It must first be said that no other agency or individual (with the exception, perhaps, of parents or spouse) is as interested in your finding the right position for you than you. Don't believe that you can get a third party to "place" you in a job or to do your job search for you - it's not going to happen! Looking for a job is an active, participatory process!

There are several types of employment agencies. Some agencies specialize in temporary work, while others focus on finding employees for full time postions. The former may specialize in specific industries or businesses. The latter may charge a fee to the job seeker, while other agencies charge a fee to the employer.

The value in your using an employment agency will depend on several factors, especially the ethics of the agency. If you have difficult to find, highly marketable skills and wish to make a job switch, an agency that specializes in your profession can be of tremendous help. If you have strong technical skills in engineering or computer science, you would probably be highly valued by an agency that has a contractual agreement with a company to find suitable employees. If you have a "non technical" background , you will find employment agencies to be of limited use unless you work with an agency that specializes in your field (i.e. marketing, public relations, etc.). Nonetheless, an agency's loyalty will be to its primary source of revenue, and that will not be "you" the individual.

Here are a few important tips to remember when considering employment agencies: Beware if an ad is placed in the newspaper that describes a position that is too good to be true because it probably is. These attractive, wonderful ads describing the perfect positions are called "blind ads". They NEVER give a company name and usually lure you to an employment agency where you find that the position does not exist.

• Be suspicious of agencies that promise to rewrite your resume and find a position for you at a charge that averages $200.00 or more. The staff of the Career Services Office will help you rewrite your resume at no charge if you're currently a student or for a minimal fee if you're an alumni or a non-student.
• RUN, do not walk, from agencies or individuals that insist that their offer is a once in a life time offer and that you must sign on NOW. If you ever find yourself being pressured to sign a document immediately, you are most likely dealing with a crook. RUN. If you are seriously considering an agency anyway, take any contracts home and carefully review them with a professional in the workforce. Are expectations of both parties clearly outlined? Are there any timelines or expiration dates? How accessible is the agency?
• If you feel that your employment search could be enhanced by using an employment agency, ask among members in your professional organization or professionals employed in your field for the names of reputable firms.