5 tips to using an agency and land the perfect job
James Caan CBE
Recruitment Entrepreneur Chairman | Serial Entrepreneur | Investor on BBC's Dragons’ Den (2007-2010)
IN an increasingly crowded and competitive job market there is a one key question that I always get asked by people – just how do I make myself stand out as candidate? Differentiating yourself is vital if you want to land that dream job - that’s where an experienced recruitment agency comes in.
Building up a strong relationship with a reputable and professional agency can be the first essential step, because ultimately they will help give you the edge over your rivals.
Here are my 5 x top tips to getting the most out of a candidate/agency relationship:-
1 Employment is becoming more and more specialised so you must ensure you find the perfect agency for your specific profession. It sounds obvious but from my experience, many people fall into the trap of not selecting an agency that has the exact specialist skills and knowledge of your marketplace.
2 When you speak to a consultant, ask about the quality of contacts he or she has, you want them to demonstrate that they have credibility in your sector. Then make sure they clearly understand the work you do. If they are going to find you that perfect job then they have to recognise and appreciate your core skill set to match you to the perfect employer.
3 Give your consultant strong direction. If you work in a particular sector then you will already have a good knowledge of the market and what is on offer. I strongly recommend you supply him or her with a list of firms you want to work for as well as those you wouldn’t consider.
4 It's a two-way street. Keep building on your relationship with your consultant over time and communicate regularly. Most importantly, be completely open with them about all aspects of your job search because they have to be able to fully understand your motivations.
5 Remember they are there to give you expert advice. A good consultant will be there to guide you through the whole process, and the best thing about it is their advice is free! For example, always ask them to review your CV and give you some feedback. When you do get an interview, make sure you have a thorough briefing call on how best to approach the interview and how to present yourself.
Join me at the Evening Standard Business Connections event on Tuesday 27th November in London. Business Connections members go free, to register go to www.es-bc.co.uk/
Teacher
9 å¹´Helpful information. Thanks for sharing.
Helping Businesses Scale & Exit, Business Acquisition & Restructuring. Business Group Builder. e-Commerce & Amazon M&A expert.
11 å¹´While I agree with James Caan's comments, in my opinion the key point is "a good consultant" - they are few of them around. Having been on both sides of the recruitment table (hiring as well as looking for employment), my experience is that. as a candidate, you are simply a commodity. Trying to get 'feedback' from a consultant is almost impossible. Even trying to get emails or phone calls answered is difficult. I'm referring to upper management positions.
Head of Print on Demand
12 å¹´Excellent advice, its all about building relationships especially in business
Interim Financial Controller | Financial Forecasting, Management Accounting, Financial Analysis, Departmental Management
12 å¹´Good Stuff !
Home Loan and Investment Manager at ANZ
12 å¹´Well said...