We regularly receive feedback from candidates we work with that they weren’t aware of how a recruitment agency could assist them with their job search. Many years ago, when I was looking to make a career change for myself, I too didn’t realise the role of a recruitment agency in helping me with my job search. Getting the help of an agency at that time actually led to me working in the recruitment industry, which ultimately changed my entire career. Without the help of that agency, my career path would probably look very different today.
Working with a recruitment agency when looking for your next job has a number of benefits for you as the candidate. It’s not simply about applying for a position, going through the recruitment process and securing a job.
Here are the benefits of working with an agency, based on the feedback we receive from candidates:
- Helping you understand what you have to offer
For many of us, changing jobs can be a little nerve-wracking, and sometimes this is why we stay in a job we are not happy with longer than we should. It’s the fear of putting ourselves out there, the fear of the unknown and wondering if the grass really is greener with a new employer. Some of the most common questions we get asked by candidates is what else can I do or what other jobs are my skills and experience relevant to. A recruitment consultant will be able to guide you on what types of jobs your skills and experience transfer to, where you may have skill gaps and they’ll be able to flag with you job opportunities that you might never have considered, which was the case for me as I didn’t even realise at the time being a recruiter was a career option for me.
- Coaching you through the recruitment process
I don’t think anyone loves applying for jobs and attending interviews. There are so many unknowns for the candidate; is my resume hitting the mark, how did I do at interview, did I say the right things and answer the question correctly, are my referees saying the right things, is this a good job offer for my skills and experience, is this the right next career move for me?
This is where I think a recruitment agency can provide the most value. They can help guide you through the recruitment process and answer all of these questions and hesitations to help make sure you are putting your best foot forward during the process. Most of us aren’t that experienced in applying for jobs and interviewing, and we’re often told that one frustration of being a candidate is the lack of feedback that you get. Working with an agency, you’ll get feedback, coaching and guidance along the journey to help you achieve your career goals.
- We are your advocate
When working with most recruitment agencies, they don’t simply just flick your resume to the prospective employer and hope for the best. A recruitment agency is representing you and can help tell your story, more than just what you have written on your resume. After all, you are so much more than what you can write on a few pages of a resume and sometimes it’s hard to put into words and on to paper what you have to offer. The person with the best resume isn’t necessarily the best person for the job or the best fit for a business. Working with an agency gives you the opportunity to have more of your why and your story heard by a prospective employer, giving you a great chance of being considered for a position.
- Insight into prospective employers
When applying for a job you see advertised on a job board, you often don’t get much more information than what is listed in the job advert and in the position description (if one is available). You need to rely on doing your own homework and trying to find out as much as you can about the business, the role and the culture, and if it’s going to be a good fit for you. By working with a recruitment agency, they will be able to give you much more insight into the business, provide lots of information about the job and also the culture, so that you’re armed with as much information as possible to be able to make the right career choices.
Working with an agency has many benefits and the best part of all is that it doesn’t cost you anything. There are no fees or charges to you, the candidate, to access these services. Next time you are considering looking for a new job, consider talking to a recruitment agency, it totally changed my career path for the better all those years ago, and maybe it could help you achieve your career goals too.
