Recruitment Agencies

Chatswood

Recruitment Agencies
I've just joined the boards.ie website but I did so specifically to discuss the experience I've had in the last few months with recruitment agencies/consultants.

I was made redundant this year and with almost 15 years in experience, a third level qualification and a level 8 qualification in my specialised field - I thought I'd have quite a lot to offer to the employment market.

I registered with at least 6 agencies which meant a trip to Dublin, filling out forms (which had information contained on my CV) and talking to some "consultant" in their early to mid 20s about my career - which started about the time they sat their junior cert or made their confirmation.
They all commented on how great my experience and CV were yet I still find myself almost 4 months later chasing them all for something worthwhile.

They all seemed happy to waste my time, to get my details on their database and tell me that the market was "picking up" - despite the fact that the same opportunities that appeared 4 months ago on Irish jobs still appear today...even when you filter for additions in the last 1-2 days.
I find the whole area of recruitment agencies littered with unscrupulous, unprofessional and wholly negligent plonkers who tell you on nothing and will then gladly ignore you for all eternity.

Of the 6 that I registered with I would perhaps have positive things to say about 1 and would avoid the other 5 like the plague. What annoys me most is that they have people who know little or nothing about industry/employment and have never actually worked in a senior role anywhere - making a call on one's suitability to do a job.

I know that I have an awful lot to offer in employment but if roles don’t exist or if people aren't hiring then why not just say that and avoid wasting peoples time (and money it takes to drive/train it to Dublin)..

I just thought I would put this out there..as you can tell I'm probably fed-up, disillusioned and whole heartedly disguised with what I've experienced with these idiots !

Mr. Loverman

Probably worth moving to this thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055011993

ppink

its funny, I was told on more than one occasion by recruitment consultants that the majority of jobs listed out there do not actually exist at all:rolleyes:

Mr. Loverman

ppink wrote: »

its funny, I was told on more than one occasion by recruitment consultants that the majority of jobs listed out there do not actually exist at all:rolleyes:

The majority of agency jobs maybe!

Look at this for example:

http://www.dole.ie/ - 11,268 jobs

Now the same website with "exclude agencies" checked:

http://www.dole.ie/search/basic/category/all/exagencies/1/ - 5,395 jobs

So that's 5873 jobs by recruitment agencies.

Are we really supposed to believe - in the middle of a recession - there are 5873 vacancies contracted out to agencies? I don't think so!

Chatswood

I wonder how they actually make any money ? they all seem to occupy expensive properties in the city but if they're all advertising the same jobs how can they all be making money ?

Its the attitude, lies, lack of honest feedback and attitude that they know something about real life employment situations that gets on my freakin nerves.

If I was looking for staff I wouldn't let them in the gate ! Horrible scum every last one of them !!

Mr. Loverman

They get a lot of money for every person they place. 20 - 30% of the first years wage wouldn't be unheard of.

eire2009

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

The majority of agency jobs maybe!

Look at this for example:

http://www.dole.ie/ - 11,268 jobs

Now the same website with "exclude agencies" checked:

http://www.dole.ie/search/basic/category/all/exagencies/1/ - 5,395 jobs

So that's 5873 jobs by recruitment agencies.

Are we really supposed to believe - in the middle of a recession - there are 5873 vacancies contracted out to agencies? I don't think so!

Theres noway theres that amount of jobs out there.. Theres about 1000 full time position excluding agencies and p/t work if even

I havent looked into the dole.ie site too much but they seem to be displaying jobs that are 14`000 days old

http://www.dole.ie/search/basic/perpage/20/page/270/previousKeywords/electrician/category/all/exagencies/1/disabledCategory/all/

Plus there including WPP1/2 jobs aswell which take up a good third of the fas.ie

And obviously double and triple posting the same jobs from different sites..

and youve jobs that are just advertised because they have to legally.. Its a mess

Chatswood

Horrible Horrible people ! Up there with Estate Agencies and Ticket touts !

Mr. Loverman

eire2009 wrote: »

I havent looked into the dole.ie site too much but they seem to be displaying jobs that are 14`000 days old

http://www.dole.ie/search/basic/perpage/20/page/270/previousKeywords/electrician/category/all/exagencies/1/disabledCategory/all/

Yeah I noticed that alright, but they are valid jobs on the FAS site. Not sure if it's a bug on dole or what. I'll e-mail them about it now.

eire2009

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Yeah I noticed that alright, but they are valid jobs on the FAS site. Not sure if it's a bug on dole or what. I'll e-mail them about it now.

