How can you utilise a recruitment agency
by Natasha Christou Digital Marketing ConsultantIn March 2019 the unemployment rate in the
UK hit a 44-year low. In an interview with The Guardian, John Philpott, the
director of the Jobs Economist consultancy, noted: “Nobody seems to have told
the labour market about the mood of Brexit-related economic uncertainty which
has gripped the UK since last autumn.” Miners strikes, recessions, and
political pandemonium, which included the worst parliamentary defeat in
history, all compounded the unlikelihood of a four decade long economic
depression turning itself around — it has however.
Between December 2018 and January 2019, a
further 222,000 heads entered the UK workforce, contributing to a record high
employment total of 32.7 million. The same report drew upon commentary from
senior economic analyst at the Resolution Foundation Stephen Clarke, who
insinuated: “the encouraging growth is benefiting women and those traditionally
left out of the labour market.” The statistics are certainly there to back up
the philosophy in regard to the gender gap. Take Scotland for example— the
tartan nation saw a 1.7
per cent rise of women in employment from 2008 to 2018, rising from
68.4 per cent to 70.3 per cent. As of December 2018, the UK employment rate was
the highest it has been since records began back in 1971, with 9.0 million
women working full-time and 6.3 working part time.
That said, despite all the obvious
positives in regard to employment, with fewer vacant roles comes increased
competition. As of 2017, the UK boasted 14 million graduates in the labour
market — more than a fifth of the UK population — with three quarters of all
graduates now achieving a 2:1 classification or above. For the twenty-something
slice of the population who have finally said farewell to education, finding a
job can be a rather tedious task and an often-fruitless endeavor.
While the digital age has certainly made
the job search easier, some online application processes can be difficult to
navigate. With thousands of avenues to help refine your exact job search including
job title, company, and location, one can become entangled fairly rapidly —
enter the extensive aid of a recruitment firm.
Here with Zenith People, a Newcastle recruitment
agency we examine the best way to utilise a recruitment agency and
everything they have to offer, analysing the main reasons why you should
consider them as a viable option when on your path to career success.
Contacts
Upon entering the world of work, we are all
taught the value of making relevant industry contacts, and some people even
rely on these connections to help them to secure their next position — and
making yourself familiar with a company can prove advantageous. Approximately
118 candidates apply for any given job in the UK, with 20 per cent or less of
these individuals advancing to the interview stage. If you apply for a role
without any prior contact with the firm, your CV and cover letter will arrive with
those other 117 applications and face a rigorous application process.
Recruiters will often already have built a steady relationship with the line
manager within the firm which you are applying to, therefore they will be able
to communicate directly, promoting both you and your attributes. Likewise,
Collingwood note how 80
per cent of all jobs are never actually advertised, however, if you
had an ‘inside man or woman’, they would have an ear to the ground in regard to
upcoming vacant positions.
Trust
You may feel that the recruiter doesn’t
have your best professional interests at heart, however, they have a task to
complete as well. Matching the right candidate to the right role is their
overarching goal, so allow them to take the lead, unless, obviously, you feel
genuinely unhappy about the vacancies that they are leading you towards.
There’s no such thing as a little white lie
We are all guilty of covering up or
slightly exaggerating when it comes to our employer, however, when a
recruitment agency asks questions regarding capabilities, happiness, needs, and
wants, take the chance to be completely honest. Realistically, if you don’t
want to work in certain area, tell the recruiter — they aren’t going to judge
your preferences. Similarly, if there is a company you have set your sights on,
speak up — this is your future, so it is important to be assertive. A study by
iNews discovered that 55.6 per
cent of Brits are dissatisfied with their job.
Responsive
When applying for jobs, one of the most
frustrating aspects is a lack of communication. One of many harsh realities
when hunting for a new career is the fact you will often post applications and
never hear from the company again. The role of a recruiter, however, is to get
you a job, therefore they are likely to be far more responsive and determined
when it comes to interacting with employers. On the other hand, you should also
try to maintain regular contact from your end, as you’ll need to provide the
recruiter with plenty of relevant information when required. Answer phone
calls, reply to emails, and complete paperwork before the recommended deadline
— this will show to both the recruiter and employer that you are keen.
Whether you are a recent graduate, or in
the middle of changing career, the above guide denotes some of the primary
reasons why opting for a recruitment agency will help find the recipe for
success.
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Created on Sep 5th 2019 10:08. Viewed 753 times.