If you’re looking for a job in this turbulent economy, you might be thinking if it’s time to turn to a professional recruitment agency.
There’s always a feeling of defeat when you do. That you weren’t good enough to get the job yourself, so, therefore, you have to ask for help. But there is no shame in it. In fact, recruitment agencies are one of the leading and most successful ways to find employment.
Before we get into why you should sign up for one, let’s take a quick look at how the whole process works.
How Do Recruitment Agencies Work?
The process of a recruitment agency works like this:
- An employer (company, local business or government department) provides the recruitment agency with all the details about the job. This can include salary, role, potential promotion, and the contract’s length.
- For example, the job field (say, oil and gas) is handed over to the department and team within the agency who has direct access to a CV database.
- The agents search through the database to find available candidates who match the job description and role requirements. If they cannot find a match, then they will then look at other sources.
- Once they have found a selection of candidates (a shortlist), they will conduct interviews with them to determine the best fit for the role. If necessary, they let the employer conduct their own interviews and assessments of the proposed candidate.
- If the candidate is successful, they will be handed a contract by the agency, which will help them translate into their job.
Why Do Employers Use Recruitment Agencies?
There are a few main reasons why employers turn to agencies for assistance:
- They do not have the resources, such as time or money, to assess hundreds of CVs and conduct interviews
- They need the job filled within a desired period of time
- While the agency will charge a fee, it might be less expensive to advertise the job and less time-consuming to post the job online
- They have conducted interviews but haven’t found the right person yet for the job. Agencies provide an opportunity to branch out.
What Are The Benefits To Signing Up For A Recruitment Agency
In-Depth Knowledge & Resources In Your Industry
Who better to ask for advice and information about the job-happenings within your industry than a recruitment agency? As experts in the field of collecting vital information, they’ll be able to provide you with worthwhile information about your industry, including realistic salary levels, the skills required, what employers are looking for and what to expect from interviews. They’ll also help with your resume and modify terminology to ensure your language and message is consistent with your industry.
They Will Have Access To Jobs That Aren’t Always Advertised
Not all jobs are advertised through the likes of Indeed or Jobseeker. Many employers keep positions in-house or look to their networks to find prospective candidates. They also hand these job roles over to recruiters. Why? It helps them filter out the thousands of applications they can receive, minimizing their workload and only procuring the best people for the job. Registering with a recruitment agency means that you are one of those potential candidates.
Save You Time
You don’t want to spend hours wasting your time on whether or not you might be suitable for a job. Imagine going to an interview to realize that it’s the role for you? The advantage of signing up with a recruitment firm is that they’ll do the hard yards for you, searching for jobs that fit with your future goals and current skill set. They’ll only put you forward for suitable roles.
Provide You With Constructive Feedback
Yes, we know: getting rejected for a job isn’t the best feeling in the world. But you know what’s worse? Not getting constructive feedback to find out what you did wrong. Was it your lack of experience or approach in the interview? Did you not have the skills required for the job or was your focus on one feature of the job too much? If you know what you did wrong, you know what not to do next time. That’s where an agency can help.
Recruitment consultants usually have a close working relationship with their clients (employers), from where they can gather information about what went with your application. This means they can provide you with much-needed constructive feedback about why you were not successful and what you need to improve next time. You’ll find yourself more confident and relaxed in the next and hopefully last interview.
You Don’t Have To Pay Them For Their Services
It’s a common misconception that recruitment agencies charge workers fees for their services. That’s the case as these agencies make their money from the employer. Employers are looking to find workers that fit into their organizations, so they’ll be the ones who will pay for the services. If you find an agency that charges you, then forget them and find another one!
Should I Use A Recruitment Agency?
If you have exhausted all avenues and want to ‘get a foot in the door’ in your chosen industry, then an agency is the perfect route for you.
They can help you with all aspects of the job hunt, ensuring that you find a job that fits your roles, goals and career. As mentioned above, you can expect a wealth of benefits for your job search, which makes hiring a recruitment agency a must!
