Why Use a Recruiter?

It's been just over two months since I have been working in recruitment, and I'm happy to say that I am loving it.

I wanted to share with you my perspective now that I am on the other side of the table. Here are the reasons why you should always use a recruiter, from both the candidates' and companies' perspectives.

Candidates

Hunting for a new role is tough; we know that you are often faced with rejection when simply applying for roles on job boards. That rejection can start to impact your self-esteem and confidence. I would highly recommend that candidates have at least a few great recruiters with whom they are in touch regularly. We do a lot of work to build relationships with you and will vouch for you when we put you through to roles. We will also give you feedback. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should use a recruiter for your job search.

Side note: Statistics show people who move roles and companies more frequently have higher salary growth than those who stay in a role or the same company for a long period.

1. Access to the Hidden Job Market: Many positions are not advertised publicly and are filled through recruiters. Working with a recruiter can give job seekers access to these hidden opportunities.
2. Career Guidance and Support: Recruiters can offer valuable advice on CV building, interview preparation, and career planning, helping individuals to present themselves in the best possible light.
3. Negotiation Assistance: With their knowledge of industry salary standards and benefits, recruiters can assist in negotiating job offers, ensuring that candidates receive competitive compensation packages.
4. Feedback and Communication: Recruiters can provide feedback from employers after interviews, which is often not directly shared with candidates. This feedback can be crucial for personal development and future interviews.
5. Time Savings: Job searching can be a full-time job in itself. A recruiter can save individuals significant time by searching for suitable positions on their behalf.

So, even if you are not looking for a move right now, it would be good to already start building relationships with recruiters. Make sure you give them updated versions of your CV so when we get a role in that we think you would be a great fit for, we can send over your details in our first shortlist submission. Trust me, our clients love it when we already have the 'Perfect Candidate' in mind.

Companies

Having been on the other side of the table in a busy operation, I KNOW how time-consuming it can be to review all of the CVs that come through when searching for a new team member. Having a recruiter who knows exactly what you are looking for takes a weight off your shoulders. As a recruiter now, I see how much work goes into finding the candidates for roles that we have available. This includes keeping up to date with a large network, creating strong relationships with people, and a special skill of matching the people with the jobs. Below are a further 5 reasons why you as a company should use a recruiter, especially when looking for specialised roles like Hotel Revenue Management or Commercial Roles.

1. Access to a Larger Talent Pool: Recruiters have extensive networks and access to a wide range of candidates, including those who may not be actively looking for new opportunities but are open to the right offer.
2. Market Knowledge and Expertise: Recruiters often specialise in specific industries or functions, providing them with deep insights into market trends, salary benchmarks, and the skills most in demand.
3. Time and Cost Efficiency: Filling a vacancy can be time-consuming and expensive. Recruiters can streamline the process by handling the initial stages of the search, from identifying potential candidates to conducting preliminary interviews, thus allowing companies to focus on their core operations.
4. Improved Candidate Quality: Recruiters can help improve the quality of candidates that make it to the interview stage by leveraging their expertise and tools to vet applicants thoroughly.
5. Confidentiality: In situations where a company needs to conduct a search discreetly, recruiters can provide a layer of confidentiality, approaching potential candidates without disclosing the company's identity until necessary.

Specific Scenarios and Industries

Furthermore, when you consider roles that have specific needs, using an experienced recruiter can be hugely beneficial. We invest a lot of time in understanding the market and what it takes to be successful in these roles. We also have tools and resources that give us an advantage in a candidate search. In our case at Edwards & Finn Ltd., we have actually worked in the industry, which allows us to ask the right questions of the candidate we are resourcing. We understand firsthand the technical skills needed in terms of systems and applications, as well as markets and scale of property, which further narrows down our search and increases the chance of sourcing quality candidates.

• Highly Specialized Roles: In industries like hospitality, where specific skills are in high demand, recruiters can help bridge the gap between specialised talent and companies in need.
• Executive Searches: For high-level positions, executive recruiters bring discretion, a high-level network, and the ability to match leadership skills with company culture.
• Rapid Growth or Scaling: Start-ups or companies experiencing rapid growth may lack the internal resources to recruit effectively. Recruiters can quickly bring in talent to support expansion.
• Hard-to-Fill Positions: For roles that have been open for a long time or require a rare combination of skills, recruiters can use their resources and networks to identify suitable candidates.

In summary, recruiters offer a valuable service to both companies and candidates by providing expertise, access to networks, and support throughout the job search and hiring process. Their role is particularly crucial in competitive, specialised, or rapidly changing industries like hospitality where finding the right talent or opportunity can be challenging.