What I know about finding the one.

How do you pick the right recruitment consultant for you? There are hundreds out there and if you are an Australian or Kiwi lawyer, your LinkedIn inbox is probably full of messages. Knowing who to talk to, who to reach out to is critical and could make an enormous difference to not only your job search but your career too.

If you are thinking about speaking to a recruitment agent, here are my best tips to help you find the right recruitment consultant for you, no matter what your profession.?

Step 1- Find a recruitment consultancy that works in your industry

It is important when looking for an agent that you find someone who has an in-depth understanding of your specific field.?Recruitment like many professions is highly specialised and it is important that you speak to someone who is a specialist in your industry.

A specialist will have a better understanding of the typical career path in your field, and should be able to offer you a selection of opportunities in the market as well as provide in-depth advice on salary trends and other industry-specific information such as who is hiring, who isn’t hiring and why? This will assist in your job search and allow you to understand the market better with access to insider information.

Don’t be afraid to ask a friend for a recommendation (I strongly recommend doing this), especially if you know someone in your industry who has recently moved roles or if you see you share a connection with a recruiter and one of your friends on LinkedIn.

Step 2- Do your research

Not all recruitment consultants were created equal, and finding the best one can make all the difference between scoring the role you have always wanted and missing out because your recruitment consultant didn’t even know about it.

Investigate your potential consultant’s background and look at their contacts on LinkedIn. Do you share any connections in common? Do they fill roles that you are interested in? Are they experienced working in a recruitment agency for a long period (some agents have lots of experience in the industry they recruit for or in other things like HR but it is the actual recruitment agency experience that is key as that is why you are engaging them)??Do they have a track record of success? Have they been in their role a long time (look for an agent with a strong and stable work history as it can be a good indicator that they are successful at placing people) ? Have they been endorsed or recommended by people at the companies you want to work for or by people you know and trust? All of these will be tell-tale signs as to how involved in the industry your recruitment consultant is. The more people they know (that you want to know), the more opportunities they will be able to bring to you.

Step 3- Connect with your chosen consultant

Arranging a call and/or a meeting with your chosen consultant is vital.?I often have people contact me to organise this via LinkedIn and that can be an easy way to reach out initially.?When you meet your consultant it is important that they understand you and that you get along personally. More than anything you?should feel that you can be honest and upfront with them. Your agent’s role is to represent you and help you achieve the outcome that you are seeking, so make sure to bring up all of your needs in your discussion. This might be a move to a larger or smaller organisation, helping you get a pay rise or assisting you move to a new city. It is important to listen to your consultant, and trust their advice but also go with your gut. Remember recruitment consultants are very motivated to place you in roles and they want you to enjoy the experience so much that you recommend them to all your friends and family, they should be very willing to go above and beyond to make sure you find the role that is right for you.

Step 4- Ask the tough questions

Don’t be afraid to ask your agent about some of the recent roles that they have filled and about the relationships that they have with their clients. Often companies will have preferred panels in place and asking about which panels they are on and who they have preferred relationships with. Remember, by engaging a recruitment consultant you are sharing some of your most personal information and trust is critical to the success of the relationship.

Good recruitment consultants like to build long-term relationships with people like you, so even if you are not thinking about changing roles right now it can be beneficial to speak to a recruitment consultant who should be able to give you up to date information on salary and or any market trends.?

Step 5- Follow up.

If you are looking to change jobs, make sure you keep a list of organisations that your agent has mentioned to you during your meeting and make sure you know where they have made applications to (it is easier to forget than you might think).?Remember to follow-up with your consultant and ask for updates on the applications that they have made!

Good luck and don’t hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of any assistance.