comet555

Hi there,

I'm wondering how exactly recruitment agencies work over there. We've never had to go through them before so we're not quite sure of the procedure.

Are you supposed to just deal with one agency, or can you use several? Do you have to sign any contracts? What sort of things happen once you speak with an agency? Do companies only hire people who come through recruiters, or will they hire peope that apply on their own?

Also I've heard they get their fees from the company, I just want to make sure that's true.

Anyway my husband will be looking for work as a mining engineer in the Hunter Valley area (NSW). We know of one recruiter that seems to have most of the listings in that area, so we'll start by talking with him. Actually we've tried that already but didn't get to far, they just said talk to us when you get the visa.

Any information would really help.

Thanks,

Haley

busterboy

Why trust your career to a third party interested in sales when you can go direct? Most of the employers of choice on this website with agencies mix in.

http://australia.infomine.com/careers/welcome.asp

Enjoy chum!

Dorothy

Hey, Haley. I work for a recruitment agency, so can maybe help a bit. You can sign on with as many agencies as you like, although they tend to specialise a bit. The one I work for does mostly call centre and admin type work, so if he were to come to us we would refer him to someone who deals with his type of industry. Let me find out who in NSW deals in mining/engineering and I'll PM you the names. Some of the agencies are part of CML, which is a network of recruiters. It's a good idea to get in with at least one CML listed agent, as if your agency does not have anything suitable they can enter your husband's details into something called "Hot Candidates". All of the other agencies who are members can access this and if someone else has a job for him they are able to contact him. Also he should send as many resumes to companies he's interested in as possible. They may not have a position at the moment but something could come up and if his resume is on file he could get a call.
As for payment, the company pays the agency a fee for finding the employee for them. Any agency that wants your husband to pay anything is not worth using.
PM me with the details of exactly he does and I'll be on the lookout for jobs for him through our agency. I'm going to a cocktail party next week with a bunch of CML people, so will also put the word out that you guys are coming over in the new year and see what crops up.
Dorothy

The Bloke

If there are positions, say with the public service, that is advertised in more than one medium(ie own website, newspapers). Is it better to go and sign up with an agency (and they list a heap of accredited ones) or go it alone and apply yourself?

The Bloke

No comment to a legitimate question?

esperanza

Dorothy - Are you working for an admin agency in Hunter Valley? I'm moving there next year, and will probably try to get some sort of temp admin work to start with. I wondered if you could give me an idea of what the standard hourly rate is for admin staff - in the UK I demand a minimum of £7p/h and would be pleased to get more. I'm in the SW so they're not the highest wages in the UK, but I can just survive on it - it's alright whilst I'm between jobs anyway.
What sort of $p/h might I get for office work in Maitland, for example?
(and will I be expected to have certificates etc in office admin? Coz I don't have any at all! Could get a few references if that might help?)

gardnma

I am going through a recruitment agency in the US. Its understood this question is specific to OZ.

If a company is advertising by various means, what limits an individual to applying via only one avenue? Certainly some companies will tend to only hire through an agency, so why do both?

Its tantmount to being self-employed here: there are no benefits other than a paycheck, so why the loyalty?

For what that is worth......

busterboy

...and many companies will not recruit through an agency until all other means have been exhausted. Both routes is probably the safest bet for those looking for permanent contracts rather than temporary contracts.

gardnma

Well, I cannot speak to that. I best bow out of the discussion as US and OZ working arrangement are clearly dissimilar....

(we have no employment contracts here unless in a union..)

comet555

This is what has me puzzled as well. My husband has applied for one job directly with the company and it appears to be listed through an agency as well. So would his chances be equal regardless of how he applied, or would he have a better shot going through the agency?

Haley

comet555

Thanks... I have been checking that site, although will have to get a subscription to see all the jobs.

Do you know if all of the jobs posted by recruiters would be posted separately by the company? In other words, would we still have the same selection if we chose to do it ourself?

comet555

Thanks Dorothy,

We had sort of planned to use Hays if we went with a recruiter. I know in the Hunter Valley/Newcastle Martin Nisbet or Alexander Beutler have most of the listings.

I will send you a PM with his resume and what we are looking forward, unfortuanately we are pretty specific on the type of job.

We are still waiting to find out if he got a second interview with BHP. I don't really want to contact the recruiters until I find out about that job. The company finished the first round of interviews last Friday so I'm hoping to hear by Christmas if he gets another interview (just not sure how long they'll take).

We would love to get a job and move quickly, although we aren't really in a hurry. We would rather wait to find the right job in the right place. If all else fails we will be making a trip over to validate the visas, and maybe do a few interview around July.

Thanks for help.

Haley

Dorothy

I do sleep some times. Sorry for not getting back to you right away.
It doesn't really matter which way you go. The company would probably prefer if it's advertised in more than one way that you go directly to their HR dept so they don't have to pay the agency fees.

Dorothy

Sorry, I'm in Adelaide, but our company is part of a national network of recruitment agencies. I'm actually the learning and development coordinator in the RTO department of our organisation, so not a rectuiter. Don't know about the wages in NSW, but in Adelaide a temp would probably make anywhere from $19 - $22, depending on the award rate.