates for positions since there seems to be hundreds of people applying for limited openings.In addition, having talked with recruiters, they are constantly talking with client firms looking to determine if they may be getting ready to fill potential opens to give them time to start looking for potential recruits, or to give people they work with a heads up about new openings if their current positions are winding down. The good recruiters will even touch base with even when you aren't currently active to see how things are going for you.
This is true, but you could also find the employer through the agency by searching keywords when the agency itself posts the job on the job boards.
In my experience, agencies do not post the name of companies they are representing when they post positions on their sites or career sites like Monster, Dice, or Career Builder. If they did, people could apply directly instead of going through them costing them their commissions. In fact, they usually don't tell you the company until they have presented you to the company as a potential employee which also means you have agreed to allow them to represent you. Along with this there is a time frame in which you cannot represent yourself to that same company without having to pay some form a financial remuneration if you should be offered a position with that company. The contracts I have signed I believe that has been one year, but of course your milage may vary.
That's all true, but it depends on the agencies and the opportunity. Unless it's fresh off the press, most organizations have had the position listed on their website and using agencies to headhunt. I've managed to find good leads from one agencies post on a public website to the direct hire because of the duration it takes to sometimes fill these roles. Other times, subtle hints on the organization, if you know your local area, also lead to it.
I don't know what agencies you talk with, but for me, I always ask for the company name within the first discussion. This is not to go behind the agency in any way. It's to ensure that the agency as well potential employer knows that I'm not just there for a paycheck, I'm there for a project too. Otherwise, it's the end of the discussion. There is no way that I am wasting time and finding out later who the winning company is.
I've developed the same trust with the agencies that work with, as I'm sure that many have. Of course, there are a whole lot of people that can't be trusted with such information and that's why it takes a while to build up such a trust.
+1
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
July 29, 2014 at 10:56 am
podmate (7/29/2014)
I have not had very good luck with agencies in the Mid-South (US).Seems that very few (that I have had dealings with) take the time to find a job that is within your skill set or that you are interested in.
I have had them call me about Java jobs because I took a Java class in college.
Or, they send my resume to a company (without my consent) for a windows systems administrator position. I am not a sys. admin and sure as hell don't want to ever be a windows sys. admin. UGH!
Most of the recruiters/agencies in the area refuse to disclose who the client is. I've gotten very good at figuring out who the client is by how insane (ie. writing a job description for a H1B slot) the job/knowledge requirements are.
There are quite a few IT jobs in my area, but many of them are from the same 4 local companies that go through non-H1B staff like crazy. After you have been through one or two of these companies you learn better and find more reasonable employment.
In my experience, one must read all the print (large, medium, fine, ultra fine and steganographic), under no circumstances should the agency be authorized to send any details without an approval. As one normally deals with more than one agency at the time, having multiple submissions for a contract/position is a risk and if it happens, it doesn't look good.
😎
July 29, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Eirikur Eiriksson (7/29/2014)
under no circumstances should the agency be authorized to send any details without an approval.
Agencies send candidates all the time without approval. I have seen agencies even doctor up resumes for a candidate with my resume or other people that I know really well. It is always a riot when the agency then submits said resume to you for their candidate - and it is your resume.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
July 29, 2014 at 12:43 pm
SQLRNNR (7/29/2014)
Eirikur Eiriksson (7/29/2014)
under no circumstances should the agency be authorized to send any details without an approval.
Agencies send candidates all the time without approval. I have seen agencies even doctor up resumes for a candidate with my resume or other people that I know really well. It is always a riot when the agency then submits said resume to you for their candidate - and it is your resume.
Well the good ones, meaning those with a good sense of ethics, won't do either of those things. The ones I have worked with have always contacted me before sending my resume to potential clients.
July 29, 2014 at 12:52 pm
Lynn Pettis (7/29/2014)
SQLRNNR (7/29/2014)
Eirikur Eiriksson (7/29/2014)
under no circumstances should the agency be authorized to send any details without an approval.
Agencies send candidates all the time without approval. I have seen agencies even doctor up resumes for a candidate with my resume or other people that I know really well. It is always a riot when the agency then submits said resume to you for their candidate - and it is your resume.
Well the good ones, meaning those with a good sense of ethics, won't do either of those things. The ones I have worked with have always contacted me before sending my resume to potential clients.
That's a proper way of doing the job, hence if one finds one of those, one sticks to them.
😎
July 29, 2014 at 1:04 pm
Eirikur Eiriksson (7/29/2014)
Lynn Pettis (7/29/2014)
SQLRNNR (7/29/2014)
Eirikur Eiriksson (7/29/2014)
under no circumstances should the agency be authorized to send any details without an approval.
Agencies send candidates all the time without approval. I have seen agencies even doctor up resumes for a candidate with my resume or other people that I know really well. It is always a riot when the agency then submits said resume to you for their candidate - and it is your resume.
Well the good ones, meaning those with a good sense of ethics, won't do either of those things. The ones I have worked with have always contacted me before sending my resume to potential clients.
That's a proper way of doing the job, hence if one finds one of those, one sticks to them.
😎
I have four that I trust. All are local, and when I say local, that means they have offices local to me. All of them have offices across the US. I'm finding it harder to trust the national agencies that have no local presence to do things right, and all it took was working with one.
