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Job hunting? Why you should use a recruitment consultant?

If you’ve decided it’s time for a change of job, it can be difficult to know where to start. Should you approach companies directly? Trawl the internet for opportunities? Or just sit tight and keep your fingers crossed that something falls into your lap?

Whether you’re looking for your forever job or simply something to tide you over for a while, you’ll find plenty of benefits to using a recruiter. In this month’s blog we look at how a good recruitment agency can be a godsend when it comes to finding the right position for you.

Finding job opportunities

Job hunting takes time, it takes effort and it can be a daunting process. But the right recruiter will help to ease the stress of the search by offering you a guiding hand throughout the process.

Making the search easier

For some candidates, part of the problem is they don’t really know what they’re looking for. If this is the case for you, it might be that an experienced recruiter can help. By learning about you, your skills and your experience they might even come up with an entirely new idea that you would never have thought of yourself.

Alternatively, if you know exactly what you want, but just can’t find it, choosing a recruiter that specialises in your industry, or one that works directly with a company you’re interested in, can open up opportunities that might otherwise be tricky to find. What’s more, recruiters often become aware of roles before they’re advertised, meaning if you’re on their radar you should find out about new opportunities first.

Temporary jobs, in particular, can crop up at short notice in times of high demand, and are often managed purely via a recruitment agency – if you’re not signed up you might not even have access to them.

Staying organised

If you’re applying for more than one job, things can sometimes get a little confusing. Trying to juggle applications, deadlines, enquiries and interviews can cause a real headache – especially if you’re already in a full-time role. Using a recruiter can help you to stay organised and on top of everything. And if it comes to arranging interviews, your recruiter will do that for you too.

Getting the offer

Just because you’ve found a role you’re interested in doesn’t mean the hard work stops. You’ve got to convince someone to interview you, and then to hire you. Whether you’re applying for a temporary role or a permanent one, the recruiting company will want to see that you have the skills they need.

Sorting out your CV

Making sure your CV includes the details a potential employer will expect to see, is vital when it comes to securing that interview. If you’re not sure what you should be writing or just need a bit of advice, a recruitment consultant is your best port of call.

Company research

Choose a recruitment agency that has built up great relationships with the employers it works with, and they’ll be able to give you valuable insight into the organisation you’re applying to. So, not only will you be better prepared for interview, importantly you’ll be able to make an assessment about whether they’re the kind of company you can see yourself joining.

And better than that, employers very often trust their regular recruiters to the extent that if you’re put forward as ‘a good fit for the job’ you’ll be half way to getting it before you’ve even attended the interview.

Interview technique

If you’ve not had many interviews, or at least not for a while, you may be nervous about the whole thing. Your recruiter can give you advice and support to make sure you bring your A-game to the interview panel and walk away with that offer.

If you are applying for a temporary role it may be that you’re not required to interview at all, but if you are it will pay to be prepared for the kinds of questions you might be asked. Many employers will want to know that you will fit in with the team quickly and you’re not just taking the job ‘until something better comes along’. A recruiter experienced in temporary vacancies will be able to help coach you for success.

Take a look at our CV and interview guide HERE

Negotiating terms and conditions

From finding out the outcome of your interview to negotiating details of employment, it can help to have a professional around to support you.

Receiving and digesting feedback

If a recruitment consultant has put you forward for a role, it’s quite likely you’ll get feedback quicker than you otherwise would. That’s because of the working relationships built between the recruiter and the company. This is useful even if you are unsuccessful as the recruiter can offer a debrief, helping to work out what you should do differently in your next application or interview.

Working out the details of the offer

Some candidates dread the money conversation. And if it’s not something you do regularly it can feel unpleasant. How do you know what salary is appropriate? What are others in the market receiving? Or does your temporary contract include everything it should to protect your rights?

If negotiation is an option, a recruiter can do it for you – they’ll talk to you about your expectations and then they’ll leave you out of that awkward discussion.

Easing the transition

It may be the final stage of the process, but it’s certainly not the easiest. If you’re nervous about resigning and moving on, your recruitment consultant can guide you every step of the way.

Managing your resignation

Depending on how long you’ve been with the company, you may find your resignation to be a surprisingly bittersweet process. While you feel excited about starting a new chapter, it’s sometimes hard to shake that feeling of letting down your old employer. Get support and even templates for resignation letters from your recruiter – they’re there to help you.

Starting your new role

Most recruiters will be available to help as you move into your new role. It can be a steep learning curve – particularly if you’re beginning a temporary role and are expected to slot seamlessly into the existing team. If you feel you could benefit from extra support to make that transition just a little bit smoother, then make sure you ask. They’ll even manage some of the pesky admin involved in reference checks and company onboarding processes.

From advice and support to practical help with negotiations, a recruitment agency can really be your tool when it comes to job hunting.  And in a competitive market, simply having someone on your side can make all the difference when it comes to finding, and securing, the right job for you. Nu Staff is here to help. Whether you’re looking for a temporary role or the perfect permanent position, you’ll benefit from the care and attention we give to all our candidates. Contact us today to find out how we could help improve your chances of securing your next job.