Robert Half problems

I did have some temp work through them. I submitted resumes and sent emails for permanent work and got much the same response as a lot of people have been posting.

The temp assignments were nice. After two interviews with their permanent placement people, I finally got a response from one of the recruiters saying they felt I should work exclusively with their temp department.

One of the perm recruiters said she was sending my resume to the employer. Imagine my shock when I responded to an anonymous ad on Craigslist and got an interview directly from the employer. RH had never submitted my resume.

I don't know what's going on with them. They do have free online tutorials and I had enrolled in their benefit program when I temped for them. It is an excellent benefit package and the cost stays the same even when it's Cobra.

I have no hard feelings towards the associates who are doing the temp placements. They are both very nice people. They just don't seem to be coming up with anything lately. I was concerned when my last assignment with them was ending and they had other temp assignments posted. I left messages and emails and didn't get return calls or emails from anyone.

I took a job that didn't work out because the lady I replaced (who'd been there fore 2 years) had to come back due to changes in her circumstances.

I've had interviews with firms who've said that RH sees their ads on Craigslist and then tries to convince them that they should use RH instead of Craigslist because of the "quality of candidates."

One lady at a firm had me in hysterics when she said she tells RH "Why shouldn't I use Craigslist -you do!"

I am seeing more and more ads directly from firms and corporations. I am focusing on that. In spite of comments from RH's permanent placement people about my "not having enough stability," I am getting calls from firms for interviews.

We are are own best marketers!

Deborah, I agree. Had a similiar experience. It appears that RH encourages their recruiters to "bait and switch". RH ran an ad on craigslist for a position at a "mid to large" size firm. Showed up for the interview and was told that the position was for a solo practitioner. I later interviewed for a position from a firm directly, and was told by HR that RH referred candidates who had little to no knowledge about the position they were interviewing for. Further, the candidates were not qualified or interested in the position. Seems like RH is also playing a numbers game . . . "the more candidates they send to an interview . . . the more likely that a RH candidate will be selected!"

I got a response from the permanent placement lady to an ad I had posted on Craigslist. My ad simply said "Experienced Office Manager/Paralegal/Legal secretary seeks full time work in a stable and challenging environment."

Her email said "I have a hot job open right now for a Legal Administrator."

This was the same person who finally emailed me a couple of weeks ago in response to my numerous calls and said "The permanent placement staff has discussed your resume and we feel that your background is not stable enough."

I have to admit that I got a real thrill from forwarding her email to her and reminding her "Gee, I'm surprised that you are considering me."

So do some detective work "displaced" you are a joke. You're telling me that you cannot go on the internet and find out the companies in the area that would hire an Estate planner. Then go to the company websites and see who listed the opening on the company website and apply directly. I hate Half, but your attacks are lame. You are just like the other person that keeps on saying how posting fake jobs is illegal. The job boards are run by private companies and if the agencies are paying for the ads, they can post whatever they like. Quit complaining about agencies, don't use them if you don't like them.

Deborah aand Ex Halfer you both have great points. RH and many other staffing do in fact waste your time. My suggestion is simply to ask the recruiter if the position is actually open and the name of the company. Most times a recruiter will not disclose the name of the company, but on many occassions they will be honest about an actual position. You just have to feel them out. Recently, I was called by a RH recruiter and advised about a definite position. Scheduled an appointment, telephoned approximately 3 hours before the interview to confirm the appointment, and was told that the company decided not to fill the position. I sent a e-mail to the recruiter and thanked her for not wasting my time. Use your judgment, as I have heard that many candidates have done well by RH and other staffing firms. Good Luck to both of you!

I haven't gotten any calls from RH since December. I called them when my job ended in late March. I haven't heard of anyone doing well by them. I'm hearing all kinds of complaints from people in different fields.

Like I said, I have benefits through RH through May of 2008 and they have online classes and tutorials, so I'm grateful for that while I continue to look for work.

I'm simply not wasting my time with them (and a few others). They haven't called me with any temp work. I'm currently working about a half a block away from their corporate headquarters in Pleasanton.

I am working with another agency on my current assignment and I am getting calls for interviews on my resume submissions directly to companies. The firm I am temping at is about half a block away from RH corporate headquarters in Pleasanton, CA and they didn't use RH, so why should I?

There is a firm I temped with through RH that is now looking for a permanent paralegal and permanent litigation secretary. Since it's been well over 6 months since my last assignment with RH, I am now free to negotiate directly with the firm. The Office Manager remembered me and scheduled an interview with me for this morning. I just called her yesterday. They were very impressed with my work and had requested that I come back. This isn't what I was hearing from RH. Oh well.....their loss is my potential gain.

Ex Halfer in Chicago, Illinois said: So do some detective work "displaced" you are a joke. You're telling me that you cannot go on the internet and find out the companies in the area that would hire an Estate planner. Then go to the company websites and see who listed the opening on the company website and apply directly.

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Then why bother to use an agency?

We need to keep something in perspective. As a placement Agent in an agency, We need to keep one thing in perspective. It isn't the company that is a crap shoot, But the recruiter you have. Speaking from experience, There are 2 types. One that is a slick willy and will do what it takes to fill a job and make money. And the "Sport" Agent. I consider myself a sport agent. I do it for the love of the job. To help people get in to better situations and to do it as honestly as possible. A good Agent will prep his candidate and take the 2 minutes to send web links and info about the company before going in. Others will merely bring you in, make a snap decision and move on. Keep this in mind as well. There is a psychology to all this. No matter which. Don't expect a daily or weekly follow up unless you engage it. Either one is VERY BUSY! looking for jobs to fill with your profile. For them, It is a Sales job with sales goals and deadlines. A good recruiter will add 2 clients to his belt a week and atleast 20 candidates. Do the math , More candidate than jobs. This is why it is CRITICAL to work as a team. HOWEVER...Some agencies promote a single persons effort and not a team effort. This is W-R-O-N-G. You can't succeed easily without being a strategized team anymore. This is why the turn over rate in this business is so large.

I also used to work for RH. Worst job of my life. One other thing for job seekers to remember, RH associates have many different criteria that they need to reach every week. One of these items in an interview quota. Consequently, they will call you up for an interview, make you put on your nicest suit, make you drive to their downtown location, pay $12 for parking, and waste an hour of your time just to help them make their number. I haven't worked at the Half for a couple of years now, but recently sent my resume in to a person I used to work with for consideration of a job - no response. The posting was probably just another one of their fake postings meant to lure people in for interviews. Stay away!

I agree. That's not true for all of them. But the last few years, it seems to be getting worse and worse. I've notice that a lot of companies now hire their own temps. I've seen plenty of ads on Craigslist for sickleave, maternity, vacation replacement, etc.

No question: I believe it is a tactic of the recruiting industry in general to "Bait-and-Switch". If you think about it, most of these places require you to be an [employee], therefore you must submit an application, complete a W-2 form with SS number. This is fine, but what if they don't fine you a job; temporary or otherwise? Is your personal information and SS number secure?