Recruitment consultants – the good, the bad, and the need-to-know

By: Marie Field

So you’re well on your way to achieving that undergraduate degree you’ve been striving towards for the past few years. Soon the day will come when you’ll have to get a job!

Finding your dream job can be a bit of a challenge, and you may not get it the first time around. But that’s just a warning. You do have many options when it comes to job searching, and recruitment agencies are just one route you can take to pursue your goals. In some cities, like London, you may find that the majority of jobs advertised are coordinated through agencies. So are agencies always your friend? No one is always your friend. Here we list the pros and cons of utilizing an agency to help you find that dream job.

Pros

• They do the legwork: After signing up with a recruitment agency you no longer have to spend your days in front of the computer sending out CVs and cover letters. They do it for you. However, it is important to keep contact with them and now and again give them a friendly prod.
• More opportunities in one hit: Signing up with an agency gives you access to a large number of jobs the agency will be recruiting for. With one interview you will gain the opportunity to apply for numerous positions, and remember, recruitment agencies receive new vacancies every day.
• Help and Advice: Recruiters at agencies can help you perfect your CV and even tailor it for certain positions. The recruiter can make sure that your CV highlights particular strengths which will prove fruitful in a given vacancy.

Cons

• Too many fish in the sea: Some large agencies receive an extraordinary number of CVs and they don’t always get read. Your CV may be excellent but it can still be overlooked, unfortunately.
• Potential of being pushed around: You may come across that recruiter who tries to push you into a vacancy you don’t want. Don’t be bullied into taking an unsuitable or undesirable job. 

Types of Recruitment Agencies

• General: General agencies recruit across a broad range of industries.
• Sector Specific: These types of agencies recruit for a specific sector, like media, I.T., or human resources for example.
• Domestic: Agencies that recruit for a local market.
• International: Agencies that recruit for vacancies in a range of countries.
• High Street: High street recruitment agencies often recruit for vacancies within the immediate area of that branch. Many of them are sector-specific and some focus on graduate placement.
• Online: Such businesses are online-only. Some online agencies may have hundreds, if not thousands, of vacancies posted at any given time. Instead of making contact with a consultant the online variation makes you do a bit of the legwork.

A few tips

1. Assess reputation – You may wish to call up some companies you are interested in to see which recruitment agencies they use (if any) as some will not advertise directly. Ask your acquaintances who have used agencies and get feedback on their experience.
2. Research the role – Don’t waste your time or your recruiter’s time applying for a job you aren’t suitable for. Read the job spec carefully before asking your consultant to go ahead with the application. Also, don’t jump into something you don’t know much about. Job specs can sometimes be sparse in information, so be sure to ask any questions you might have.
3. Follow up – If your recruitment consultant says he or she will call you ‘next week’ and doesn’t, call him or her. It’s good to know where you stand. If you have interviewed for a position and not heard back when your consultant said you would hear, give the agency a call. If they haven’t contacted you to update you on any new vacancies, call them and inquire.
4. Don’t settle for any job – Just because your recruiter says you are perfect for a particular position. doesn’t mean you are. You know yourself. The first job that comes around probably won’t be exactly what you’re looking for and there is no reason why you should settle – especially now that you’re a graduate!
5. Keep relationships – This may be your first job but it’s likely it won’t be your last. If possible, keep in touch with your ‘favorite’ recruiter throughout that first job experience and update him or her on your career progress and whether you are happy in the position or want to start seeking a different one. This will set you apart from the crowd of anonymous job seekers.

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