Agencies must improve communication and transparency levels if they are to engender more trust from candidates, according to findings from independent agency scoring website HireScores.com.

A survey commissioned by the firm shows that almost 90% felt the recruitment industry should become more transparent.

More than half of the 1,074 responding candidates felt they had been pressured by an agency into applying for a role, while 70% who had looked for work through an agency felt they had been lied to. More than 80% said they prefer to apply directly to the company rather than through an agency.

However, 85% of survey respondents said they were willing enough to give totally honest feedback on agencies if these companies were willing to listen and introduce tools for confidential communication.

Lisette Howlett, managing director of HireScores.com, told Recruiter: "If the effectiveness of the recruitment model is to improve, it is vital to concentrate on the dialogue between the three parties. For example, there is a big perception that a lot of vacancies advertised on job boards are not real — a view that brings the recruitment industry a bad name.

"Recruiters who are perceived well treat candidates as individuals — they listen to people, give good advice and give feedback. Negative feedback comes from the perception that agencies don't listen and are shoe-horning people into jobs that aren't suited to them."

Howlett added that agencies can work towards this in small ways such as acknowledging receipt of application forms and giving candidates feedback. "This builds relationships and trust. As an industry we need feedback if we are to improve," she told Recruiter.

HireScores has also compiled a league table of the top 10 recruitment agencies, based on candidates' experience. Johnstones Unique Recruitment Solutions tops the list of popular agencies, followed by Parkhouse Bell and then Whitehall Consultants in third place.

The other agencies, in descending order, are Beament Leslie Thomas, Heidrick & Struggles, Seltek Consultants, PSD Group, Hays IT, Chapple and Sapphire Resource Group.