Sally - our annual recruitment report includes rankings of the top London recruitment firms, as voted by our readers (experienced hires for the most part). You can get a copy from:<a href=http://www.top-consultant.com/recruitment_report.asp target=_blank>http://www.top-consultant.com/recruitment_report.asp</a>In terms of other tips, I would suggest:<b>i) Picking just a couple of agencies to work with.</b> The greater the chance they feel they have of placing you into a role, the harder they will work for you. By contrast, if they know you're already being marketed by a dozen other agencies then you're a poor choice of candidate for them to invest their time in.<b>ii) Be upfront with them about the firms you have already applied to direct and / or via another agency.</b> If the recruiter sounds out a few employers (anonymously on your behalf) to see if someone with your type of background would be of interest, you'll have wasted their time if it turns out that you've already applied to many of these firms independently of them. And again, if you waste their time then they will not invest any more in helping to see you are placed into a good role.<b>iii) Ensure that you are kept in the loop at all times about where your CV is being sent.</b> There are all different shades of practice in recruitment, so make it clear up front (in an email exchange) that they are not to make your CV available to any recruiter without your prior consent. Or agree scenarios in which they can put your CV forward without your consent (eg. if you are going to be on holiday you may wish to give the recruiter the freedom to do this in your absence)Hope this helps Sally and good luck.Tony RestellTop-Consultant.com
