We are getting to the time of year when lots of people are looking for jobs, as the school and college holidays loom and thousands of students finish their degrees. It is a competitive market, so could someone else help you find a job?
The job market: the iceberg principle
Finding work is hard work in itself; all that time trawling the web for vacancies, filling out applications, writing covering emails and preparing your CV. If you get an interview, you need the time and energy to prepare for it. What if someone else could help match you to a suitable job?
It is widely reported that the majority of job vacancies never get advertised; in fact the job market is regarded as an iceberg – you only see the tip, and there is a lot more beneath the surface. Recruitment agencies will know about many of these jobs, and may offer you a foot in the door.
How do they work?
Although recruitment agencies can be your friend, as a job seeker you should remember that they are not working for you. They earn their money from the companies that might end up employing you. In simple terms, if you get a job via a recruitment agency, then the employer will pay the agency a fee for their services.
What do I need to do?
There are two ways you might come across an agency: you could approach them directly, which usually involves filling out a form on their website; or you might see a job advertised on the web, but it won’t tell you the name of the employer, just the name of the agency. Either way: you get in touch with them, they might ask you to submit a CV and maybe do some tests such as use of relevant software. If they think you are a good match then they might put you forward.
If you are applying for a specific job
If you are a good match, then they will pass your details onto the employer, who may ask to interview you and undertake some assessments. This is basically the same as a regular job application process, but the employer have asked the agency to help them get the ball rolling.
If you are registering with an agency
The agency will usually try to match you to a suitable job. This may be a permanent job role, a fixed-term contract, or on a temporary basis. The latter could be for a few days, a few weeks or even longer; I once had a temp job for two weeks, and ended up staying there for six months!
If you have registered with an agency, then stay in touch with them – if they don’t hear from you then they might think you have found a job and are not looking any more. All it takes is an email or a phonecall, and they will know that you are still searching for work.
How do I find the right agency for me?
Ah, this is down to you; there are different agencies for different types of work. For example, there are some who specialise in construction, hospitality, medical work and a variety of different sectors; there are others who might specialise in a particular city or region. Do your research and find the right agencies for you – why not start with a quick search on Google, Indeed or LinkedIn?
If you find the right agency, they will be keen to help you if you are a good candidate; they may offer you some industry-specific advice about CVs and interview preparation, and they may also be able to advise on the types of jobs that are coming up.
Do remember that recruitment agencies are just part of your job seeking toolkit; there is nothing to stop you from applying for jobs in more traditional ways, or indeed from registering with multiple agencies. If you want to have a chat to get started, or you want to get your CV job-ready, then do get in touch.
Karuna CV 