Written on: 07/01/2013 by SomethingWillTurnUp (4 reviews written)
I have applied for many jobs through Reed over the last few months, all with a tailored cover letter and CV (according to "expert" advice) and matching my experience and skills. I either get no response or a standard message saying other candidates were a better fit. However, I do get emails and texts from Reed on a regular basis attaching a job description they say I am "perfect" for, interviews available immediately. However, these are completely irrelevant - completely different... (read more)
Written on: 14/08/2012 by Designguy
I have applied for several jobs with reed and find them completely useless. The women in charge of design jobs doesn't know anything about design yet still sits and talks down to you like your an idiot. I applied for 1 job in marketing design and spoke to a reed rep on the phone who asked me if i had any experience with design and when i said yes she didn't believe me and gave me the skeptical voice and said she would give it some consideration whether i was right for the job. I've been in... (read more)
Written on: 06/07/2012
Only applied for a temp job through a friend (who unfortunetly for her) works for reed, albeit,the wage was good etc, finished the terms of the contract and was asked to stay couple of extra days out of my own back i decided why not. midway through the day, get an unfair dismissal for the absolute MOST ridiculous thing ever(if i actually wrote it people would laugh) and termination of contract, after 2 weeks you would expect atleast a warning etc or dismissal for a SERIOUS offence, but no... (read more)
Written on: 22/05/2012
t first the representative was always ringing me and I felt this was good as they wanted to help me find work. The rep then said she had put my CV forward to ARAG the insurance company as she felt my cv was strong enough. Sure enough a day or 2 after this conversation I had another phone call to say that I had been short listed for an interview. This is where it gets interesting. I received an email to confirm my interview date and also an invitation to meet my rep to discuss the vacancy and... (read more)
Written on: 27/02/2012 by jessicaantony29 (2 reviews written)
Getting a job is quite a feat, especially in today’s competitive scenario. Someone recommend the Reed job agency to me. I never got the job I wanted. They kept me waiting for a long time. They were very unprofessional and annoying. (read more)
Written on: 27/07/2011
I was contacted by a lady via text message asking to call following a role I had expressed an interest in. I called her and she was on vacation. The receptionists had very little training and poor customer service skills. No messages were passed on. When i finally did speak to her - it was very clear that she was no a senior level recruiter. There was a lack of professionalism and no understanding of the client needs. She was also very ill advised about my CV despite having read it. I... (read more)
Written on: 22/07/2011
I was telephoned by a woman on behalf of reed recruitment in regards to a one off job which i did on Saturday 9th July. The woman said I'd be paid £6.00 an hour plus £1.25 on top to cover holiday pay what ever that's for? also i would be working for 4 hours in total distributing leaflets. I asked Lizzy when i would receive my pay and she said i would receive it the following Friday which would make it the 15th July, So i said OK ill do it. After a few issues and running around trying to... (read more)
Written on: 22/07/2011 by Simon87 (1 review written)
I started with Reed in 2008 while having another part time job and being in full time education at University. The Temp Operator told me that I could go on a student tax code as I was still in University and as I had another part time job. After a few weeks I discovered myself and a colleague were on a lot less pay than the rest of the temp colleagues in the same company. After many phonecalls and many months this was resolved. Then in 2010 I went travelling to Australia, I checked with... (read more)
Written on: 12/07/2011
Signed up on the Reed site and applied for 2 jobs, later that same day I was asked to take an online typing test (horrible software) and was subsequently offered the job. I went to an induction and took along my passport, and a bank statement. All was fine, I had several confirmation emails and a verbal confirmation too. Then it all went downhill: One Monday morning at 9.30am my phone rang for 5 seconds, then a text message arrived, telling me to call the agency urgently. I called them... (read more)
Written on: 28/06/2011
They are a bunch of horrible people I ever met in my whole entire life. And the strangest part is they are all the same (includes every single branch) in London. They must be all related or something. I hate THEM so much!!!! (read more)
Written on: 26/06/2011
I dealt with them before and they still have my CV...OMG I never ever met so shallow stuff in my entire life! They see you as the £ sign no more no less! Avoid!!!! (read more)
Written on: 21/06/2011 by summer30 (1 review written)
I =applied for a part time admin post through the reed website a couple of weeks back and was surprised I was asked to come in and register (especially after applying for 100s of jobs on the website) issue num 1: Got a call from a female recruitment agent claiming they were having problems getting my references. - They hadn't even bothered requesting them from my employer! issue num 2. Although I requested details about the post both at the registration and afterwards via email, they never... (read more)
Written on: 22/05/2011
I hate REED recruitment! they are con artists. They did not pay me my holiday and instead overpayed me 55 and then charged me 75 for them taking it back. i assumed it was my holiday pay and got one phone call the whole time saying i think we paid you too much then bam 300 pounds down. The people at this palce obviously dont care about the workers and just want to take your money. They made so much out of me yet they dont wish to treat me fairly and would rather con every last penny out of... (read more)
Written on: 05/07/2011
Reed have had an oversight apparently and have not paid me more than 29 hours worth of annual leave entittlement or processed my P45 which means I'm still on emergency tax. The gentleman on the phone was rude and unhelpful, did not empathise the slightest at the inconvinience of the situation.
