academy crewing agent service feed back

[eehler]

I am looking for feed back on how a crewing agent would be received at a academy career fair.
The idea being is that there would be one agent representing a number of Offshore Supply and Towing company's from around the United States at maritime academy, and maritime career schools during job fairs. The purpose of the agent would be to conduct interviews and perform a match making service for new graduates just entering the job pool. The agent would have interviewed with each company he representes and knows what each company is looking for in a new hire, from this the agent would recommend the applicant to the company that he feels would fit you best and set up a job interview between you and the company. This service would be be a no job no pay contract for the agent in that if you are not hired no fee would charged for services.
The whole point of this is to connect new mariners to companies they may not have been aware of, act as a rep and filter for smaller companies who do not attend job fairs, and provide a applicant with a positive induction to the company they are seeking employment from. There is a major emerging market for licenses in the Offshore supply and towing industry, unfortunately this market is not widely represented in a large portion of the marine training community. A service like this would work as a ice breaker for new mariners and companies alike.

[c.captain]

I am looking for feed back on how a screwing agent would be received at a academy carrier fair.
The idea being is that there would be one agent representing a number of Offshore Supply and towing company's.from around the United States

first...I have to assume you didn't mean to use the word "screwing"

second...I have to also assume you mean career instead of carrier

third...the kids at the schools eat up with a spoon anything you can serve them at the career fairs at the academies and your idea is not a bad one except which of the various companies you represent do you pitch first and hardest? Kind of makes the other companies you sign up to pay you not be the happiest at your service. The whole idea of any career recruitment is to have the best line of bs that your company is the bestest of the whole pile.

[eehler]

@ Ccaptain
Posted the Un edited thread by accident.
The whole point of this service is to send the "best suited applicant" for there company, it also acts as a BS filter for them, also they do not pay a dime unless they hire the applicant. This would motivate the agent to not just send random people through there office, also just because someone interviews with the agent does not mean the agent can't say sorry I don't have a good fit for you.

[Flyer69]

I would expect any agent representing me to be a better speller.

[injunear]

I would expect any agent representing me to be a better speller.

Is that speller or spieler?

[Jemplayer]

If I were in HR for a company I would have to ask my self why do I need to spend money for someone to throw applicants at me when said applicant is too lazy to take a ride to Louisiana in the first place? As long as I have an easy to find web site with my address on it so they can find me on Google Maps coupled that with an online application that I only look at when I'm in a bind because the 20 guys I have walking through the door everyday don't match what I need, and one would seem to find you a waste of money.

For those companies that don't have a website they are probably running older equipment and operate on the good ol` boy system any way that want nothing to do with an academy grad, and said academy grad want nothing to do with either.

The good companies are never in dire need of anybody. If an academy grad can't find a job it's because he doesn't want a job, or there is just no jobs to be found. In which case there are other way more qualified Officers with experience looking for work and your new grad hasn't a chance.

[Fraqrat]

Head hunters...EEHHH

[rshrew]

From what I have seen at career fairs 75% of the grads don't give a you know what about where they work it seems it's all about the $ these days.

[cappy208]

@ Ccaptain
Posted the Un edited thread by accident.
The whole point of this service is to send the "best suited applicant" for there company, it also acts as a BS filter for them, also they do not pay a dime unless they hire the applicant. This would motivate the agent to not just send random people through there office, also just because someone interviews with the agent does not mean the agent can't say sorry I don't have a good fit for you.

Curious what you do for a living now? You seem unaware of the type of graduate that the Maritime Academies put out and where they are hired.

Companies routinely send HR personnel TO the schools themselves when they are looking for new recruits. The employers who have to resort to using 'headhunters' are typically the places that DON'T have good attraction anyway. I would hope that the graduates are bright enough to know the difference! Do You?

[eehler]

The whole thought processes behind this idea was not to "head hunt" or to gouge a company for a service. If you went to an academy the deep sea fleet is the main career path being pushed, however with today's deep sea fleet shrinking and the Offshore supply and Towing industry building 1600 to Unlimited tonnage vessels more and more companies need the unlimited licenses to operate the bridge and engine room. The purpose of having someone represent your company in this way is to make the connection with quality grads and quality companies. This is a tricky industry to break into sometimes and having a way to break the ice allows for better communication and employment opportunities. The grad would still have to interview and lay themselves out on the line to get a job, the agent would just filter out applications that are total BS and send a company qualified applicants.

