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Are you looking for work via a recruitment agency?
Are you looking for work via a recruitment agency? Andrew Tugwell, Group Operations Director at Acorn delivers his top tips for would-be job-seekers.
Why is an agency necessary? Employers use agencies because recruiting is time-consuming and requires expertise. Agencies recruit and fill vacancies on behalf of employers; using their in-depth market knowledge and database of job-seekers they ensure that the right person is matched to an employer’s specific needs.
Permanent or temporary? Many vacancies handled by recruitment agencies are temporary, but some agencies specialise in permanent or executive jobs; or particular sectors of work, media, law or social work, for example. Most agencies also display current vacancies on their websites.
How they are governed? Ensure that the agency you register with is a member of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) as this will give you the confidence that the agency conforms to industry standards of service. It is also useful to find out about an agency’s other accreditations such as Investors in People and ISO, which help to determine the professionalism, integrity and quality of their practises.
Listen to recommendations - Speak to friends and colleagues who have found work via an agency and find out which agency they would recommend.
Suitability - Before visiting an agency, contact them first to ensure that they can meet your requirements.
A personal service - A good agency will assign you with a personal consultant who will get to know you, be in regular contact and give open honest advice. That way you’ll be assured that they’ll be looking after your interests and place you into work opportunities most suited to your needs and expectations.
Correct documentation - A reputable agency will always ask for two forms of identification when you register with them – be sure to have these with you when you register.
Your CV - Your agency should be able to provide professional advice on how your CV may be improved.
Ask Questions? Before you go for an interview, make sure you know enough about the role. In some cases, the agency may just have a summary of what the job entails, but you'll probably need to know more about the employer and their expectations of the role.
Keeping in touch - Keep in regular contact with your consultant so you can inform them of any changes to your circumstances. Your agency should be in touch with you regularly to see how things are going in your new appointment.
Preferred Suppliers - If you want to work for a particular company, particularly ‘blue chip’, you'll often find that a small number of agencies act as preferred suppliers, so its worth finding out from the client or other contractors who to contact.
The temporary option - If you are unemployed, a temporary job may be a stepping-stone to finding the most appropriate permanent employment. It can provide a way into organisations where vacancies for permanent jobs are rare and it can give you an opportunity to see if it’s the type of work you’re really after. In most organisations it is easier to gain a better job by internal promotion than as an outsider, and generally it often helps you to be in work when looking for a new job.
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