Not that one surprisingly they are no longer looking to fill that position anymore

CorkFenian

Back in the Celtic tiger days, a company would pay 12K for a year to have jobs advertised, apparently Irish Jobs turned over 14 million back in 2006!!! I dont work in recruitment, heard those figures from someone who used to work for them, said it was the most soul less job going....I have had terrible experiences with them, but as the recruitment guy says there are some good ones out there...The good ones always get me work (most of the time i have to say..contracting is slow right now) luckily enough... :-) (Touch wood)
My rule of thumb for them is that if something happens job wise, there is a very quick turnover, if not the job more than likely never existed....The worst thing about recruitment in my opinion is that it has severly weakened the legitimate HR profession for companies..

Eoin

Chatswood wrote:

I registered with at least 6 agencies which meant a trip to Dublin, filling out forms (which had information contained on my CV) and talking to some "consultant" in their early to mid 20s about my career - which started about the time they sat their junior cert or made their confirmation.

If they were actually HR professionals, then I wouldn't be getting upset if they were younger than me. But they're not - they're just sales staff. And the employer is the paying customer, not the candidate.

What annoys me is that their filtering can be appalling. I got some CVs last year. I remember that at least 3 were over 7 or 8 pages long. One was 12 pages long. How can anyone who has worked in the recruitment industry for more than a week think that this is OK?

They should have told the candidate that their CV is too long, and they should not have wasted our time by sending them to us.

All that said, I think that deliberately not dealing with agencies is a silly idea. Many companies will only deal through agencies, so you're narrowing your options quite a lot.

For what it's worth, I used FRS recruitment last time and found them excellent.

Magenta

Chatswood wrote: »

talking to some "consultant" in their early to mid 20s about my career - which started about the time they sat their junior cert or made their confirmation.

Sorry, can you please clarify what your problem with people in their twenties is?

Chatswood wrote: »

I know that I have an awful lot to offer in employment but if roles don’t exist or if people aren't hiring then why not just say that and avoid wasting peoples time (and money it takes to drive/train it to Dublin)..

I just thought I would put this out there..as you can tell I'm probably fed-up, disillusioned and whole heartedly disguised with what I've experienced with these idiots !

I have to say, your post to me seems quite snobbish and I would not be surprised if you had a similar attitude with the agents you went to see, hence why they don't seem interested. They possibly have some jobs that they could put you through for (which maybe are a lower level than you are accustomed to, but are still jobs) but which would involve you working with people in their twenties who you clearly feel you are above. I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but there is a recession on and lots of people are out of work. Recruitment agents don't want to find themselves in the same position which is why some of them are doing anything to keep bringing people in the door.

Chatswood

A person in their twenties is someone who is between the ages of 20 and 29. I can explain this concept to you in more detail if you require it.

I am far from snobish and have absolutely no problem working with people old or young. I am simply expressing the frustration that I have felt dealing with people who have no actual industry experience but somehow pretend that they do and then make a call on whether or not I am suitable for a position.

I have no problem dealing with Agencies that have actual jobs, will assess my capabilities based on real experience that they have and will give me open and honest feedback. I don't think that that is too much to ask.

Good customer service costs nothing - or maybe I'm being ageist and snobish with that remark :rolleyes:

Eoin

Chatswood wrote: »

A person in their twenties is someone who is between the ages of 20 and 29. I can explain this concept to you in more detail if you require it.

Easy with the sarcasm and the rolleyes there, you're coming across as being either quite arrogant or confrontational. Magenta asked what your problem was with someone in their twenties.

Chatswood wrote:

talking to some "consultant" in their early to mid 20s about my career - which started about the time they sat their junior cert or made their confirmation.

Magenta wrote:

Sorry, can you please clarify what your problem with people in their twenties is?

Believe it or not, some people who might have been working for a long time might still have a CV that's not great, and actually might get some good advice from someone who is younger than they are.

Chatswood

I started this thread because I was fed up and felt that this was the best place to vent my annoyance.
Now I have to contend with called confrontational, ageist, arrogant and snobish !

I assure you I am none of the above but I know I'm no plonker either.
If you think that the experiences I've had are limited to me or that I am an arrogant, confrontational, snobish and ageist so and so then look at this link...

Over and out
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055011993

Eoin

Do you not think that comments like this are going to give that impression of you?

