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SMP Solutions Guide to Get the Best from Recruitment Agencies
Recruitment agencies are a good source for finding employment (but best not to make them your only source) providing you are aware of what they can offer you and how best to manage them!
Importantly, recruitment agencies are only allowed to charge fees to the employer. The service to the applicant is free, so never hand over any money is asked.
All recruiters continually seek good quality candidates and it helps them if:
1) They are the only people with your CV
2) Your CV is well presented
3) Your details are clearly and concisely laid out
4) Your qualifications, skills, and experience are in demand
- It is best to find a recruitment company through previous contacts or by recommendation as service levels vary considerably.
- Preferably select an agency which has specialist knowledge of your field and will understand your particular expertise.
- Register with them for ‘match and selection’ against general job requirements they may have on their files or in response to any specific requirements that they have.
- They work best if you have already decided certain criteria, such as your salary target, sector, location of the job, type of organisation etc.
- The more specific you are the easier it is for the recruiter to identify relevant opportunities for you. In this way, everyone benefits as little time is wasted pursuing unsuitable jobs in inappropriate organisations.
- It is advisable to deal initially with a maximum of three or four recruiters until you can judge the results.
- You do not want your CV to appear several times on the same desk, sent by different agencies and recruiters will quickly lose interest if you make their job difficult.
- The recruiter may call you in for interview or may simply ask you to email your CV to them.
- Initial interviews are likely be done over the telephone although a face- to-face meeting is preferable, but not always practicable.
- If you want to be considered only for a specific job and do not want your CV sent out to any company without your knowledge and permission, you should make this quite clear in a letter or e-mail at the time of submitting your CV.
- Recruiters will tend to present their client company and the job vacancy in the most attractive light. Therefore if you are called for interview you should check the job specification, person specification and terms of employment carefully in advance.
- Agencies do not normally pay interview expenses, unless they are working on an assignment for a particular client in which case they may do so.
- If your journey is costly, be aware of this before you agree to attend an interview.
- Finally, it pays to build a good rapport and have a key contact in an agency for them to be proactive on your behalf and for ease of follow up for your job applications.
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'helping you unlock your potential'
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