Is it me or are employment agencies weird?

I just got a call from one and they asked me if I was free for work (I office temp). I told them I was again available for work late Jan. He said, "So, you're not available this week or next?" I said, "No. What's the job?" He said, "I can't tell you that I'm afraid". I said, "Well, obviously I'll need to know about the job before I decide to take it".
Am I wrong in saying this or is the agency right or what? Surely, I should know about the job before I decide to take it or not.

yep they are. i am with an agency -driving, was told, they had loads of Driving jobs, that was before christmas, still waiting for a job. i phoned them at 9am this morning, "oh somebody will ring me back by 9.30", its 9.52, still waiting for a phone call- time to go with another agency, or to get a full time job

I cant tell you the answer to this question im afraid.

worth getting a full time job...at least then you get the same idiots bothering you everyday with their crazy logic, rather than a different person each time!

well I guess the job was starting this week or next and as you said you werent available they dont need to tell you what the job is, they are hoping to find someone else who can start this week
try working for a care agency-they are an absolute nightmare, i could write a book about how wierd they are!!

I would have thought so but never worked for an agency so dont know their policies but does sound wrong

It's obviously not a good job or they would tell you what it was. Agencies are only interested in making placements - not in you at all. Register with multiple agencies and don't let yourself be bullied / pressured by them, if they don't like your response then tough - it's your life.

No its not you employment agencies are weird. I know from my own experience. Just go in and shout at them. You may eventually get to talk to someone with half a brain. Yes I am grumpy.

I think the reason that they couldn't tell you about it is because you had already said you weren't available. companies don't like their details being given out to all and sundry so agencies will sound out a client before telling them about the job.

Hello,

ANS) Sigh!! No!! its not you at all, employment agencies are definitely weird.

**Job agencies all play this cat & mouse type of game with other recruitment companies (agencies) for placing a job applicant into a position with an employer (client company). Its all cloak & dagger because essentially one agency is completing with another agency to get their applicant employed into the position (job contract) first before a rival firm.

Bear in mind that a recruitment agent only gets paid a basic wage and has to make up the rest of their salary from commissions, commissions are only earned by successfully placing a person in a job i.e. even if that job contract only lasts a few months or just one year.

**From my own experience recruitment agents also bend the truth all the time (tell lies) they wont tell you about a position until the very last minute because they are trying to prevent the competition getting someone else in before you.

**Your point is entirely valid and YES! how can you know if you want to do a job or even if it will be suitable for your skills until you know who the client or employer is and what the job is? and what the pay rate is?

Employment agencies don't you just love them!!!!??

Kind Regards Ivan

almost as bad as the joke shop(jobcentre)

Hi there. I own a holding company with owns an employment agency for drivers. I am not sure why that agency would not tell you about the job.

Obviously we dont give out the client companies name untill we have a contract signed but we still discribe the work. When we get a call from a company looking for a driver if we dont have anyone available we phone people on our books to see if we can supply the driver before we sign a contract.

If we gave the company name out before we signed a contract there is nothing to stop our agency staff going directly to the company and offering their services cheaper.

But in any case they should of told you about the job, What you would be doing, what area its in, how long its for and how much you will be paid

well not surprised if they told u that as they always classify themselves as high-class salesmen but actually with low skills. I think he means he could not tell you the job description but you do have the right to know the brief. For instance, whats the job title, contract type, salay and location. You are not doing this wrong but bare with their incompetence as they could not do this better.