As for most grads being in it for the money now, its sad but true, however there are still some of us in it for the love of the work.

[eehler]

Curious what you do for a living now? You seem unaware of the type of graduate that the Maritime Academies put out and where they are hired.

Companies routinely send HR personnel TO the schools themselves when they are looking for new recruits. The employers who have to resort to using 'headhunters' are typically the places that DON'T have good attraction anyway. I would hope that the graduates are bright enough to know the difference! Do You?

I graduated from a maritime academy and I now work as a in the offshore supply industry, before that I operated a ship yard and worked as a relief captain aboard a training ship.
Yes when company needs people they send a rep, all I was suggesting was to provided a better way for grads and companies to network. This was not a insult to anyone or an academy. If you feel that it is necessary to chastise someone you do not know over a thread that was only meant to get some constructive feed back, positive or negative then thats your business.

[SeaSick]

the agent would just filter out applications that are total BS and send a company qualified applicants.

What do you mean BS applications? Coming from an Academy, all the applicants are going to have the same qualifications.

[eehler]

On paper yes the majority are the same but if you talk to someone face to face you can get a better idea as as to what kind of person they are, are they going to jump ship the second they get a better offer, are they looking for a long term career, etc. You can not be 100percent sure on your evaluation of someone you can get a pretty good idea from an a good interview and a fellow academy grad can normally spot someone who is not up to par coming out of school.

[injunear]

This was not a insult to anyone or an academy. If you feel that it is necessary to chastise someone you do not know over a thread that was only meant to get some constructive feed back, positive or negative then thats your business.

With many crimps scavenging the industry, anyone offering a "networking service" is looked on with a jaundiced eye...or at least a little skepticism.

[SeaSick]

On paper yes the majority are the same but if you talk to someone face to face you can get a better idea as as to what kind of person they are, are they going to jump ship the second they get a better offer, are they looking for a long term career, etc. You can not be 100percent sure on your evaluation of someone you can get a pretty good idea from an a good interview and a fellow academy grad can normally spot someone who is not up to par coming out of school.

At the job fairs we had, it was more of a meet and greet, no interviews to determine what kind of person you are talking to.

[cappy208]

Not sure just how my post should be received as 'chastising'. I didn't criticise schools, make fun of new graduates, or belay anyone.

I simply asked your background. You come from the system. You want to help the graduates. (Now here is where my opinion will get me in trouble)

In my few months in the industry I have seen companies cycling through different academies choosing to hire from one or another all depending upon where the port captain or engineer came from. The companies that DON'T attend these fairs are NOT the place an aspiring graduate goes for forward momentum in a career.

[SeaSick]

In my few months in the industry I have seen companies cycling through different academies choosing to hire from one or another all depending upon where the port captain or engineer came from. The companies that DON'T attend these fairs are NOT the place an aspiring graduate goes for forward momentum in a career.

Not necessarily true. Masters Mates and Pilots never attended any job fairs at Maine and about 80% of my deck class are MMP members.

[cappy208]

Not necessarily true. Masters Mates and Pilots never attended any job fairs at Maine and about 80% of my deck class are MMP members.

That's the case for some. MM&P doesn't need headhunters either. My segment of the industry is run one way. There are numerous others. What was being asked for was an opine about the usefulness to headhunt at schools.

I don't see a worthwhile need. In my lowly tugboat world I have heard of VERY few satisfied people who have used headhunters. As a matter of fact I have heard of few that have even used a headhunter at all. Maybe I am lucky that I have not worked for companies that don't attract good qualified help! Then again, maybe these companies who have to use headhunters deserve what they get? Just sayin'!

[Fraqrat]

You can do all the "filtering" you want you're still gonna have rotten apples in the barrel. There are plenty of people who interview poorly but are top notch hands once on the vessel. The inverse is true as well. How many times has someone talked a good game but was worthless once onboard? This just doesn't seem like a good idea. As stated further up, the kinda company that needs a headhunter probably isn't worth working for. Your better companies use their operations department for the interview process. An experienced Master or Chief can usually smell a rat during the face to face.

[Capt. Phoenix]

At the job fairs we had, it was more of a meet and greet, no interviews to determine what kind of person you are talking to.

No interviews at the job fair itself but many companies had separate, in depth, presentations and scheduled interviews with anyone interested.