A person in their twenties is someone who is between the ages of 20 and 29. I can explain this concept to you in more detail if you require it.

talking to some "consultant" in their early to mid 20s about my career - which started about the time they sat their junior cert or made their confirmation.

Good customer service costs nothing - or maybe I'm being ageist and snobish with that remark (rolleyes)

This is a discussion forum after all, so people are going to pick you up on comments like that. There is a "ranting and raving" forum here though which might be more what you're looking for if you just want to vent.

ChrisD

Hmmm,

Agencies and their staff are proficient at 1 thing and 1 thing only - matching suitable candidates to a client's specific requirements. This can and does cover many, many specifics, therefore if you do not match the client needs what is the point in wasting yours and the client’s time putting you forward for a role that as far as the client is concerned "you do not match"

What annoys me most is that they have people who know little or nothing about industry/employment and have never actually worked in a senior role anywhere

<< Therefore they do not require this criteria that you would prefer.

One question I ask myself is that with all this experience, skills and qualifications why has your own network not responded in a positive manner to your situation???

I find the whole area of recruitment agencies littered with unscrupulous, unprofessional and wholly negligent plonkers who tell you on nothing and will then gladly ignore you for all eternity.

To become an Employment Agency you require a licence which includes full Garda vetting (Home visit also) and other checks for obvious reasons. As someone with 30 years experience in recruitment across Europe (12 yrs in Ireland) I take great offence at your comments.

Legally under the 1972 Irish Employment Agency's act it is illegal to advertise roles that do not exist or are open. No agency would risk losing its licence just to get CV's on a database, what with so many on the internet if you use x-raying and or Boolean search techniques.

avoid wasting peoples time (and money it takes to drive/train it to Dublin)..

Do you know how much it takes to operate office space and pay employees, advertise etc etc in Dublin..... What just so you could waste €4.10 on a return DART ticket and have a day out:)
I do agree that as in all walks of life, some are better than others. But you expect a positive return in today’s employment market from 6 applications. Now how do you spell deluded again;)

I set up my own high level specialist agency 9 months ago and current 1st year projected T/O is €800,000 and projected at €1.8m year 2. I currently have more requirements paying €100,000+ than I can shake a stick at and not 1 of them is advertised.

I wish you well in your search but remember, Positive action = positive results, try it, you may be surprised. Or you could become an agent; obviously you feel you could do better than the section of the industry you have met.
Br’s ChrisD
Ps No I have no suitable roles for you

pps For the record HR and recruitment are 2 disciplines.

Eoin

ChrisD wrote: »

Legally under the 1972 Irish Employment Agency's act it is illegal to advertise roles that do not exist or are open.

Ah come on now, please don't try and tell us that agencies don't post vacancies that don't exist, or were closed ages ago.

ChrisD wrote: »

To become an Employment Agency you require a licence which includes full Garda vetting (Home visit also) and other checks for obvious reasons.

Is that to work for an agency, or to set one up? Not that it really matters much either way. You can't really infer that getting through the vetting means that someone will be an honest & professional business person.

Chatswood

well Thank you all for your advice. I will take it on board and that's not me being sarcastic.
As for being offended with the posts that I have made ? well if the cap fits - then wear it !
I assure you that I can think of far better ways of having a "day out" than spending it filling out poxy forms in some office or talking to an agent about jobs that don't exist.
As for your remark about the risk of being vetted and losing one's licence for advertising jobs that don't exist ? do me a favour ! they all do it and its a known fact. If you dont agree then do a search by jobs posted tomorrow and do the same search in a month (on that day only) and hey presto ! the same jobs appear.
There is another thread on recruitment agencies also on the board.ie website - I didn't start it but clearly 99.9% of those that posted on it (and there are 48 pages of posts) agree with my findings on this joke of an industry.
Maybe the majority of those who posted bad experiences were wide of the mark with their findings also !! Highly unlikely !

Magenta

Chatswood wrote: »

A person in their twenties is someone who is between the ages of 20 and 29. I can explain this concept to you in more detail if you require it.

Maybe if you actually learn to read you will see that I asked what you problem is with people in their twenties. Not "what is a person in their twenties?".

Here it is in nice easy English.

Magenta wrote:

Sorry, can you please clarify what your problem with people in their twenties is?

Care to elaborate?

