How to work comfortably and effectively with recruitment agencies

Feeling unsure about using recruitment agencies is common, many people don’t know what to expect when working with recruitment agencies or know how to approach them.

Recruitment agencies can be an excellent way to make things easier for you when finding employment and also allow you to tackle the hidden job market. In fact, many Australian employers rely on recruitment agencies to streamline hiring because they simply don’t have the time to manage the recruitment process themselves. Building a strong relationship with reputable recruitment agencies cwn therefore open doors to opportunities you might not find elsewhere.

We have put together some tips to help you become comfortable working with recruitment agencies and use their service to your advantage.

Do your research

With so many options of recruitment agencies, it is essential to do your research and find out which agencies advertise positions in your field. It’s also advisable to research which agencies are the most reputable through their reviews as well as potential first-hand experience from friends and colleagues.

Take your pick

As we mentioned, there are so many different recruitment agencies, but this does not mean you should register with them all. We suggest selecting two or three and focus your energy on building strong relationships with them; this not only saves your time and energy, but many recruiters work with the same employers, so it also prevents duplicates of your resume being sent to the same employers.

Register your interest and make it personal

Like many companies, recruitment agencies have lots of staff and different departments, we therefore recommend finding the most appropriate person within the agency, who works with the type of roles you will be applying for and connect with them. Connecting on LinkedIn is a great way to do this, you can send a personalised message to introduce yourself and request to meet them. It’s important to avoid using the automated LinkedIn message as it’s essential to come across as personal and not generic.

First impressions count

When you meet them, remember that just like in a job interview, first impressions count! No, they are not the employer, but they will be representing you so they need to be sure you are professional. You should dress appropriately, take a copy of your resume as well as proof of ID. Why not see it as a practice run for an interview with the employer because at the end of the day, if you can sell yourself to the recruiter, you are already halfway there!

Keep it professional

When meeting face to face it’s easier to build a rapport! There can sometimes be a tendency to feel too comfortable and turn it into an informal chat, you should ensure that your personality comes across but remaining professional is key. It’s important to showcase yourself so they can get to know your skills, experience and personality, they will then get a thorough understanding and can introduce you to suitable employers. Just like in an interview, you should also ask questions so you are familiar with what positions they have and what may come available.

Keep in touch

Yes, you’ve registered and met the recruitment agency, but the effort should not stop there. All relationships take work and the relationship you build with the recruitment agency is no exception. You should keep in regular contact– we recommend giving them a call fortnightly as this keeps you at the forefront of their mind for when a suitable position becomes available. This does not make you a pest, it makes you a professional and there’s a very clear difference!

Remember… the more likeable, professional and approachable you are to the recruitment agency, the more likely they are to put you forward to employers.

Work with them and enjoy the process!

If you would like support in compiling your Resume to impress recruiters you can start the process here

Wishing you the best of luck!

The CV Guru