Recruitment agencies for those just starting out in their careers

If it’s the first time in your life you are searching for jobs, and you don’t yet know what recruitment agencies are about, the following is some basic information to help you understand what they are and what they do.

Fundamentally, recruitment agencies seek to place candidates – i.e. you the job seeker – into position held by their clients – i.e. the organisation you think you’d like to be employed by. The clients may not have the time available or the means to look for employees themselves, so locating good personnel for their roles without assistance could be testing and expensive. Conversely, agencies that concentrate on a particular industry will be constantly advertising for positions, and continuously building a database of people who might be suitable for different roles. Agencies are therefore likely to be capable of putting a candidate forward whenever the client asks them to do so.

What’s more, with recruitment agencies interviewing people in their relevant sectors all the time, they should become accomplished at identifying good eggs, and be able to provide the client with the necessary expertise for picking out a high standard of potential candidates.

How do recruitment agencies earn their money?

It’s fairly straightforward. In the case of permanent positions, recruitment agencies bill the client a percentage of the candidate’s starting salary, for example 14%. If the agency is unable to fill the vacancy on behalf of the client, they don’t get the fee – simple as that. In the case of temporary recruitment, for example providing hospitals with bank nurses, agencies employ the candidate and pay the salary, prior to passing over the bill, plus their fee, to the client on a monthly basis.

What channels do recruitment agencies utilise for advertising?

By and large, recruitment agencies advertise in a few different areas simultaneously. Examples are:

• Industry-specific publications like newsletters and magazines

• Local Newspapers

• National Newspapers

• And more and more, online jobs sites, particular to the industry as well as more general

How do you sign up with recruitment agencies?

In general, it's a simple and speedy procedure to register on the Web, either through the recruitment agencies home website or using a jobs board through which they are advertising. I would also definitely recommend chasing up any registration with a quick phone call. Recruitment agents are positively immersed with contact from candidates, and a chat over the phone adds a personal connection that will raise your profile in their eyes, and with it the likelihood of you being put forward for a position.  

Once you’ve registered, what next?

If you have the kind of background they’re looking for, usually a recruitment consultant will interview you, either in their office or over the phone. Then, if you are successful they will introduce you to the specific company, after which you will enter into the company's own recruitment process.

It’s not common for individuals to get the first few jobs they apply for, so keep trying and stay positive. Even if your first couple of attempts don't prove fruitful, you will eventually find the employment you’re looking for.

The very best of luck