Work in recruitment agencies

There is a huge recruitment industry in the UK, and recruitment agencies in just about every imaginable sector. There are common elements to all types of work in recruitment, but there is a range of options within the industry in terms of the type of recruitment agency that you can find yourself working for. This article explains some of the principal types of agencies, with a description of some of their main features for you as an employee.

• Large multinational recruitment agencies. Such companies have hundreds, even thousands, of staff across the globe, and can take advantage of the economies of scale that large companies enjoy. Often they will have highly established brands in their markets, so requirements for business development may be low, and generally speaking a business development specialist will be employed to manage this. Recruitment consultants in these firms will usually have quite a narrow role; resourcers may be involved in initial database searches with consultants working on the final selection for submission to the client. The consultant will manage the relationship with the recruiting manager.

Larger recruitment agencies will also usually have robust internal training programmes already set up, from initial training courses to in-role training. There will also be development opportunities for recruitment consultants, openings higher up the organisation, promotion possibilities in other offices or other firms. That said, there will always be stiff competition from other consultants within the organisation.

• Smaller but cross functional recruitment agencies. Many of these exist in the UK market. Usually they are the product of a niche agency that has grown and diversified into other areas. Examples might be a recruitment to recruitment agency which sets up a graduate section, or a catering agency that diversifies into the hospitality sector. In such companies you may find you have a more independent and wide-ranging role in charge of a desk in one particular area, or as part of a much smaller team than in the larger companies. The benefits to you of greater responsibility may well be higher, but this will also bring its share of pressures. The level of training may not be as good in a smaller organisation, and as a result these agencies may tend to employ staff who already have prior experience, to reduce their need to provide training.

• Temporary recruitment agencies. These tend to be high street agencies or those in market sectors where contract work is common, for example nursing and healthcare, or construction. In these companies you will have agency workers employed by your agency on behalf of clients, each worker generating regular, but smaller, income. These roles involve a larger element of account management instead of the one off big hit of the permanent recruitment agencies, since you will always be seeking to fill vacancies for your clients. There is also the need to manage candidates, who have the capability to make your organisation look good or bad just by their behaviour. A temporary worker who consistently arrives late or does not turn up at all will damage your firm’s reputation, and if they are letting you down you need to control the situation.

• Small boutique/niche specific recruitment agencies. Very often these agencies spring from recruitment consultants who have set up on their own, or from an industry manager who has experienced recruitment services as a consumer. In these type of companies you will feel on the cutting edge of business, with fortunes varying widely from month to month. Outstanding performance can often be very highly rewarded in businesses with low overheads. Things can be tricky, however, when business is slower. Training is often quite limited, and might involve, for example, shadowing a senior consultant or Director for a short period. Don’t expect a structured, formal training program. In addition, development opportunities may be restricted if the agency has to remain small. If you think you would enjoy being a big fish in a small pond, though, this may well be the right type of agency for you.

If you are planning a career in recruitment and are ambitious to get ahead, it is a good idea to experience several different types of recruitment agencies first-hand. Agencies can differ widely in terms of the working environment, the types of work you will be involved in and in the varying pressures you will face.