Candidates, this is how recruitment agencies work

Finding a new job can be terrifying, but did you know recruitment agencies are here to make your life that much easier? Most recruitment agencies cover permanent, temporary, contract, part time and full time roles, so proving you’re working with those in your industry, they should be able to help you on your job search.

It is important to find the right recruitment agency for you, as a lot of agencies specialise in specific sectors or industries. For instance, if you are looking for PA, secretarial or administrational work, then Tiger Recruitment would be the perfect agency for you. Ensure the agency/agencies you approach has a good reputation and are both reliable and responsive to enquiries.

The process

Here at Tiger Recruitment, we strive to source the best candidates in the market. To ensure this, we request an online registration and CV first of all – this is to know a little more about you, your achievements, interests, working experience and most importantly, your wants and needs in your new role. When you have send over this information, we will review it and if we think we can help you, we will contact you to register in person at the Tiger offices.

This is where you will go through your CV, speak about your experience in depth and discuss which roles you are ideally looking for. Once the registration process is complete, our team of experienced and professional consultants will contact you as and when roles come in. If you are happy for your CV to be put forward, and the client would like to meet with you, the consultant will then set up an interview for you. This is where you take over and wow your potential employer!

Occasionally an agency may not have a role suitable for you at the exact time of application and registering, but do not lose hope – most agencies will keep a record of your CV and will contact you as and when the perfect role comes in. An agency cannot guarantee to find you a new job within 24 hours, but they certainly will try their best to find you exactly what you are looking for.

The consultant meeting

The meeting with a consultant is your first step, so it’s important you impress them. If your consultant sees that you are well presented, turn up early for your interview and are competent and proactive, they will be able to put you forward for most roles. Dress to impress for your meeting (smart business wear is recommended) and ensure your body language is positive, keeping eye contact and avoiding slouching. Occasionally a recruitment consultant will offer friendly advice regarding your CV or some interviewing hints and tips – never feel embarrassed or insulted, they are just trying their best to help you find your dream job.

Be a realist

When meeting with a consultant, or even when you are interviewing for a position, be realistic, speak about your skills but be sure to not sugar coat the truth. Never lie on your CV; employers do check and it could land you in a very awkward situation. Make sure you make the most of your meeting, speaking about the skills that make you stand out from the crowd. If it is a creative role, why not put a portfolio of your work together to show off exactly what you can do?

Make sure you set a realistic salary target – understand that if you are currently on £20,000 per annum, you cannot suddenly jump to a high-end salary. That said, if you show interest in roles with career progression, you will be well on your way to that higher pay bracket.

What is temping and is it the right option for me?

Temporary work suits many candidates; those who are looking to do something with their spare time, those who require extra income and those who have other commitments and cannot always work regular working hours every day. Temp work is a common occurrence and most agencies will source work regularly. When you have registered with an agency, a consultant will contact you as and when a suitable role comes in. Do not lose faith in an agency if you do not seem to get a call every day – a client will contact an agency when they require a temporary employee and it may not be every day that you are available. The beauty of temp work is that you can accept or decline any offers a consultant offers you depending on your availability. When you have been placed in a temporary position you will need to keep track of the hours you have worked and record this on a timesheet. Your agency will then pay you directly into your account, usually at the end of the working week. Temp-to-perm is also a great way to get your foot in the door of a company. This way, you can trial a company without a fixed contract, as well as wowing your potential employers into giving you the role on a permanent basis.

How to keep in the know

Make sure you keep up to date with your recruitment agency – the best way to go about this is online. Always check your agency’s website to see the current roles they have on their books – it does not hurt to ping across an e-mail to your consultant to check in and mention that you are interested in a particular role. Another way to keep up to date with the latest roles is to follow your agency on their social media platforms. Most agencies have profiles on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram– agencies often post about their current roles, and it is so simple to keep an eye on this on your news feed and get in contact to express your interest.
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If you’re on the hunt for a role in the business support sector, feel free to get in touch with the Tiger team.

Author David Morel Tiger Recruitment Team