Chatswood wrote: »

Good customer service costs nothing - or maybe I'm being ageist and snobish with that remark :rolleyes:

I work with people your age and am far better than the job at they are (and have the statistics in cold hard black and white to prove it).
Just because you are older than someone doesn't mean you're better than them. :rolleyes:

Magenta

eoin wrote: »

Easy with the sarcasm and the rolleyes there, you're coming across as being either quite arrogant or confrontational. Magenta asked what your problem was with someone in their twenties

It's funny, isn't it, because being able to read is usually a required competency in most jobs these days.
He/she still hasn't answered the question, too busy being nasty and trying to look clever.

Chatswood

Magenta wrote: »

Maybe if you actually learn to read you will see that I asked what you problem is with people in their twenties. Not "what is a person in their twenties?".

I have no problem with people in their 20s - as long as they they are making a call based on solid experience and know what they're talking about. The point I'm trying to make and that I'm obviously not getting across is - that someone with no actual experience of real industry and workplace situations is never going to grasp the experience that a good candidate has.

I'm not going to discuss this matter any further. I'll continue to look for suitable employment and apply to companies directly. I do realise that we're in a recession and do accept that the ideal job is not just going to fall into my lap.

Chatswood

Magenta wrote: »

I work with people your age and am far better than the job at they are (and have the statistics in cold hard black and white to prove it).
Just because you are older than someone doesn't mean you're better than them. :rolleyes:

And in relation to people "my age" I'd be very intersted to hear what age you think that is. I'd also be very grateful if you proof read your own posts and made sure they made sense without trying to patronise me with your "nice plain English" and "required competencies" !!

oooomy

if you think irish agenies are bad try london.
you just got to remember most recruitment agents are sales people you need to have the right skills are the right time to get a job. The days of the job for life are over. its all contract or fixed term contracts i.e no commitments from your employer which actually makes sense - people need to be agile and have forward looking approach and upskilling all the time Ive only ever dealt with one agency in ireland as they seem to have all the best jobs and thats cpl. they seem to have built up relationships with alot of companies and if you do well with one they are more likely to recommend you to other companies which i actually agree with. also recruitment agencies are being undercut at the moment by irish jobs- employers are just not willing to pay for agencies and are going for irishjobs directly i.e. Apply direct for your jobs and dont wait for a a recruitment agency.

ChrisD

Ah come on now, please don't try and tell us that agencies don't post vacancies that don't exist, or were closed ages ago.

All advertisers pay for the period that the advertisement is "live" Direct advertising costs can be quite high with reputable advertisers. The additional associated costs also involved in a response, staff time etc etc are then added to this investment? Common sense suggests you would not pay and leave an advertisement running for no reward.

Is that to work for an agency, or to set one up? Not that it really matters much either way. You can't really infer that getting through the vetting means that someone will be an honest & professional business person.

I fully agree with you. Normal honest & professional business processors help with bottom line profit in the long run.

Many Irish businesses including the recruitment industry run good honest & professional business processors, however in the real world if this is not monitored from the top is worth nothing to anybody including the "client"

As a suggestion can I suggest people use members from the NRF >> http://www.nrf.ie/ for perhaps a better experience and hopefully results.

ChrisD

Eoin

ChrisD wrote: »

All advertisers pay for the period that the advertisement is "live" Direct advertising costs can be quite high with reputable advertisers. The additional associated costs also involved in a response, staff time etc etc are then added to this investment? Common sense suggests you would not pay and leave an advertisement running for no reward.

The reward is being able to harvest CV's. I've rung way too many agencies over the years to think that anything even approaching the majority of their vacancies are genuine.

dan_d

Just in support of the OP here - I've contacted only 2 recruitment agencies (coz I don't trust them) since I've been let go. They both asked me to give them my CV, and I haven't heard anything from them since. Nothing. Not even "come in and have a chat". Even though I've followed up and tried to get back in touch with them.

My opinion of them was pretty low, but at this stage, I don't see the point of them.And I don't care what age they are.

Magenta

Chatswood wrote: »

I'd also be very grateful if you proof read your own posts and made sure they made sense without trying to patronise me with your "nice plain English" and "required competencies" !!

Chatswood wrote: »

I just thought I would put this out there..as you can tell I'm probably fed-up, disillusioned and whole heartedly disguised with what I've experienced with these idiots !

Chatswood wrote: »

I am far from snobish

Snobbish.

Chatswood wrote: »

maybe I'm being ageist and snobish with that remark :rolleyes:

Oh sweetheart, I think you need to learn to proof read.

Chatswood wrote: »

I started this thread because I was fed up and felt that this was the best place to vent my annoyance.
Now I have to contend with called confrontational, ageist, arrogant and snobish !