The whole process with reed has been a shambles from start to end.
They are one of the biggest agencies out there and many smaller recruiters utilise their website which makes it hard to find agencies that are willing to put you 'the customer' first. It's all about their clients and the money money money.
Written on: 12/05/2011
I was very happy to find out that I had a new job through Reeds agency, they confirmed my start date and asked me to meet with them the following week. I told them that was fine and that I would need to hand in my notice at my current, permanent job and move a holiday (at my own expense, which I was willing to do as long as I had the job) so that I could start when requested and complete the training. I turned up on my start date only to find that it had been moved back to the date I had... (read more)
Written on: 05/05/2011
Basically, was put forward and promised a job. Was missing a piece of documentation and asked what I could do, no one got back to me after emailing and phoning. 2 days later I was finally told what they required. I asked if it was too late to sort it out, they said NO! Sorted the documentation. Turns out they were lying to me the whole time. After quitting my other job, they told me I wasn't going to get the new job, on the Friday before the Monday I was going to start!!! No apologies about... (read more)
Written on: 14/03/2011
I am very saddened by the state of the recruitment agencies in general. However Reed are one of, if not the worst. It is quite obvious that they advertise jobs that either do not exist, are duplicated or have expired months before and do not actually read CV's or applications. Yes it is an employers market at the moment and they show this by their "don't care a toss about you" attitude to candidates. My one star rating is one star too much for this company. (read more)
Written on: 10/03/2011
Re: The Cheltenham office of Reed Accountancy. I have never dealt with such an incompetent set of people in my life. Instead of actively looking for jobs they give me inane and conflicting reasons why they CAN'T put me for any position I enquire about - yet if the job is with another agency I happen to be with, I get put forward. Disgusting. I've only given them 1 star because I can't give them nothing! (read more)
Written on: 09/03/2011
I dont know how this agency is still up and running! They are 'THE WORST' agency I've dealt with in 2 years! Without meaning to boast, I've Distinction throughout my academics right upto my Masters AND some relevant work experience too. But these idiots, tell me I'm over qualified for certain jobs and wait- for few other graduate jobs, they tell me I'm not qualified enough or they have better match! So, either way, there is no winning! Also something I recently discovered- they had... (read more)
Written on: 09/03/2011
Absolute rubbish .... I've met dead end after dead end with them .... time and again I have had to chase them up for outstanding paperwork (references, CRBs etc.) after hearing nothing for days on end, and only now (four weeks after registration) am I starting work. The single star is merited by the fact that they have FINALLY managed to sort the paperwork out. Otherwise none of them seemed to have a clue! A previous review suggested that the entire sector needs streamlining and regulating... (read more)
Written on: 08/02/2011
The Website is very good and easy to use.
However
On 31st January 2011 I was contacted by phone from Reed Accountancy - Croydon. Our conversation was going great then I was asked my age after which point the Agent became rather rude and sarcastic.
