Is there a difference between recruiters and agents?

[P1mpAndPr0ud]

It really depends how much work you want to do.

The best way to do it is get on the job boards, read the ads and work out who is doing a lot of work in your market. Then, target your calls at these agents.

If, on the other hand, you don't want to get involved in all that, post your CV on Jobserve/Jobsite and the recruiters will come to you. This, of course, will yield a lower success rate, but you'll probably get more interviews all told.

Lastly, ask anyone you know who works in your market who they got their contract though, which agents are good and which are gobsh*tes. If you haven't needed an agency for five years, you've undoubtedly got a very well-qualified network helping you find work already. Just like you, they'll come into contact with our lot all the time. Use their experiences to your advantage.

[expat]

Q. what's the difference between a dead skunk on the road and a dead agent on the road?
A. There are skid marks in front of the skunk

[mailric]

I slung my CV onto Huxley (the only company I can remember dealing with when I last used recruiters 5 years ago); and then was looking through the agency list on CUK, to see they're not listed. It got me thinking, is Huxley an agency or something different?

I can't find a good search string on Google to find recruitment agencies specialising in software development... I keep getting the portals like CWJobs who re-post jobs from other recruiters/agents. I'd much rather know who the recruiters are so I can actually phone them up and talk to someone about my slightly unusual situation as a remote-only contractor.

So, are agencies and recruiters the same? And is there an easy way to find a directory of companies dealing direct with the end clients?

Yes of course... one phones you up asking you lots of personal details about how much you earn, how far your prepared to travel to work, whether you've had many interviews recently and then also some confidential information about your previous clients. They have no real opportunities for you as all of these questions are for their own personal gain and they tend to get a bit arsey when you refuse to disclose this information. The other is.... ah, no your right, they're both *******.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

In the oft-quoted line from John O'Farell, "well now, that would be the difference between tulip and tulipe"

[ratewhore]

Then of course there's headhunters. Usually an attempt by a one-man agency to big it up.

I had a headhunter ring me up once. When they asked me what my skills were I hung up on them...

If it looks like a turd and smells like a turd it doesn't matter what you call it...

[Another Dodgy Agent]

Shame we don't have any real agents contributing. Stop listening to these pretenders.

[NotAllThere]

Then of course there's headhunters. Usually an attempt by a one-man agency to big it up.

[Turion]

Shame we don't have any real agents contributing. Stop listening to these pretenders.

[Another Dodgy Agent]

same thing really, just different titles.

Just to confuse things you get someone like me who is titled "Account Manager". I don't do cold calling any more, my role is facilitating a number of long term clients that I have built relationships with over many years.

[ratewhore]

Is there a difference between recruiters and agents?

Too tempting...

[d000hg]

I slung my CV onto Huxley (the only company I can remember dealing with when I last used recruiters 5 years ago); and then was looking through the agency list on CUK, to see they're not listed. It got me thinking, is Huxley an agency or something different?

I can't find a good search string on Google to find recruitment agencies specialising in software development... I keep getting the portals like CWJobs who re-post jobs from other recruiters/agents. I'd much rather know who the recruiters are so I can actually phone them up and talk to someone about my slightly unusual situation as a remote-only contractor.

So, are agencies and recruiters the same? And is there an easy way to find a directory of companies dealing direct with the end clients?