so now what?

[GreenwithEnvy]

Okay, so I had my first 'real' interview with a job placement agency today. I am very confused and unsure of what to do now b/c of the way things went and was just wondering if anyone has gone through a similar experience and could offer some advice...

So here's what happened: When I called for info the first time, the lady I talked to asked me what type of work I was looking for. I told her office/clerical/receptionist, etc. So she scheduled me for an interview and to be tested on typing and what not.
So today I go in, fill out a STACK of paper work...like, the kind of paper work you fill out when you actually GET a job. Then I took these 4 tests...and did horribly on 3 of them. There were obscene math with problems the entire length of the computer screen and a Microsoft Office test using a spreadsheet (which i know the basics of), but the screen was so fuzzy and tiny that I kept screwing up. The only thing I did well on was the typing test.
So then I went for the 'interview' part. It only lasted 5 minutes -- tops. The lady basically said that she'd see if any entry level positions came up and if they did, she'd give me a call.

To me, this seems completely unorganized. They didn't ask me about my current job. They didn't ask me what kind of work I wanted. They didn't ask what hours I prefer or would be available. They didn't ask me what other skills or interests I had. And the lady who 'interviewed' me told me that I shouldn't quit my current job until I find a permanent one with them...which could take months...I don't want to wait months. I don't expect things to happen tomorrow but...months? I don't think so...
So am I hired? How am I supposed to be able to take jobs (temp or otherwise) with this place if I'm working at my current job? How do they know what to offer me and when if they don't know my schedule or preferences or availability?

I am very uneasy about all this and am thinking of simply contacting other job placement facilities and seeing how they go about things.

Is that wrong of me? Or am I just totally naive and stupid and should just work in retail for the rest of my life?

Advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance...

[GreenwithEnvy]

I forgot to mention that the entire 2 hours I was there (yes, two hours), the woman at the front desk was chatting with her mom and boyfriend over the office phone AND her cell phone.

In between these calls, she answered incoming calls...I'd say she answered about 15 calls from people apparently asking if any work had come in for them. And she told every single one of them NO!

Does this seem shady to anyone else?

[Krishna]

The interview/screening doesnt seem shady- that's what happened to me when I went through a placement agency. The lady herself seems shady though..

[LaFille]

if i were you, i'd apply through a couple of places. i've gone to temp agencies who never call me, and then when i call to ask if there's anything, they say 'we'll call you if something comes up, thanks, bye...' :neutral:

it sucks, but you just have to remember that they're working for the companies who need workers, not for you.

[The X]

Months yeah you'll have to wait. I took all these civil service tests a year ago when I was unemployed, now I have a job but I keep getting job offers for these other jobs, which pay less but I would jumped on at the time.

[MaxPower]

That experience sounds very similar to one I had with a temp-agency. Luckily, I knew exactly what temp job I was applying for and that I pretty much had it locked up because I had done it before. But yes, in my experience, job placements agencies tend to treat applicants like dirt -- why, because they can.

I would suggest looking over the classifieds or contacting as many job placement agencies as you can.