I have had experience with one Job Shop (contract agency?). Took four assignments and three were great experiences, The fourth assignment was where they were doing nothing. I did not have the specialized experience but by drawing from my background, was able to learn quickly. Main thing is to be honest with interviewer. And to have some experience to draw from. And of course, the assignments added to my experiences. Have you noticed how many times I used word "experience". Guess in electronics, secret is "experience, experience, experience". Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Olin Lathrop" To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 2:04 PM Subject: Re: [OT] Recruiters and contract-to-hire agencies > Mike Hord wrote: >> I'm currently speaking with Aerotek Staffing, but >> not at the job offer stage yet. AIUI, they would >> place me with an employer for a 6-month (or so) >> contract, after which time either the contract is >> reupped, I'm hired by the employer, or I move on >> to somewhere else. Aerotek would be my >> official employer, even though I spend my days >> at some other office. >> >> This sounds like a great deal to me- AFAIK, I'm >> not expected to pony up any dough for this (I'd >> be hesitant if they asked me to), and they are >> basically offering to find me a job. As a young >> engineer with fairly little experience under my >> belt, this seems like a good way to get some >> diverse experiences with different workplaces >> and skills, or at least a good way to get my >> foot in a door somewhere. > > I think this is a bad idea for an engineer with relatively little work > experience. Think of it from the employer's point of view. They have to > pay a premium for people like that, and therefore only do it when they > have > to. That usually means the job market is so tight they can't get talent > any > other way, or they need a specialized skill temporarily. In the first > case > you can find a job yourself with little trouble, and in the second case > you > don't have the specialized expertise, or at least you won't be able to > convince anyone of that with just a few years experience. > > You should consider head hunters and contract agencies as a last resort > only. Both make you more expensive to the end employer, and may employers > have rules not to use such people without a lot of extra approvals. Also > watch out that both will often "enhance" your resume. Always bring your > own > resume to an interview no matter how you were introduced. > > > ****************************************************************** > Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, (978) 742-9014. #1 PIC > consultant in 2004 program year. http://www.embedinc.com/products > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist