Finding the right job for your skills is a challenge. Job hunting can take up a lot of search time and often when you eventually find a potential vacancy, you may find the position is already taken. It's important to beat the competition and get your foot in the door as soon as a good job vacancy arises. One way to ensure you get a chance to be interviewed as soon as a position arises is to sign up with a recruitment agency, particularly one that specializes in your chosen career. They will have access to a great deal of clients and will know of a vacancy as soon as one becomes available, making it much easier to get that initial interview. Here are a few more reasons to help you weigh up if signing up with a recruitment agency is a good idea:
Recent graduates
If you are a recent graduate then you will up against other recent graduates all seeking a good position within your specialized field. Shockingly, approximately only 60% of university graduates will find work within the first six months of graduating, so you need to make sure to get your foot in the door as soon as possible. A recruitment agency specializing in recruiting new graduates can help place you within a job that is actively seeking graduates, helping you to get that much needed interview and opportunity for employment.
Experienced
If you are seeking a new position when you are qualified and experienced within a job role, then a recruitment agency can help find you a job based on your requirements. If you are no longer satisfied with your current position, looking to get back into work, or looking for part-time or temping positions only, a recruitment agency can do the leg work for you. Many recruitment agencies specialize in specific fields of work, such as a legal recruiter, which will have a variety of legal vacancies available for law staff.
If you decide to sign up with an agency
Make sure that you choose an agency with a good reputation. Find out how long the agency has been running for and check if they are formally registered. If you do decide to sign up with an agency make sure that you let them know exactly what you are looking for. Let them know if you are looking for permanent work or something more temporary, and if you are seeking full-time or part-time work. Do not be tempted to over exaggerate your qualifications, skills or experience. A recruitment agency is there to correctly help place you within a job you are well suited for, and is well suited to you, so be honest and upfront in order to be put forward for a job that you are comfortable and confident within. Do not feel obliged to accept a job role if it doesn't feel right for you, just inform the agency that it is not what you are looking for. Make sure you are easily contactable and check in with them regularly to let them know you are still seeking work
