Should You Use A Recruitment Agency To Help With Your Job Search?

Progressing in your career is exciting, moving on is daunting, and job hunting can be...tiresome.

The recent Morgan McKinley survey found that only 23% of professionals moved roles externally in the last six months, and 55% found it difficult to find a new permanent job.

It’s often cited that searching for a new job is time-consuming and, at times, can make one feel remarkably isolated. Even just finding out where to look for jobs can be draining.

If that sounds familiar, even the thought of looking for work likely fills you with dread. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Eliciting the assistance of a specialist recruitment agency is a surefire way to give your job-hunting efforts a serious boost. These agencies help numerous companies hire by connecting them with talented professionals - i.e., you. Whatever stage you are at in your career, working with a recruitment agency and its expert consultants can ease some of that pressure - which is vital if you are still employed elsewhere!

But how do you make all those important decisions? How can you choose the best recruitment agency to help you find the next step in your career? There are a few things you should consider...

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1. Do you really need the help of a recruitment agency?
2. The benefits of using a recruitment agency
3. How to get the best out of your recruiter
4. Are you looking for a permanent or contract job?
5. The relationship shouldn’t end when you find a job
6. Finding work with Morgan McKinley

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1. Does your job search really need the help of a recruitment agency?

Partnering with a recruitment agency is a great way to help you search for work. But if you’re unsure whether it will help your situation, generally, you can benefit most from that expert assistance if:

A) You work in a field where there is a shortage of talent
B) You have a set of niche, industry-specific skills
C) You currently work for a top employer that is known for hiring the best talent
D) You are looking to make a progressive transition in your career to a more senior role
E) You’re not sure where to look for jobs
F) You are ambitious and willing to absorb advice

The best recruitment agencies handle you (as a job seeker) with integrity and privacy and are fully transparent with you throughout all processes.

In addition, they will provide you with plenty of expert information and guidance. They will assess you as a technical candidate and a cultural fit; they will get to know your personality and match you with an employer of similar standpoints, as they understand the exact type of person each hiring organisation typically looks for. Although they technically' work for’ the hiring business, they will always focus on your needs and desires to ensure a perfect match.

Ultimately, your choice of whether to go with an agency or not is only yours. 

It doesn’t cost you anything, but if you make the right decision, your career could benefit from that relationship forever! This said, it's important to remember that you shouldn’t rest on your laurels; it’s a two-way relationship, and you should do as much as possible to help your recruiter give you the best representation of yourself as a job seeker.

2. The benefits of using a (specialised) recruitment agency

To try and group them into several logical categories, there are some key benefits to using a (specialised) recruitment agency over going at it alone. This is what both specialised and generalist recruitment agencies have in common:

? Time

You could spend hours scrolling through job search sites looking for the perfect vacancy. Therefore, if your recruiter knows exactly what you’re looking for, you’ll be the first to spring to mind when something relevant appears.

? Salary negotiation

Recruitment agencies can help you negotiate a higher salary by providing information on current industry salary trends like a salary guide.

? Free service

In most cases, recruitment agencies are free for job seekers. The employer pays them, so you don't have to pay upfront costs.

? More connections

The number of people and companies recruiters can reach is unrivalled. Partnering with a recruitment agency means you have access to their extensive network of industry contacts, who can become your contacts.

? More opportunities

Similar to connections, recruiters have access to a wide range of opportunities, and some of which are not advertised on job search sites. If you’re not sure where to look for jobs, this is where recruiters can truly prove their worth. When you initially get in touch with them, it’s likely they will already know which relevant jobs are available at which employer.

? A helping hand

Good recruiters will only send the best professionals to interview with their clients - who they put forward is a direct reflection of their ability to identify and match the job seeker with the hiring organisation. Due to their experience of working within an industry, they will properly prepare you for the entire process such as for interviews and tests, according to what they know has been successful in the past.

? For the future

While everyone hopes to succeed with each application process, that isn’t how it always pans out. It can seem like a setback if you are unsuccessful, but once you’ve established that relationship with a recruiter, you will be in their mind for any future vacancies that come up.

