Unless you have a job to walk into when landing in London, your best
chance of landing a job is with a recruitment agency.  Agencies are a
dime a dozen in London, ranging from the smaller operators who recruit in
all Business Areas, to the firms that tailor recruitment to a specific area, such as
Finance or IT.

There are positive and negatives when looking at an agency to consider signing on with.
Whilst the larger or more specialist agencies may have 'inside contacts' with some of the larger
companies in London, you may just become another number in their database.  A smaller agency
on the other hand, may not have the contacts, but as the are probably a growing business, are
more likely to

As a general rule, do a bit of research before registering with an agency.  Check out their rates (they
take a percentage of your hourly rate from your employer and pay you the rest - so rates can vary
considerably.)  Get recommendations from friends where possible, and look in the local TNT or Southern
Cross.  Having problems with your agency?  tell me more >>

It's probably best to register with three of four agencies in total.  Some of them will not like you doing
this, however if they are aware that you are listed elsewhere as well, they may become a little more
proactive in finding you that perfect job.

How to approach an agency:

Remember there are literally thousands of contractors, permi's (permanent salaried workers)
and temps in London - so finding a job doesn't stop at just listing with an agency.  
Remember the name of your contact at the agency, and call them EVERY DAY.  They
will soon learn to hate the sound of your voice, but you may find that you nag yourself
into a role!  As they probably have hundreds of clients, it is in your best interests to
keep in touch with them, rather than expecting them to keep in touch with you.

Opportunities abound in the UK, particularly in London, for those with the right
attitude - even if you have little experience, but it is an aggressive market.
 Many agencies offer free PC training; so take advantage of this to brush
up on some skills.  For more advance training, such as learning Web
Design, a programming language, or database skills, why not
ask one of our experts?

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