In today’s workforce, the job hunt is daunting, confusing and even discouraging. Many people may gravitate towards an employment agency because they find a middleman comforting. After all, the agency does the hard work, they’ll rewrite your resume and work with your strengths whilst cleaning up your weaknesses. Why? Because then you both make money.
It’s in their best interest to make sure a quality person gets hired. This is a good thing, but can be a bad thing if you end up with the wrong recruitment agency. They’re not all created equal, so we’ll provide the top 5 coaching tips for the best shot at success.
Tip One: Who are you and what are you looking for?
Sometimes we go about a new job hunt or our first one with no idea what we want to do. Whether you’re laid off or you’ve been out of the workforce for many years or you’ve never held a job before, having some direction helps in choosing the right recruitment agency.
Bottom Line:
Research and communicating what you want in every facet of work is essential to choosing the best recruitment agency that will provide the best success.
They won’t know what employers to sell you to when you don’t know where you want to go. It’s okay to be in that situation. The key is to be honest with them. The more they know about you and your current situation, the better. Keep in mind that we don’t mean your personal life—just your employment status and mindset is necessary.
Tip Two: Remember to Research and Interview Them.
There are so many recruitment agencies out there that it’s confusing. Find one who deals in the area you want to work in. Uncertain? Then weed out the ones in the industries you don’t want to work for. For example, if you don’t want to work in accounting, then those agencies are out. Most of the good ones won’t advertise being employment generalists. Some will be for manual labor, some office work and some do both, while others serve the medical field and so on.
Now research them. Look at social media, Glass Door and other review platforms and read the experience of others. How long have they been in business and what types of companies do they serve? Do they ask you to pay a fee? By the way, that’s a red flag for most recruitment agencies. They get a fee from you when you begin work so they don’t need a finder’s fee from you.
When you decide to go to them for intake paperwork and initial interview, ask them everything you need to about how they operate. An interview with a recruitment agency is not like a direct interview with an employer. You still need to be impressive in professional dress and demeanor. You’ll be the face of their recruitment agency, but you can ask that you would be careful not to ask a direct hire.
For example, salary questions and negotiations are not tabu at the agency. If you feel they aren’t willing to talk to you or they rush you then use your intuition—they may not be the right recruitment agency for you.
Tip Three : Assignment Longevity:
The next thing you should know is how long you want to work. Back in the day, if you went to a recruitment agency, that meant you were temporary. In fact, you could be at a different workplace each day. Today, you can be a temp, a permanent direct hire through the agency or temp to perm.
In order to choose the best recruitment agency, you must understand how they operate.
Take Note: It’s crucial for you to keep your reputation among recruitment agencies that you choose one with the longevity that you will do. One of the worst things you can ever do is to take on an assignment and not finish it.
Remember this: It’s only the best recruitment agency for you if you accept what they offer.
Definition of each:
Temp: Being a temp means you understand that they may ask you to do a variety of assignments. Some of those assignments may be anywhere from one day to several months or a year or more. You’ll be there for as long as the employer needs you, but you understand from the beginning that it will end.
Temp to Perm: Temp to perm means you go through 90 days or another specified time. At the end of the trial, if the employer likes you, they’ll keep you. The only difference between being a temp or temp to perm is that you understand what the longevity will be.
Direct Hire: Direct hire means you interview at the agency and with the client, then after an agreed upon trial period the employer takes you on to their payroll and you are their employee.
Take a moment and answer two questions:
What are the industries I am interested in and how permanent do I want my work to be?
Also, keep in mind it’s Okay to begin and a temp if you don’t know what you want to do. It’s a way to try out a few industries on for size.
Tip Four: What’s their terms?
The best recruitment agencies are going to work to make their money maker happy—that’s you, by the way. So, if you go in with an incredible skill-set and you are firm and confident in who you are as an employee, then make sure you’re being treated as such. Your references, education, experience and social presence will speak for itself. It they’re too rigid in contractual terms then they may not be a good fit for you.
Tip Five: Benefits:
Research their benefit packages, if they have one at all. Many job seekers don’t realize that top agencies offer benefit packages. You can get coverage with their in-house insurance if you work consecutive assignments without long breaks in-between. If you’re temp, then look into that.