According to a lot of information on the internet this was in violation of The Equality Act 2010
(read more)
Written on: 07/01/2013
I had a similar experience about age recently with Reed. They told me there was no market on their books for candidates who are over 35!!!
Written on: 01/02/2011
I registered with these clowns in september and they have been the most useless organisation I have ever dealt with. They sent reference requests to the wrong people, lost paperwork, their communication is appalling, and, needless to say, they have offered me no work. They are ignoring e-mails and I am out of pocket for a CRB that I didn't need, as I already had a recent one. (read more)
Written on: 10/01/2011
reed is probably the only agency that ive been to and they were try to get rid of me. their office in uxbridge is a complete waste of time. old fat women on their seats doing nothing. I'm sure there is a better way to spend all that money e.g donation to charities (read more)
Written on: 19/11/2010
I worked for reed in Chelmsford for 10 1/2 months, finally got offered a permanent job, terminanted my Employment with reed 3 weeks later no P45 and no holiday pay...........I called yesterday and they said that I would be getting my money this week............this morning checked bank account now overdrawn and no money paid in.......looked at the now entered payslip online and notice it has Monday's date on..........no food in the fridge or cupboards......silly little girls on the end on... (read more)
Written on: 13/11/2010
Over the years I have used many agencies successfully but Reed is absolutely hopeless. I have had two calls from them this week in response to job applications for a legal secretary on both occasions I have been patronised and not even given the chance to speak. I ended up telling one agent that I had to terminate the call because all she had succeeded in doing was giving me a headache with the sound of her own voice. Bunch of amateurs if you ask me so do not waste your time. (read more)
Written on: 26/10/2010 by StraightforwardOpinion (1 review written)
I only came across this website today & it comes as no surprise to me that everyone who has reviewed Reed Recruitment has only bad things to say about them. I am living in Edinburgh & have regularly used their website to see what jobs are on offer in the locality & its surroundings. I have lost count of the number of times that I have applied for jobs through their website & received no further updates from them, with the exception of confirmation e-mails in respect of my applications for... (read more)
Written on: 23/10/2010
I would not recommend this company to anyone. I signed up when I was seeking full time employment, completed their training then nothing....when I enquired they said they were missing a reference, nice of them to tell me. I got my previous employer to resend it and then...nothing. I luckily found a full time job myself but still wanted to work in my spare time for Reed for extra cash so I made them aware of this...they have now said they wont pay travel or guaruntee me anything as I dont... (read more)
Written on: 18/10/2010
I've been registered with them since they took over a certain public sector contract from Adecco since last year December. At the meeting last year when I decided to sign on to the transfer list, they mentioned that out pay will not be affected. But when I began my job first job assignment with them, I was shocked with the pay. It was at least a pound less per hour than I would have got with Adecco. That job assignment only lasted two and half months. Since then there's been nothing. I've... (read more)
Written on: 30/09/2010
Whilst a lot of people seem to have been offered work that is unsuitible I didn't even get that far... I made the effort go into a branch where no-one wanted to speak to me, send us you cv via email I was told. So I did. I got a nice generic email saying they didn't feel they could fit me into any of there vacant jobs... Translation "your CV is unusual and therefore we can't be bothered to help you find work". so thanks reed for making me feel totally useless! (read more)
Written on: 20/09/2010
In the a similiar situation to many graduates, I signed up with reed. I even foolishly applied for a position through them. I had a meeting with a perfectly pleasant consultant named Natasha in the London branch. She told me I had all the characteristics which were needed to succeed in the particular role and she passed on details to the company. I met with the company about 4 weeks ago, and haven't heard from either the company nor reed. This is rudeness. Natasha at Reed gave me now... (read more)
Written on: 14/09/2010
What a waste of time it was to join Reed. I would be told about a great job and sent for the interview. I got two jobs with Reed and both times failed to last more than two months and the reason was EXACTLY the same both times- "You have an attitude problem" and when I asked (both them) for them to provide me with more information, I was told that they would have to get more information. Didn't bother coming back to me. (read more)
Written on: 07/09/2010
I never write into these sort of things but i feel i have to. I was with Reed in York for over a year and i wish i hadnt bothered.They would ring me to tell me about this AMAZING job opportunity which was as good as mine and say they would find out the details and ring me back next day... a week later and they still hadnt rang me back so i would ring them to be told "oh sorry lovey im with a client at the moment, can i ring you back in 10 mins?" ...two weeks later and no phonecall i ring... (read more)
