A majority of jobseekers are reluctant to use recruitment agencies, according to a survey by Leeds-based agency Unity Personnel.

The company's research found 26% of those surveyed were ‘very negative' towards agencies and a further 33% had ‘significant reservations' about them.

Just 16% had only had positive experiences of recruitment firms while 24% held ‘generally positive' views.

Practices from a minority of agencies that earned the industry a bad name were listed as sending out CVs to potential employers without any knowledge of the job specification and providing an impersonal service to candidates.

"As an industry, we need to combat the negative impressions many people have and provide a superior service by working closely with both clients and candidates in order to determine their requirements," said Nick Tomkinson, commercial director of Unity Personnel.