There’s little arguing the difficulty of the current job market.  But in times of trouble, it’s not uncommon for people to look for a bit of help.

And when it comes to employment, the first place most people will turn to are employment agencies, known colloquially as headhunters.

Headhunters and recruiters are a large industry.  A simple google search of the employment agencies just in New York City returns 601,000 results.

But employment agency is a blanket term for these businesses.  There a several different kinds of operations that help people and employers get together, as described in a helpful article on About.com.

A contingency employment agency hinges on contingency – in other words, no one gets paid if you don’t get a job.  This is used by both employers looking to fill a position, or a job applicant who wants to send their resume out among a wider net.

A retained search firm is used exclusively by employers, and to fill a specific position.  If you ever had dealings with them, most likely they sought you out.

A headhunter/recruiter is a person who you work personally with on your job search.  Either they will approach you about a position they want to fill, or more likely, you will approach them when looking for help on your job search.

Temporary agencies help people find temporary positions.  They are used often for seasonal employment, or for those looking to find a temporary position that may grow into a permanent one.

That last agency especially is important in a time when any employment is difficult to find.  In fact, headhunters of all kinds look down right desirable these days.  So much so that numerous websites list ways to woo a headhunter to your cause.

But employment agencies are often industry specific, and do charge a fee.  So it begs the question, is the price actually worth it?  Or would someone be better off just dealing with the job market on their own?

This is where help is needed.

If you have ever used a headhunter, a temp agency, or even just had someone point you in the way towards a job, please fill out this survey.  Even if you haven’t used an employment agency, it’s good to know why you never sought one out.