Two syllables, try to manage babes?

Chatswood wrote: »

confrontational, ageist, arrogant and snobish !

No wonder employers are so keen to hire you eh?

Chatswood wrote: »

I assure you I am none of the above but I know I'm no plonker either.
If you think that the experiences I've had are limited to me or that I am an arrogant, confrontational, snobish and ageist

I can haz English lessons?

Chatswood wrote: »

well Thank you all for your advice. I will take it on board and that's not me being sarcastic.
As for being offended with the posts that I have made ? well if the cap fits - then wear it !

Should I go into correct use of punctuation too?

Do hire a competent English speaker to proof-read your CV, there's a dear.

Now can you tell me why I need to proof-read my posts? Because you can't read, is it?

I'm a contract engineer (just out of my 20s) for the last 4 or 5 years, agencies are all part of the fun for us contractors, where I am currently approached me directly (did some work for them before) but I still had to go in under an agency. There are good and bad ones, with experience of dealing with them you can spot a bad one after a brief chat on the phone, I've told one or two of them to f off in not so many words and told one or two to f off in almost that many words. However many of them are excellent, you must remember they will have other candidates just as suitably qualified for roles who they may know quite well, who they have gotten interviews for before and who they have received feedback on from hiring managers.

Also the agency staff need and have a different skillset to the folks they try and place, many are qualified engineers etc but have always worked in recruitment, they are good at what they do, a degree of trust is needed to start with. If you come across to them as you are coming across on this thread I wouldn't really blame them for not pushing your CV.

Nehaxak

In fairness Chris (ChrisD), your recruitment company is fairly niche and specialised, looking at your site and positions advertised, they seem to be at the top end of the market for the few you do have advertised.

Your jobs advertised wouldn't even fit on a single page (or half a page for that matter) compared to the pages of crap candidates have to trawl through on other more well known recruitment agency sites - where I'd say myself at least 80% if not more of the positions advertised are old, already filled (months ago), are dupes or just plain non-existent positions.

While you yourself and the few people you have working for you might be doing a fine job and providing a fine service for those you recruit (or at least you'd hope to think so, though you might want to overhaul your website, it looks like it was thrown together by a kid on an Amiga back in the 1980's) - the Irish market (if you'd even call it that) of recruitment agencies is generally providing an utterly lame, lazy, inept, untrustworthy and incompetent service overall and cannot, absolutely cannot and should not be relied upon by anyone.
In fact I'd go so far as to say even FÁS do a better job than the majority of them these days and we all know how dreadful they are. Many people are desperate though and will use the recruitment agencies anyway in the hope of finding some work so it just adds to the frustration they feel when they're being failed so badly by complete fools.
I wouldn't be pushing yourself out there as a defender of recruitment agencies at all, stay in your own corner and continue to improve your own service, especially that of your website given the mostly IT related area you concentrate on. Leave the rest of them to die off slowly, which they will, thereby filtering out the crap over time so only the better and more reputable ones remain.

mrbungle

Grow up !! Off topic. Troller, mods ?

Magenta wrote: »

Snobbish.



Oh sweetheart, I think you need to learn to proof read.



Two syllables, try to manage babes?



No wonder employers are so keen to hire you eh?



I can haz English lessons?



Should I go into correct use of punctuation too?

Do hire a competent English speaker to proof-read your CV, there's a dear.

Now can you tell me why I need to proof-read my posts? Because you can't read, is it?

Cavehill Red

Recruitment agencies make up a sector full of sharks.
While some are mostly or entirely scrupulous, I would hazard a guess that the vast majority are not, for reasons already explained by some posters on this thread.
I feel sorry for the OP's experience, firstly in wasting his precious time on such sharks and secondly for enduring some of the preposterous responses on this thread.

Magenta

mrbungle wrote: »

Grow up !! Off topic. Troller, mods ?

And what have you contributed to the thread exactly?

The OP is talking about their lack of ability to get a job, despite behaving in a rude, ageist, and condescending way, not to mention their inability to read. No employer is going to hire somebody who carries on like that. How is this off topic?
In addition, they are shooting themselves in the foot if they ask somebody to proof read their posts when they type like a 12 year old themselves.
I've told them to get somebody competent to proof read their CV, why? Because employers will see the mistakes.

P.S. What's it like modding from the back seat?

Cavehill Red

Yes, that's exactly the kind of unhelpful and antagonistic type of response I was talking about alright.