In addition to the above, a specialised recruitment agency offers a few more benefits:

• You can work with recruitment consultants who know your industry
• They will be able to advise you on what the current salary and market rates are and how you can best position yourself
• They can inform you which skills are in demand and how your profile matches the current demand
• They know exactly what employers in your field are looking for

3. How to get the best out of your recruiter

Every interaction - email, phone call, or meeting - you have with a recruiter will shape their perception of you. You must present yourself in the best light possible at all times.

When job hunting, it can seem intimidating to be speaking with someone who is not a professional in your area of expertise, but they know so much about what your prospective employers want. Don’t let this put you off. In this instance, it is very much the case that the more you put in, the more you get out.

Sometimes, a call from your recruiter is the last thing you want - at work, spending time with your family or out socialising. However, simply ignoring their call will not help either of you. If you don’t have time to speak with them there, then at least pickup and quickly rearrange a better time for both parties. By doing this, you will keep yourself near the top of their list - if you’re actively looking for a new role, being in your recruiter’s good books is highly beneficial.

Once you have spoken with your recruitment consultant, they will present you to the hiring manager and ultimately ‘sell’ you to your potential future employer.

For this reason, you must give your recruiter a compelling account of your background and career so they can easily relay it. If you have it thoroughly thought through and fully planned out before you speak to them, there’s a good chance they will inform the relevant hiring manager right away.

Speaking with a recruiter is just as much an opportunity for you to gather more information about the position and hiring organisation as it is for them to build up your profile.

A well-informed candidate who has gathered a wide range of information about the particular role and the wider business will always be considered favourably.

Recruiters are experts in the hiring process. Leverage their knowledge of the industry and the specific company to prepare for interviews. Let them guide you, ask about the company culture, common interview questions, and anything else that might help you feel confident and prepared. Recruiters can also provide feedback on your resume, interviewing skills, and overall job search strategy. Don't be afraid to ask for their honest feedback and use it to improve your chances of landing a job.

It is important to remember that finding the right job takes time. Be patient with your recruiter and trust they are working hard to find you a good fit. Even if you land a job through another channel, stay in touch with your recruiter. They may be able to help you with your career development in the future or connect you with other opportunities.

4. Are you looking for a permanent or contract job?

There’s a lot of information about the pros and cons of both permanent employment and working as a contractor. If you are on the fence and considering either, calling on the help of a recruiter could be very useful - they will be able to provide you with accurate information on what you can be paid as either, and whether employers are particularly favouring one type of employee over the other at that moment in time.

There is no right or wrong answer; much of your decision will probably come down to personal choice, lifestyle and your ambitions. If you are looking to buy a house, planning on raising a family, and feel you need the security of permanent employment, then perhaps that is the best option. Alternatively, you may be at a stage in your life where you feel a little bogged down at work and want to break the mould, take more of a risk, deliver change at different institutions and cash in on the higher daily rates - then a contract role could be your calling.

5. The relationship shouldn’t end when you find a job

A great recruitment agency will keep in contact with you, giving relevant market information and tips on how you can develop your career even further. That’s not just helping you find another job but advising you on how to improve your prospects in your current role - for example, which qualifications you could undertake, how to present yourself well in a salary negotiation and how to improve your interpersonal workplace skills.

The best recruiters will gradually position themselves at the forefront of your mind through regular contact and excellent career advice so that when the time does come to move on again, you won’t consider anyone else.

6. Choosing Morgan McKinley as your recruitment agency

You are not just another ‘sale’ to us - as many people choose to believe, which is the case for most recruitment companies or headhunters. Each and every Morgan McKinley recruitment consultant is an expert in their area, providing your job search with unrivalled sector knowledge and delivering practical career advice.

We take the time to understand our candidates’ career ambitions and clients’ needs, producing the ideal result for both parties. This collaborative approach results in committed, long-term relationships. In addition to permanent, contract, and interim recruitment, Morgan McKinley also offers Executive Search.

With global offices in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, we have contacts worldwide, giving your search a global reach.

As you can see from our company logo, we always strive to “Go Beyond” and are proud to say that we have been recognised across the Morgan McKinley Group. We have been awarded multiple recruitment awards, including the “Best Places to Work” award.

We always look after our candidates the way we expect to be looked after.