Posted: 30/04/2021
Job Search 2021 _ Working With Recruiters
Recruitment agents are generally the best way to find positions here in the UK.
They work on commission which is normally a percentage of the salary of the person they introduce to the company who gets hired.
So it's in their best interests to get you the best salary.
For us looking for a role it's a free service that you should use.
The agents have a view of the industry that is unique, and often have access to opportunities that are not always advertised.
Having said this, your network is vital too, but that is another
post.
Recruitment agents can also be a curse too!
Some agencies trawl the Web looking for job ads, and then entice candidates to that role. They then effectively Cold Call the company trying to get you into a role that the company has asked them not to.
This is frustrating for the company, as well as the candidate as in my experience it rarely works.
Unfortunately this limits you as the candidate to approach the company separately as often you have agreed that the agency is your proxy. Check the terms of the agency here as its a grey area in my view, especially when its only via a phone call.
How do I deal with them
I have been inundated with agent calls, so set time aside for them as you never know which call will lead you to your dream role, even if you are repeating yourself for the 30th time today!
Also know what your requirements are BEFORE talking with them. The more you can narrow your search, the better the roles you will be told about. So if you want a 35hr week, tell them. If you don't want to work overtime, tell them!
You cannot be "too picky" at this stage. Its better to oversubscribe than undersubscribe, as this will allow you to focus on the roles that you would really consider. Be honest with yourself!
All in all, the recruitment agents are a great resource you as a candidate should use, but they take a lot of work to handle.
Also, don't limit yourself to one agency! the more the better as they don't have access to the same jobs, and some work exclusively with some companies. Just don't share roles between different companies as this leads to the cold calling problem above. Also you don't want your application put forward to a company with 2 different agents, as it sends the wrong signals to the company.
Thanks for reading this post.
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