Being unemployed is not an enjoyable experience, finding work can be difficult whilst remaining motivated and dedicated to finding employment can be a struggle. The temptation is too strong to simply switch on the television or pick up the games controller and waste the day entertaining yourself. For those who are in this boat the use of a recruitment agency is advisable, should work be found quickly and with a minimum of effort.

While a recruitment agency will save you time and effort, it is not the case that you will completely be able to cease your job hunting efforts. They are not there to act as your personal job hunter, in most cases they will only supply you with jobs that match your criteria as and when they arise. The first step is to travel down to the recruitment agency and submit your details to them. At this stage they will want to know the types of jobs you are looking for and the salary range you are expecting. This is why it is important to decide what types of jobs you want to work in before approaching the agency; they are not there to be a personal career advisor.

With so many industries out there it is unsurprising that a recruitment agency may decide to specialise in a particular industry. For instance, some agencies may only list jobs from the catering, travel and IT industries. This type of agency is perfect for those who know exactly the career path on which they wish to embark, providing directed job hunting and high levels of success.

As a job seeker however it is important to understand that positions will not always be available immediately. After visiting the agency they will add you to their database, this means that your name will only be brought up should a position arise that matches your criteria, if one does not however the wait for work can be weeks or even months. This is why when submitting your details it is important to be as broad minded as possible; this will increase your chances of finding work considerably.

That said there is little point in waiting at the end of line for the recruitment agency to call. It is important to remain proactive and badger the agency's representatives as much as possible. By doing this you remain fresh in their minds and are more likely to receive job offers. While it may feel as if you are simply making a nuisance of yourself it is not a great problem, the representatives will understand your concerns and will most likely be impressed by your willingness to work.

More modern agencies have online services especially suited to job hunters. In many cases these allow job hunters to access the jobs and information directly from a website, meaning that being proactive is made that much easier. In addition however, using modern forms of communication to bombard the agency representatives can be useful in remaining fresh in their minds.

Using as many agencies as possible is always advisable; it will increase your chances of finding work considerably. That is not to say that once you have signed up to a recruitment agency you no longer have to look for work. Using agencies as a complimentary effort to your job hunting is the best advice, with dedication and motivation it should be possible to find the job of your dreams.