Jobseekers need just one 'Jerry Maguire'

In our monthly column for the South Wales Echo, Leroy Brito, Lead Recruitment Consultant for our IT & Digital Division explains why you as a jobseeker should use just one recruiter for a tailored job search. 

Many of us will remember the iconic scene from blockbuster Jerry McGuire where Cuba Gooding Jr’s character shouts, “show me the money!” to Jerry (played by Tom Cruise), his prospective sporting agent. Well, Leroy believes that when it comes to life in recruitment and how best to support jobseekers, the role of sporting agent can be a good comparison.

Personal 'football agent'

I’ve actually had many Jerry McGuire moments with jobseekers calling me their own personal ‘football agent’. As well as enjoying the comparison, I think it’s a pretty important one. I’m constantly advising my candidates about the benefits of working with just one recruitment consultant.

Some jobseekers prefer a scatter-gun approach where they work with as many recruiters as possible, hoping that it will give them access to a wider variety of jobs. However, I firmly believe that by working with just one consultant you will have access to just as many jobs, and don’t forget you only need one, but it must be the right one. 

Everyone has to do what is right for them but here are some of the reasons I think jobseekers might find it suits them better to develop a solid relationship with a single recruiter; that is your own, personal Jerry McGuire:

• Relationship – as with everything, the more you speak to one consultant, the more you get to know them and the more they get to know you. By building a relationship with a single recruiter, you can put yourself at the forefront of their mind so that when new jobs come in, you’re the first person they think of. It also means that they’ll be able to suggest jobs that fit in with your career aspirations, both short and long-term; current circumstances and with what actually motivates you.
• Transparency – of course, when you’re looking for a new job, any offer is great news. However, I have found over time that when a recruiter and jobseeker have worked better together, they have more time to get to know one another then the recruiter is better placed to determine precisely how suitable a particular role or employer may be for that particular person.
• Full view of the market and new opportunities – by building up a relationship with one recruiter, you can develop a list of places that you would like to work so as well as presenting you with a list of current vacancies, your recruiter can proactively contact your wish list, potentially finding out about opportunities before they are even advertised.
• It’s who you know – recruiters have great relationships with businesses who therefore trust their opinion of what you as a candidate are like, giving you a stronger chance of securing an interview.
• Peace of mind - by choosing a consultant who is an expert in your field, you can rest easy that you are working with an individual who knows your industry inside out, is aware of key business recruitment plans, and of course, understands the level of skills and experience you have to offer, ensuring you get the best possible support.

As a jobseeker you need to be able to trust your job search is being dealt with by a recruiter who is professional, knowledgeable and genuinely cares about your next career opportunity. 

Leroy Brito is a Lead Recruitment Consultant based at Acorn’s head office and specialises in sourcing and placing IT and digital professionals into a range of roles, including developer, software and ecommerce positions.