The recruitment process is a long process and looking for a job can be a full-time job in itself. It means spending a lot of time on applications that may get you nowhere, or a working environment that does not suit you.
This is why a recruitment agency can be useful. Also known as a placement agency, these organizations focus on jobs and companies that are right for you and save you a lot of time in your search for the perfect job.
It acts as an intermediary between a potential employer and qualified candidates who have the background and skills the employer is looking for.
It works in partnership with employers who are looking to fill vacancies.
1 – A good recruitment agency will save the candidate a lot of time
The goal is to speed up the hiring process so that the experience is more positive and has more impact on both sides.
The recruiter already knows the market and the various profiles requested by companies. He will be able to adapt your profile to the one required by the client (the hiring company) and he can also prepare you for job interviews.
An agency is in constant contact with the employer’s recruitment manager and often has information about the recruitment process. This information may include: specific qualities the employer is looking for in a candidate, employer’s salary range, the personality of the hiring manager, among others.
For these reasons, an agency may send you to the interview with a definite advantage over the competition.
2 – A good recruitment agency will put candidates and clients at the center of their operations.
The human element, communication or the importance of long-term relationships with both candidates and clients, are among the main features of a solid and reliable placement agency.
This means that the relationship does not end once the position is filled: there is always a close follow up to see if everything is going well for both parties.
It also means, for example, that the recruiter stays in touch with candidates throughout their careers, which can be useful in finding talented people who are not actively looking for work.
It is also important to know that even if the recruiter tries to find the ideal job for all his candidates, the result is not always successful.
Fortunately, the job market is always in flux, and when one door closes, another can open very quickly. The consultant has many opportunities to work with his candidates again and continue to do so until the right professional opportunity is found.
3. A good recruitment agency will communicate with transparency
A good placement agency takes pride in not only building, but also maintaining strong relationships with the candidates.
Having this trust allows one to know the ideal candidates that are desired for a particular job by companies and the recruiter uses his time to prepare candidates to make the best use of skills and assets and to guide them into the next stage of their career.
Throughout the process, he will have full transparency with the candidates to ensure that everything is clear, that everything runs smoothly and that there are no nasty surprises.
The recruiter is faced with the job market every day: he listens to both employers and candidates, which gives him a strong knowledge of the sector.
It is necessary to explain to candidates the steps that will follow their contact with the agency and what they can expect from it. It is essential to give truthful and honest advice.
Listening is to understand. A recruiter needs to listen and pay attention to the people he is talking to. In order to work efficiently and qualitatively, he needs to know exactly what he is looking for and what he can offer. He must be curious, proactive and available!
By taking into account feedback from companies and candidates, a solid placement agency can only improve and excel.
4 – Have the agency’s recruiters actually worked in the field?
Working with a recruitment company whose staff have actually worked in your sector is essential if you are to find the ideal job. Every profession has its nuances and complexities and recruiters who have been industry insiders are uniquely placed to address the unique challenges associated with the sector they serve.
A good recruitment agency is first and foremost one that has experience in your field of activity. It will be better able to understand the issues and to identify the profiles of the candidates.
It is in a recruiter’s interest to keep abreast of sector-specific salaries and market trends. Whether it’s information about the local market or the international market for a specialty, you can always rely on your recruiter to point you in the right direction and give you relevant advice.
In summary, the recruitment industry is more about creating relationships, creating opportunities.
Although recruitment is fundamentally about ‘getting people to work’, it is really about connecting people with companies.