Written on: 17/08/2010
Athough Reed did find me work on occasions I was less than pleased to turn up to work on one occasion to find I had been substituted (following a previously agreed short absence) without my assignment being cancelled. Not geting paid for my wasted time and travel with the excuse that they'd not be paid for me was inappropriate and unjust. A subsequent assignment caused myself and the client embarassment as the agency had misled us both. I never accepted work from them again. I cannot... (read more)
Written on: 31/07/2010
I have registered with reed over a year ago, they are absolutly shyt...over the past two months i have applied for over a 100 jobs with them and all i get is an email saying im sorry u are unsucesful i mean ive just graduated and have plenty of experience in customer service and admin and I kno i can do these jobs i just wish that recruiters cut out the middle man so we can go to them directly as i believe agencies pick and choose who ever they want to and reed is the most shyyttest out of... (read more)
Written on: 17/06/2010
I originally believed that Reed were a popular, well-respected agency. Well despite some initial promise, they've since shown themselves to be inept, unprofressional charlatans. I registered with the Maidenhead branch in 2008 for permanent work and after a few keyboard tests (with a lot of background distractions), they did get me an interview with a small firework company. I ultimately didn't get the job, but Reed told me they would continue to look for a position. But months passed and... (read more)
Written on: 26/05/2010 by cwa1965 (1 review written)
I've had plenty of experience with recruitment agencies. From this site I can quite confidently state that a vast majority advertised do no exist and those agencies 'advertising' are purely CV hunters (read more)
Written on: 24/05/2010
I worked for reed in 2008 and found that they were a decent agency, so decided to sign back up with them. I have to say it was the biggest mistake I have made. They have placed me in a job which is difficult for me to get to, I have asked for jobs closer to home only to be told they don't have any when I am aware they do as other temps that I am working with have been offered these positions.
I rang in sick this morning and was given a warning even thought I had given them plenty of notice...
(read more)
Written on: 27/04/2010
After many apploications, phone calls and offers to visit their office to talk through vacancies I get the impression that they only deal with low grade easy money jobs. As a qualified manager with a wealth of credit experience, legal practice and arbitration I find it galling that they do not reply to letter, calls and e mails. The consultant (thats a miss nameing if ever there was one) did not even know who I was when I did eventually get through to her. I think I may just get a company... (read more)
Written on: 24/03/2010
Well I wish i had read this site before i signed with reed recruitment looking through the reviews im astonished that nobody has a good word to say about them and iam not about to change that,i have been unemployed for over 12 months and in that time i have not recieved 1 offer of a interveiw even though many of the jobs advertised could have been taken from my own C V yet when i send a follow up e-mail i get the reply your too late even though the job on offer is only 2 days old or the jobs... (read more)
Written on: 20/03/2010
After registering with Reed on-line and then going to their branches in Guildford & Woking to introduce myself personally, I must say I was very disallusioned. They want you to show professionalism but they are totally inadequate and seem to have no people skills whatsoever. Guildford branch was slightly better than Woking. At Woking, a person appeared from the back and said there was no work available, didn't want to interview me or anything. I then followed my visit with a letter and... (read more)
Written on: 06/02/2010
Reed used to be quite a good agency - the best of the High Streets. But, from my own experience and those of others, it does appear to be going down the drain. For many years I did a series of contract jobs via them, but despite my experience Reed held me back on a lower wage. Then they started the bureaucracy: they suddenly 'needed' a reference from a professional who wasn't friend/relative or an employer but who i somehow had known for 5 years etc (this, in addition to already having a... (read more)
Written on: 04/02/2010
I have a feeling that the below 'guest' is actually a Reed Person trying their utmost to deflect the abundant criticism levied upon the company - and in my experience, deservedly so! I have just received my 'registration pack' which entails 37 pages of forms to be filled in of sensitive information pertaining to Directorships, CCJs, Pending Criminal Checks, Overseas Properties, Shares, Gaps in employment (understandable), everything apart from what I was wearing at the time! What gives! ... (read more)
Written on: 02/02/2010
As a recruiter of some 12 years experience and having previously worked through agencies as a temp, I can give a balanced view of the recruitment industry in general.
