How to use a recruitment agency to get a job

The time and effort it takes to find a job can be an overwhelming experience and process, especially when you’ve been searching for a few months and haven’t had any breakthroughs.

Even tougher is when there is global economic disruption impacting the local job market.

So what if someone else could support your job search and help manage this on your behalf?

This is where recruitment agencies play an important role.

Many job seekers choose to look for roles on their own because few know how to really tap into the expertise and network of recruitment agencies, who are essentially the conduit between bringing Australia’s best employers and brightest candidates together.

There are three common questions when it comes to agencies. What is a recruitment agency? What do recruitment agencies do? And how do recruitment agencies work?

Ultimately, the role of a recruitment agency revolves around working with employers and job seekers to facilitate a successful job match. There are multiple factors that need to be considered: skills and experience, qualifications and education, culture fit, salary expectations, career development and progression, start date and potential and contribution to business recovery and future growth.

Recruitment firms can therefore be your key to unlocking job opportunities that align with your present needs and circumstances. 

How do recruitment agencies work?

In order to be successful in your job search when using a recruiter, it’s crucial to understand how recruitment agencies work and what exactly recruitment agencies do. They were first known as employment agencies with the aim of matching employers to employees, so think of them as a partner in your search. They’ll not only connect you with prospective employers but additionally, can act as a guide, help you to refine and write a more targeted resume, endorse you to employers, and provide advice on your career path if there isn’t a suitable role available immediately.

After submitting your CV or applying to jobs on the website, recruiters will contact you if there is a suitable match and potential job opportunity. The common next step is to be invited for an interview with the recruitment agency to go through what your career aspirations and motivations are and where you fit into an organisation in your current role. 

The initial interview with a recruitment agency is a great way to connect with your recruiter and to allow them to get a good feel for you and your aspirations. This will directly inform the types of roles they will be putting you forward for.

Once they successfully match you to a job, they provide interview coaching to prepare you for the next stage. 

One thing to note is that you have the ability to work with a recruiter who you can build rapport with – you may find your initial experiences aren’t a natural fit, so aim to reach out to a few recruitment firms to establish some relationships.

You might need to spend some time connecting with a few recruiters so that you can essentially interview them: how long have they been with the company, how do they usually market candidate resumes and present it to potential employers? These are all valid questions. Asking your colleagues, friends and acquaintances for any recruiter recommendations could also score you a few solid referrals. While there’s no harm in connecting with more than one recruiter, be transparent and ensure they are not submitting you for the same job.

Working with a recruiter is a two-way street. You’ll need to build a good professional relationship with whoever you end up working with. This includes helping recruiters help you by making yourself employable by completing basic tasks such as updating your CV or cleaning up your LinkedIn profile. You may also need to be able to broaden your criteria for the new job and by being flexible with interview dates and times.

Get the most out of a recruitment agency

There are many reasons why those searching for jobs apply through a recruitment agency, but the main reason is that they can tap into the wealth of information and experience recruitment agencies have from working with companies across different industries and sectors.

As companies outsource hiring to recruitment agencies, not only do they do the job hunting for you, but they often get access to job vacancies that are not advertised. The best part is that recruitment agencies are free to use by job seekers, as it will be the employer paying for the service, search and candidate placement outcome.

Besides obtaining invaluable information about the job market and possible career pathways that may not be obvious to other job seekers, you can also get insight into the specific hiring requirements that are not listed nor obvious in job advertisements. This will really prepare you for the job interview with a prospective employer and increase your chance of getting hired.

Finally, be honest with the recruiter and utilise their expertise. Try to identify what it is you’re looking for in a job and ask lots of specific questions. Plus, the more honest you are, the better they will understand you and be able to help you find the best match.

Remember, too, that recruiters will not be able to place every single candidate into a job. It’s important to manage your expectations and understand that they will not put you forward for every role available – it’s crucial that the successful applicant fits the needs of the business that’s hiring and that the candidate feels it is a good fit, too.

Start your job hunt now

Most recruiters are open to connecting via LinkedIn or through word-of-mouth recommendations. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them, as they are constantly seeking out potential candidates. Recruiters often use LinkedIn groups to connect with and monitor potential candidates, so join professional and industry associations as well as alumni groups to get in touch with them.

We hope this article has helped you understand more about what recruitment agencies do and how recruitment agencies work in Australia. Now you can get the ball rolling and interview with a recruitment agency so they can help you find your next role.