What Should You Expect From a Job Agency: What is a Job Agency?

During an era of job shortages around the globe because of a declining economy, job hunting presents a challenge. Many students graduating from college or university, as well as baby boomers and retired seniors desiring to return to work in some capacity, look to job agencies of various kinds for assistance in finding employment.

What you should expect from a job agency may prove different from what actually happens, depending upon the kind of job that you are seeking and the particular type of job agency that you turn to for help.  

What is a job agency?

A job agency may be a private business that hires employees directly, or a publicly funded organization, which serves the community by finding, recruiting and placing employees deemed suitable for specific job roles. Another kind of job agency may consist of agents placing job seekers in specific positions.

Job agencies that serve as employers, hire candidates who go to various companies or organizations in order to fulfill specific job roles. For example, in the health care field, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and personal support workers work for a job agency and go to hospitals, nursing homes or private homes to meet the continually changing needs of a community.

This kind of a job agency may bill the places of their employment directly, or take a percentage of all employee earnings to cover their operation costs. They assume the responsibility for employee benefits like retirement, dental or medical plans and worker’s compensation. Payment to the employee comes directly from the agency on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. 

   

Job agencies that do mass recruitment or act in the capacity of employment advisers for large organizations or companies function differently. This kind of a job agency serves the community with job fairs, advertising campaigns or local advertising for prospective employees, carrying out job screening, interviews, employment counseling, as well as training or incentive programs for potential employees.

The organization that hires this kind of an agency pays employees directly for their services. Only suitable candidates are accepted. Once hired, they receive their wages and benefits directly from the organization. 

For example, a small human resources company may serve in this capacity recruiting, screening and providing suitable candidates for a large, customer service organization.   

The third job agency is that of an individual agent, or group of agents who work directly with those seeking jobs and provides leads for them. These may function as home-based businesses and tend to operate on a smaller scale.

Job seekers pay this agent directly and may be required to pay up front in order to receive appropriate leads. Some job agents allow later payment for services. For example, a musician may obtain employment through a job agent and be paid after playing in a rock concert.

Do you have the academic background, experience and skill sets required by an agency or an agent? If not, seek to upgrade immediately or signify your intention to do so after being hired. What you should expect may vary depending upon the kind of job agency that you contact in respect to finding employment. Be aware that some job agencies will prove reputable, while others may prove questionable, so be cautious. No job agencies operate the same way depending upon their mode of operation and business plans.

Nowadays, there are increasing numbers of international job agencies that advertise on the Internet. While the world of job opportunity is continuing to grow and horizons of employment are expanding everywhere, there can be other implications for employees.

Regardless of the job agency that you contact or how you contact them, you should expect confidentiality and respect from them. Professional job agencies screen potential employees more carefully and thoroughly than non-professional agencies or agents. The moral and ethical principles and practices of any job agency will become evident.

As a potential employee, if you present yourself well, dress, act and speak professionally, show up for your job interview on time with an appropriate cover letter and resume containing suitable references, you can expect to be hired by, or through an appropriate job agency or agent.