agencies

You may want to investigate employment agencies, otherwise known as headhunters.  This can save a lot of time and hassle, multiply your efforts, and inform you of opportunities that you might never find on your own.  Or this approach may lead to gut-wrenching interviews or even a rotten job for reasons that may or may not have much to do with the agency.  What I plan to do here is list links to agencies I have reason to believe are reputable and who care about you as well as the client company's needs.  Remember that the client companies pay the bills!

Also, be real sure that you are aware of your legal obligations when working with an agency.  Be sure that the position is "fee paid", meaning that the client company pays the agency's fees, not you.  The fee will be a large percentage of your salary.  On the plus side, there are some truly great people out there in this field.  That said, check out (this list is obviously under construction!):

Al White is a sincere and very helpful recruiter. He deals with quality companies and places quality people. He is straighforward and pleasant about everything. I recently met Al and I believe that his WR Placement web page sums up his approach very well. I don't think he would mind me quoting from it here:

"You won't find another recruiter who offers more honesty, helpfulness, and dedication to his clients than Al White. With 19 years of technical recruiting experience, Al offers a tremendous level of service to his clients and applicants. Prior to founding WR Placement with co-owner, Steve Rhoades, Al was a top recruiter at another local firm, earning Counselor of the Year from 1984 through 1989. With persistence, Al creates deals that are mutually beneficial for employer and employee. Al believes that maintaining communication between parties is often the key to successfully placing a candidate and filling positions.

"I partnered with Steve because he's the only other person in my field I've met with the same level of personal integrity as me. We have created a firm committed to ethical and honest treatment of our clients and applicants."

Al's low-key approach to recruiting is a refreshing change from a lot of over-the-top salespeople in the recruiting field. With Al, what you see is what you get. He uses his straightforward approach to build long-term relationships with clients and applicants.

"I provide career counseling services; it goes way beyond recruitment." Al graduated Magna Cum Laude from Penn State University. He lives with his wife and daughter in the Philadelphia area, where he has resided for 39 years. Let Al help you evaluate your staffing or career needs.

I would strongly recommend checking out Al and Steve's WR Placement web site:

Texcel
http://www.texcelinc.com

Texcel is an employment agency where a friend of mine works.  I have been very favorably impressed with their professionalism.  Check out their web site:

M.L. Staffing
Tom Lofgren
610-825-2131
lofgrentm@aol.com

Tom Lofgren of M. L. Staffing is an excellent recruiter a friend suggested that we add to the web page.  He is very familiar with the folks who worked for my recent employer.  He will work with you on a personal basis, and had no problem with being mentioned here:

Eagle Technical Staffing contacted me as a result of my using JobCircle.  They are well aware of the quality of ex-Motorola BCS folks.  They are upbeat and energetic - and when things happen they will happen quickly.   I got a call from them and had a screening interview that day (it went well, but in this case was not really a good match and I would have needed a starship for the commute!!!)  In any event, they do have jobs available for the taking as of this writing (late January 2002).

TWC is a very sophisticated and classy agency. Their corporate headquarters is in Collegeville, PA.  They have offices in Tempe, AZ and Chantilly, VA as well.  Your specific contact person at TWC will depend on the company they feel is appropriate for you -- they have over 60 "Management Consultants" who work very closely with client companies to find and place talent.  And friends, no matter how sad or miserable or discouraged you may feel right now, please remember that this is what you are -- talent.