They were too busy telling about all the Fortune 100 companies that the provide talent for than actually working to help find work.
July 29, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Lynn, what happens if your job has finished/end of contract and you are starting another search, but none of four agencies in your circle have any SQL Server openings at the moment? Will you respond to a Dice ad from another agency for a job local to you, or will wait until one of your 4 agencies will have something?
July 29, 2014 at 6:31 pm
SQL Guy 1 (7/29/2014)
Lynn, what happens if your job has finished/end of contract and you are starting another search, but none of four agencies in your circle have any SQL Server openings at the moment? Will you respond to a Dice ad from another agency for a job local to you, or will wait until one of your 4 agencies will have something?
Trust me, I'm looking as well. I don't come home from Afghanistan until the end of February and I am watching the jobs even now. Seen some good ones, but the money is good out here and I am going to keep collecting until I come home. I'll start a more active search about 2 months out from my redeployment date.
Plus, needing to carry insurance, I am looking for full-time work still.
July 30, 2014 at 3:09 am
Not had any experience of recruitment agencies in the US but the ones in the UK (especially for contract work) can be very much hit and miss, usually miss.
They are quite obessed with getting references from you even though the contract doesn't even exist. Been caught out when I was a noob contract but takes experience to work out what is real and genuine and what is not.
Lynn, can I ask what it was like to work out in Afghanistan? That sound like an interesting gig.
qh
July 30, 2014 at 6:58 am
quackhandle1975 (7/30/2014)
Not had any experience of recruitment agencies in the US but the ones in the UK (especially for contract work) can be very much hit and miss, usually miss.They are quite obessed with getting references from you even though the contract doesn't even exist. Been caught out when I was a noob contract but takes experience to work out what is real and genuine and what is not.
Lynn, can I ask what it was like to work out in Afghanistan? That sound like an interesting gig.
qh
You know, it is actually hard to describe other than you work, you eat, you sleep, rinse and repeat daily. I haven't, but need to, also work out daily (some even twice a day).
I work 12+ hours a day every day. Right now we are only allowed to bill 72 hours a week, so 12 hours are unpaid. Part of this is due to the draw down. As bases have been closed or consolidated we have also had to reduce our manning foot print as well. Fewer people means we need to put in more time, unfortunately the money to bill 84 hours isn't there anymore. There are a few positions that are able to take a couple of half days off during the week, but the engineers (sys admins and the lone dba) are needed.
I have actually enjoyed being out here, not just for the money. I have actually been learning things that will be of benefit when I return to the states and find a new position. Unfortunately back in September 2013 I was informed that my position with the company back home was eliminated during a RIF. Luckily I have been able to continue working for them out here.
It does get a bit old, but then there are the occasional IDF attacks, mostly at night when I am working but some during the day.
Would I recommend it, that depends. I have heard of some people coming out here and after the first near miss requesting to go back home. There have been others that have been out here in Iraq and Afghanistan for 10 years. Not sure if I could do it for that long.
July 30, 2014 at 8:07 am
Ah, if I understand right, you are in US army deployed in Afghanistan?
And the local agencies they are local to Afghanistan or to your home state in US?
And just curious, you mentioned about IDF attacks, that is Israeli army?
July 30, 2014 at 8:17 am
SQL Guy 1 (7/30/2014)
Ah, if I understand right, you are in US army deployed in Afghanistan?And the local agencies they are local to Afghanistan or to your home state in US?
And just curious, you mentioned about IDF attacks, that is Israeli army?
No, I am not in the military. I am a civilian contractor.
IDF is Indirect Fire. Can be rockets (usually), artillery (rarely), or mortar (sometimes). Usually just a few rounds, nothing continuous.
Not sure about your second question.
July 30, 2014 at 8:21 am
Lynn Pettis (7/30/2014)
SQL Guy 1 (7/30/2014)
Ah, if I understand right, you are in US army deployed in Afghanistan?And the local agencies they are local to Afghanistan or to your home state in US?
And just curious, you mentioned about IDF attacks, that is Israeli army?
No, I am not in the military. I am a civilian contractor.
IDF is Indirect Fire. Can be rockets (usually), artillery (rarely), or mortar (sometimes). Usually just a few rounds, nothing continuous.
Not sure about your second question.
Looks like he is trying to figure out if you are using the Agencies from the states for your job search or something in Afghanistan.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
July 30, 2014 at 8:27 am
SQLRNNR (7/30/2014)
Lynn Pettis (7/30/2014)
SQL Guy 1 (7/30/2014)
Ah, if I understand right, you are in US army deployed in Afghanistan?And the local agencies they are local to Afghanistan or to your home state in US?
And just curious, you mentioned about IDF attacks, that is Israeli army?
No, I am not in the military. I am a civilian contractor.
IDF is Indirect Fire. Can be rockets (usually), artillery (rarely), or mortar (sometimes). Usually just a few rounds, nothing continuous.
Not sure about your second question.
Looks like he is trying to figure out if you are using the Agencies from the states for your job search or something in Afghanistan.
Oh. Nope. I actually found this position using a job board, find the right job. Position was actually in Colorado Spring, CO as an FTE. Going to Afghanistan was a voluntary option that I am glad I took.
Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 42 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply