Permie Role - Apply direct or through Agent?

[SueEllen]

Atw only recruits permanent staff and has standards...

Not for myself just to get the word out.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I went direct (contracting mind) and it ended up costing me. Mainly because clientco were friends of mine and it was very difficult to negotiate with friends! There are benefits to having an agency in that they can often strike a better deal than you could.

[SlipTheJab]

Direct all the way.

[AtW]

Well you didn't tell any of us you were hiring!

I've hired only two people, they now do all the hiring because they don't trust me hiring judgement....

Actually admin helped hire one guy via his jobs board...

[AtW]

Many years ago I went for a job and asked the agent for x which was more than I was earning and he said that's too low you should get x + quite a lot more, and got it.

And what's the correct lesson from this? Get yer price right, NOT go via agent who'd add more on top (and possibly underpay you anyway).

[BlasterBates]

Try direct first and foremost.

Many years ago I went for a job and asked the agent for x which was more than I was earning and he said that's too low you should get x + quite a lot more, and got it.

[eek]

Well you didn't tell any of us you were hiring!

Atw only recruits permanent staff and has standards...

[SueEllen]

Upfront for the whole year too!

We had one such guy quit in a couple of months - just outside limit when we could "claw" back some of that cost.

NO AGENCIES now, more or less

It's BS really - they should be getting fee paid monthly over period of a year, so that at least the person works for a year.

Well you didn't tell any of us you were hiring!

[AtW]

They get something like 25% of your first year's salary.

Upfront for the whole year too!

We had one such guy quit in a couple of months - just outside limit when we could "claw" back some of that cost.

NO AGENCIES now, more or less

It's BS really - they should be getting fee paid monthly over period of a year, so that at least the person works for a year.

[VectraMan]

WHS.

They get something like 25% of your first year's salary. That's a big extra cost for the employer. You'll be both more likely to get the job and more likely to get more if you go direct.

[AtW]

agents get commission so they'll be batting very hard on your behalf

Try direct first and foremost.

[SeanT]

Go direct for perm roles if you can, I've been lowballed far too many times via agents and they haven't done enough about it. Also been stitched up and left without interview expenses numerous times when an agent has been involved.

[dotcom12]

If you have any contacts within the company, it might be worth speaking with them.

If they do have a generous referral scheme, you can look at sharing any payout with your contact

[BlasterBates]

If you're a good negotiator then going direct saves the company money so potentially raising your salary. However agents get commission so they'll be batting very hard on your behalf, i.e. you won't necessarily get a higher salary by cutting out the agent. If you are a "tough cookie" then I would go direct, if you don't like negotiating go with the agent.

[Brummie]

I am toying with the idea of taking a permie role close to home, just to deal with bench period and till the job market recovers.

These roles are advertised directly on the company website and promoted through multiple agents.

Just wanted to know your opinions on which route will be economically beneficial for me - going through agent or apply directly?