Although there does tend to be a lot of cowboys and morons in the recruitment industry, recruiters make their money by placing people into jobs. They receive no benefit by registering candidates alone!
For that reason, if you apply for a job through an agency and you are the best candidate that they have, they will move...
(read more)
Written on: 06/02/2012
It seems one of the few qualities recruitment consultants could develop is to steer the luckless candidates in a confusing jobs market. They could feedback on specifics as to why certain jobs should be ruled out if candidates are wasting time. Maybe they don't have time, or maybe they actually don't have that much knowledge about skill sets or transferable skills themselves. In my opinion, most "consultants" have too little understanding of the jobs they are screening for & would be incapable of surviving the same level of scrutiny they hold over the candidates. Strange superiority complex.
Written on: 25/11/2009
reeds recruitment agency told me to start a temp job at royal mail on the 24th november when in fact it should of been the 23rd and because they gave me the wrongful information i lost out on a job that i needed so i will not be recomending it to anyone (read more)
Written on: 11/11/2009 by lecky (1 review written)
Signed up with the Reed agency in Bristol towards the end of September, went in to sign all the necessary forms and to take a spelling, grammar and typing test. Halfway through the test the programme stopped working and I was told I wouldn't be able to complete it, I suppose this should have been a sign of things to come! The consultant I saw told me to e-mail him in about a weeks time to ensure he hadn't forgotten about me, surely it should be his job to contact me! Anyway after a week and... (read more)
Written on: 26/09/2009
One word to describe the Reed recruitment agency........ Appalling. I would place them in the same box as bankers and our wonderful robbing MPs. Completely and utterly concerned about their own income and not your career. As a company their consultants are simply unable to speak the truth and are the most selfish individuals i have ever met who are purely focused on what they can make out of you rather than what they can do for you! (read more)
Written on: 05/08/2009
Reed is an absolutely horrible recruitment agency got a temp job through them finished it way ahead of schedule so I was moved around the office doing odd things then with no discussion from the manager or recruitment agent I was told I was removed from the job and I am now blacklisted. They are greedy, selfish and they are only out to make money off you and have no interest in finding you a good job as long as they can boost their own stupid wages. (read more)
Written on: 06/02/2009 by michealgcxgjhvkb
Applied for a job with reed, was called, registered, took tests, jumped through hoops etc. Told interview would be the next week, waited, nothing, went in, interview would be soon, another week, nothing, Went in again, apparently they tried to call me but my phone has no answer phone, thats funny considering no one else seems to have a problem. (read more)
Written on: 28/01/2009 by Ad84 (1 review written)
They are horrible!! I'm working part time and they are my agency. Every week there's something else they need or they do wrong. They call me at 7 in the evening asking for forms and threatening that if not delivered to their office by next day I'd lose my job. They are very unpleasant when talking to them, and basically treat you like nothing (they forgot about me booking a holiday and when I called them to complain about not being paid for holiday the manager said: we have many candidates... (read more)
Written on: 20/12/2008
Compared to other agencies I felt that most of the time I was dealing with people who seemed either new to recruitment and/or generally just working for Reed as a gap fill and therefore I never felt as though I was given their full attention. A comment I read earlier was that some Reed consultants appear to be only interested if they can make money out of you as a candidate, this is a huge concern for me as I don't want my career to be driven by someone's commission / bonus. Obviously this... (read more)
As rated by real users
"I can't recommend them highly ..." Read More
"Worst agency ever" Read More
"Stay away from Hays!" Read More
"Awful." Read More
"Rude and useless, Tooley Street" Read More
Jcmos's Response to SomethingWillTurnUp's Review
Written on: 11/03/2013
Yes, I agree.
They are pretty bad.
I recommend you to bypass recruitment agencies anyway as they are only interested in helping people with great inflated resumes.
Many people with talent are missing out every time.