In today's job market where opportunity can be scarce, many college graduates are using employment agencies to match their skills to companies' needs.
Kate Zawodni, a technical recruiter for Manpower Services, once used employment agencies like her own to hire employes and said she has had positive experiences with them.
"I liked working with employment agencies because they did screening with the individuals for their education and references," Zawodni said. "I knew I was getting a qualified candidate in those respects."
Employment agencies serve as intermediaries between employers and job seekers.
It can take only a few days or up to several years to find a match - usually, higher salary positions take longer to fill. Agencies can connect students with temporary or permanent positions.
Some employment agencies charge fees only to the employer.
But for those that don't, Patrick Sheetz, director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University, said it's a burden for graduates to pay for a job.
"As a college student you usually don't have a lot of money to spend and you're not going to want to pay to get a job," he said.
Sheetz said students should use many different methods in searching for jobs and recommended they seek employment using the following resources in order: career placement offices, then Internet listings, followed by want ads, job fairs, networking, direct letters to employers and finally, employment agencies.
But Sheetz said many students don't begin searching for jobs until after they graduate and find themselves taking whatever is left after those who apply early have entered the work force.
"I've seen a lethargic attitude among many current graduates," he said. "They don't think they have to worry about it until after they graduate - prior planning isn't on their agenda."
LSA senior Bret Danow said he used an temporary employment agency to find an excellent summer job.
"I was working for a Fortune 500 company - I had my own office, phone and fax line," he said.
Job hunting is here and now, Sheetz said. "I encourage students to get active right now," he said. "I'd use whatever sources necessary to find a job."