Finding a job takes a lot of time and energy to do well. While tried and true job search sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, Ziprecruiter, and Glassdoor can surely lead you to your dream job, many jobseekers don’t know there’s an easier way.
Recruitment agencies are job hunting experts. Contracted by companies looking for qualified candidates, recruitment agencies will match you with your dream job at no cost to you.
Read on for more information about how this process works and why you should add it to your list of job hunting strategies.
How do recruitment agencies work?
Recruitment agencies, also called staffing agencies, are organizations that source, vet, interview, and hire job candidates on behalf of another company.
Here’s how they work:
Signing up with a recruitment agency
As a job seeker, you’ll need to find an agency that fits your skills and interests. Different recruitment agencies specialize in different industries, so you’ll want to find one that aligns with your desired career path.
Once you’ve found recruitment services you align with, you fill out an application, provide a resume, interview, and sometimes take qualifying tests and go through training. Once the agency has gathered all the relevant information about your experience, skills, and desired career path, you can start working together to find your dream job.
From researching service desk interview questions and answers to receiving updates about potential job opportunities, your recruitment agency will provide you with valuable support throughout the process. This can save you a significant amount of time and effort as they handle the job search for you.
Finding a job through a recruitment agency
Once you’re fully registered and onboarded with a recruitment agency, you can start browsing the agency’s list of job openings, typically with the aid of a professional recruiter that can point you in the right direction.
Recruiters can help you every step of the way, from giving you feedback about your application to giving your tips for the interview. If you receive a job offer, the recruitment agency also typically negotiates on your behalf.
What happens after you are hired?
After you’re hired, the agency sometimes manages your contract and payroll if you’re a temporary employee. If you’re hired for the long-term, the employer typically handles your pay.
Why should you use a recruitment agency to find a job?
When looking for a job, there are a myriad of reasons why you should sign on with a recruitment agency.
- Recruiters will save you time, energy and stress
- You have access to more job opportunities
- You have a leg-up against the competition
- You’ll be better suited long-term
- It’s free
1. Recruiters will save you time, energy and stress
It can take up to five months to find a new job, sometimes longer. Recruitment agencies help you find a job faster by getting your foot in the door, as well as reducing the amount of work, time, and energy you have to devote to sending out applications.
When you register with a recruitment agency, you typically only have to fill out one application. After that, recruiters do the work for you, so you don’t have to worry about searching for jobs and creating individual applications for each.
2. You have accessed to more job opportunities
By using an agency, you have access to many more job opportunities than you’d come across on job boards. Recruiters know about hundreds of job openings at once, and are usually the first to hear about a new one. Plus, not all job openings are advertised online, and recruitment agencies always have the inside scoop.
3. You have a leg-up against the competition
The employer is not always involved in the application and screening process. But if they are, your recruiter knows exactly what kind of candidate they’re looking for and can help you prepare accordingly.
Recruiters can help you put your best foot forward at every step of the process, from your resume and cover letter to your portfolio, interview, and even the negotiations.
4. You’ll be better suited long-term
Recruiters know exactly what both employers and job seekers are looking for, and have all the tools to make a perfect match. Plus, recruiters are highly motivated to make a good match, as their reputation is staked on how happy both the employer and job seeker are with their placements.
Plus, even if you aren’t matched, you’ll stay in the recruiters database so you’ll be in the know for future job openings.
5. It’s free
Most recruitment agencies are contracted by employers looking for qualified candidates and operate at no cost to job seekers. So, you have access to more opportunities, receive great feedback, and have to do much less work, all for free.
Final Thoughts
As a job seeker, working with a recruitment agency opens up a lot more doors than going in alone. You’ll save yourself a lot of time, stress, and energy as recruiters do the heavy-lifting to match you with the right job.
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