How to use a recruitment agency effectively

The time and effort it takes to find a job can be an overwhelming experience and process, especially when you’ve been searching for a few months and haven’t had any breakthroughs. But what if someone else could manage this on your behalf?

This is where recruitment agencies play an important role.

Lots of job-seekers choose to look for jobs on their own, and few know how to tap into the expertise and network of recruitment agencies who are the conduit for bringing the world’s best employers and brightest candidates together. The role of a recruitment agency revolves around working with employers and job seekers to facilitate a successful job match. In short, recruitment agencies can be your key to unlocking great job opportunities.

How do recruitment agencies work?

In order to be successful in your job search when using a recruiter, it’s crucial to understand how recruitment agencies work. They were first known as employment agencies with the aim of matching employers to employees, so think of them as a partner in your search. They’ll not only connect you with prospective employers but additionally, can act as a guide, help you to refine and write a more targeted resume, endorse you to employers, and provide advice on your career path.

After submitting your CV or applying to jobs on their website, recruiters will contact you if there is a suitable match and potential job opportunity. Additionally, recruiters may reach out to arrange a preliminary face-to-face interview to go through what your career aspirations and motivations are, and where you fit into an organisation for your current role. Once they successfully match you to a job, they may provide interview coaching to prepare you for this next stage. When working with a recruitment agency, you can be assured that someone is following up on your application.

One thing to note is that you have the ability to work with a recruiter whom you can build rapport with.

You might need to spend some time connecting with a few recruiters so that you can essentially interview them: how long have they been with the company for, how do they usually market candidate resumes and present it to potential employers? These are all valid questions. Asking your colleagues, friends and acquaintances for any recruiter recommendations could also score you a few solid referrals. While there’s no harm in connecting with more than one recruiter, ensure they are not submitting you for the same job, for example.

Working with a recruiter is a two-way street. You’ll need to build a good professional relationship with whoever you end up working with. This includes helping recruiters help you by making yourself employable by completing basic tasks such as updating your CV or cleaning up your LinkedIn profile. You may also need to be able to broaden your criteria for the new job and by being flexible with interview dates and times.

Get the most out of a recruitment agency

There are many reasons why those searching for jobs apply through a recruitment agency, but the main reason is because they can tap into the wealth of information and experience recruitment agencies have from working with companies across different industries and sectors. For example, recruiters often specialise in administrative support covering office support roles, customer service, sales, property, finance and accounting, and construction.

As companies outsource hiring to recruitment agencies, not only do they do the job hunting for you, but they often get access to job vacancies that may not be advertised elsewhere. The best part is recruitment agencies are free to use by job-seekers.

Besides obtaining invaluable information about the job market and possible career pathways that may not be obvious to other job seekers, you can also get insight into the specific hiring requirements that are not listed nor obvious in job advertisements. This will really prepare you for the job interview with a prospective employer and increase your chance of getting hired.

Finally, be honest with the recruiter and utilise their expertise. Try to identify what it is you’re looking for in a job and ask lots of specific questions. Plus, the more honest you are, the better they will understand you and be able to help you find the best match.

Start your job-hunt now

Most recruiters are open to connecting via LinkedIn or through word of mouth recommendations. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them as they are constantly seeking out potential candidates. Recruiters often use LinkedIn groups to connect with and monitor potential candidates, so join professional and industry associations as well as alumni groups to get in touch with them.

Looking for a career change? Page Personnel is a leading recruitment agency in Australia with expertise for permanent, temporary and contract administrative support and entry-level management roles all over the country.

To get in touch with one of our specialist recruiters, contact Page Personnel today.