LBear, you didn't say whether you are looking for work or looking to use a recruitment agency for hiring. Either way I'd suggest you use agencies who really specialise in HR, such as The Next Step, HR Partners or Tandem Partners. These guys have all been in the business for a long time (Tandem Partners was an "offshoot" from The Next Step). Most of the consultants in these companies know what they are talking about.
However, with any recruitment agency your experience will depend on the individual you deal with.