Job search plan of attack

So I just got hit in a round of layoffs and I'm wondering what my best course of action is to get another suitable job as quickly as possible.

I graduated in 2011 from an ivy with a 3.2 in engineering. I worked for a little over a year as a trading assistant (apprenticeship to becoming a trader) at one of the largest/most respected prop trading firms.

I have a few questions. Anyone who can give me an answer or provide some feedback/advise would be greatly appreciated:

1) Better to apply for jobs yourself or to go through a recruiter? It seems to me that since firms have to pay recruiters a fee (sometimes quite substantial) that it's better to apply yourself and not make yourself the more expensive option.

2) In this thread (//www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/need-a-job-will-ta…) several people mentioned temp agencies that can get you middle office jobs quickly. Does anyone know the name of some of these agencies? My old job had plenty of operational aspects (P&L reconciliation/trade reconciliation/etc) so I'd be fine in an operational role.

3) Am I wasting my time applying online for positions? Will most firms filter out my application based on GPA before my resume ever gets looked at? What should I be doing in this case? Where possible, I'm been applying through my alma mater's career services website instead.

Thanks a lot monkeys, and have a good day!