With competition for jobs at an all-time high, finding the perfect job can seem like an endless task. It is easy to lose focus, especially when you have been searching for weeks and many job seekers result in applying for any old job in a bid to break free – it really can seem like you are searching for a needle in a haystack! However, do not lose sight just yet; signing up with a recruitment agency is a great way to refresh your job search.
The Importance of Getting it Right
Generally speaking, recruitment agencies do not have the best reputation. Many are renowned for calling too much or not calling at all, pushing you into roles that you have little or no interest in simply because you fit the specification, being too ‘salesy’ and ignoring both candidate and client feedback – Need I continue? However, do not let this deter you. There are recruitment agencies out there that actually want to help you, you just have to know where and how to find them.
The 5 Golden Rules
When it comes to finding a recruitment agency, there are a few simple yet very effective rules that you can follow to make sure that you make the right choice.
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Know what you want – it is important to know what you want before approaching a recruitment agency. Consultants are there to help you find your perfect role, not to tell you what your perfect role is. So it is important to have a good idea of what you are looking for.
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Do your research – there are many recruitment agencies out there. Check out their websites, their blogs, their testimonials and the types of roles they are recruiting for.
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Go specialist – working with a specialist recruitment agency is by far the best way. Many agencies claim to ‘specialise’ in an endless list of fields, however, this is often not the case and you will end up dealing with a consultant that knows little of your industry. Choose a recruitment agency that focuses on only a select number of fields – this will guarantee that you get the best consultancy available.
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Try a few – don’t just contact one agency, approach a few and speak with different consultants.
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Meet your consultant – it is hard to fully understand a candidate’s personality and potential over a few phone calls. The recruitment agencies that truly care about finding a candidate their perfect role will want to meet and get to know you.
What are the benefits?
The benefits that come from working with a recruitment agency are often over-looked due to the poor reputation that shadows them. However, if you sit down and take the time to actually think about the potential benefits, I think you would be surprised.
- Recruitment consultants know exactly what their clients and candidates are looking for. This means they can make successful and long-term placements.
- Recruitment agencies have access to roles that otherwise may not be available on the open market.
- Recruitment consultants are specialists in their fields.
- Recruitment consultants have a great understanding of their market and know exactly what is happening within the industry.
- Recruitment consultants can provide excellent CV and interview advice.
- Recruitment consultants are well connected.
- Recruitment agencies will often be able to provide you will a detailed job/company specification; and this is just to name a few.
Dismiss any negative thoughts that you may have about the recruitment industry – be sure to choose right and your job search will truly benefit. So what are you waiting for? Your ideal job could be just around the corner.