Magenta

Cavehill Red wrote: »

Yes, that's exactly the kind of unhelpful and antagonistic type of response I was talking about alright.

I'm employed, and in a well paid job, but hey, I'm in my twenties, so what would I know about anything :rolleyes:

Cavehill Red

Bugger all about using recruitment agencies, given that you're in a job already.
Tell us this - it wouldn't happen to be with a recruitment agency, would it?

Magenta

Cavehill Red wrote: »

Bugger all about using recruitment agencies, given that you're in a job already.
Tell us this - it wouldn't happen to be with a recruitment agency, would it?

Hahahaha!
Yes, I do use recruitment agencies to find work, and have gotten 3 good jobs (including my current job) out of them. And no, I don't work for one.
Of course, trying to imply that I work for an agency is probably the best you could come up with.

Cavehill Red

Magenta wrote: »

Hahahaha!
Yes, I do use recruitment agencies to find work, and have gotten 3 good jobs (including my current job) out of them. And no, I don't work for one.

I don't believe you.

Magenta wrote: »

Of course, trying to imply that I work for an agency is probably the best you could come up with.

There's that pointless antagonism again.

Magenta

Cavehill Red wrote: »

I don't believe you.

That's OK, my payslip does

mrgardener

Magenta wrote: »

That's OK, my payslip does

Magenta, you have contributed absolutely nothing to this thread except insults.

OP, I agree that most recruitment agencies will openly lie about openings, vacancies etc.
If you found one agency that you like, stick with them with regular calls etc, but try to do most of the work yourself, ie. ringing companies, sending out CV's.
Best of luck!

Cavehill Red

Magenta wrote: »

That's OK, my payslip does

I'm glad you're focused on persuading inanimate objects of your opinion, given your failure to do likewise with actual human beings.
Also - three jobs and you're in your twenties? Do you find it difficult to remain in employment for long?

thelongfellow

Never had any good experiences with agencies. They are just dying to get your CV to fill up their databases. Went through a phase of applying for what I thought were real jobs advertised by agencies last year-none of them turned out to be real. Two guys I know applied for a lot of the same jobs. Got so frustrated we ended up challenging the agencies on the validity of these jobs-ended up they didn't exist.

One agency in Galway I know were looking for €12,000 to place someone in a €28,000 a year job. So for every year that person stayed the agency got €12,000. Considering the CVs they were sending in I wouldn't give them €1200.

Take a look at any agencies site over a sustained period and you will see the same 'jobs' cropping up again and again.

dudara

If I see any further arguments in this thread I will ban on site. The behaviour of all parties has been childish and sickening. You all should really know better than to argue on the internet.

dudara

Chatswood

To Dudara and others.
I can only apologise for getting drawn into mudslinging. It’s not my form and I guess I let the frustration of my experiences with Recruitment Agencies cloud what I was actually trying to get across.
To those who have shared my experiences - many Thanks for your advice and good wishes.
I'll keep plugging away - I know that the role that will reward my expertise and real experience is just around the corner..

sma2008

Legally under the 1972 Irish Employment Agency's act it is illegal to advertise roles that do not exist or are open. No agency would risk losing its licence just to get CV's on a database, what with so many on the internet if you use x-raying and or Boolean search techniques.

This is very interesting.. I recently found out im being let go from my job and have registered with a number of recruitment agencies as a result. I sent my cv to a particular agency in response to an ad on a recruitment website. After 2 days I rang the recruitment agent as his name and number were on the ad. He informed me that the position had been filled the previous week and he had left the ad up "to get in more cvs"!!! Is this totally going against the rules?? I find this particular agency very unprofessional in general but unfortunately they are one of the bigger recruiters for my profession.
Fortunately, one of the other agencies have been great. They are really positive,honest and constantly in contact with updates.

D-Generate

A few weeks ago a recruitment agency got in contact with me, landed me interviews with two different companies and fortunately enough this led to two offers. Maybe my experience is skewed but they were highly professional and kept in contact with me daily and also made the companies speed up their interview process.

The recruiters aren't out there to just rub you up the wrong way for no reason, getting you a job is in their interest.

fighterman

Further to sma2008's response I am curious to know who regulates the recruitment agents

For instance these two job below advertised by Accountancy Solutions is a fakes and has been there since early 2009

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Tax-Consultant-Medium-Practice-6361535.aspx

There are good recruitment agents out there, but someone needs to cut down on their many, many sharp practices.