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Why use a recruitment agency to find your next job?

Job seeking has changed dramatically over the last decade or more. From the rise of the online job board to the increased use of social media as a job search tool, the options that job seekers have at their disposal have never been greater. So why would anyone use a recruitment agency to find their next role?

Chances are that the first time you have contact with a recruiter is when you want to discuss or apply for an advertised position. Or perhaps you have been approached directly regarding a very specific role. In either case, it is up to you to decide whether to pursue your interest in a role using a recruitment agency or not.

To help you make that decision, here are six good reasons why working with an agency could be one of the best career moves you ever make:

1. Your CV has a greater chance of being seen:

Employers receive dozens of applications every day, and the bigger the organisation the greater the number they receive. While you can contact the employer directly, sending your CV to them won’t necessarily get you a head start over your competition.

Many employers use internal recruitment teams whose job it is to sift through the applications before they get anywhere near the hiring manager, and CV’s that haven’t come via their formal channels might not be accepted. Recruiters can ‘pitch’ you to employers and when they know that your application is coming from the recruiter, they can set aside time to assess it.

2. Finding the right ‘fit’ for you:

While salary and benefits packages are certainly important considerations for job seekers, other factors play a critical role in deciding what company is right for you. It is estimated that we each spend 70% of our waking lives at work, so it’s important that this is time spent working somewhere that is the right cultural ‘fit’ for you. This is where a recruiter can help.

One size never fits all, and it is the role of the recruiter to get to know you, your personality and approach to work and the way you deal with a variety of situations. Armed with this insight, recruiters can then match you with the best company that is right for you.

3. You’ll discover what employers are really looking for:

In most instances, recruiters already have an established relationship with the employer. They know the business, understand their needs and what they are really looking for in a future employee - chances are they have already placed people in their teams previously and this can give you that all-important edge over other applicants.

Think of it this way: If you were applying for a position at a company where your best friend already works, you would naturally asks them lots of questions about the business, what it’s like to work there and what they know and think about the person you would be reporting to if you were offered the role. This is precisely the role that recruiters play.

They can give you insight into how the company works, what the interviewer is like, what they look for in their ‘ideal candidate’ and what you should read up on before the interview. In doing so, you are armed with everything you need to wow your interviewer and put yourself in the best possible position to get the job.

4. You’ll discover ‘hidden’ jobs:

When you engage with a recruitment agency, your recruiter will work with you to understand your exact requirements and match your skills and experiences with the roles that they are recruiting for right now.

Some of these roles will already be advertised and some won’t – it often depends on the nature of the role. Recruiters can help you become privy to those roles you might otherwise never hear about.

5. You’re more likely to get the right package for you:

Short of blowing the proverbial trumpet for recruiters, they are truly excellent negotiators – after all, they negotiate salary and benefits packages with employers every day. But what’s important is that they can secure the salary that is right for you.

It is the responsibility of the recruiter to manage your salary expectations at the outset. But on the occasion of you being offered a role and the salary on the table falls short of your expectations, which does happen form time to time, they can handle the salary negotiations for you.

Of course, salary and benefits are only part of the overall package. So think about how important flexible working is to you, or receiving support to undertake further study as part of your continuous professional development. Perhaps your new employer could pay for membership of your industry association, or gym! All of these things should be taken into consideration and your recruiter can oversee the negotiation of these things for you.

6. You could find a better opportunity than the one you applied for:

You’ve set your sights on a certain role and attended an interview. However, you were pipped to the post by another candidate. But that doesn’t mean your relationship with your recruitment agency should wane. If anything, it boosts it.

Recruiters can use their relationship with the employer to get their feedback on why you were unsuccessful. This can then be used to identify those areas of your application that need attention so that you are better placed for the next role you apply for. And who knows, this new position might be a better fit all round for you, so keep the conversation going with your recruitment agency.

If you are considering your next career move, get in touch with the team today.