What You Should Expect from your Recruitment Consultant
Have you ever sent your CV for a job and had no response? Have you ever been promised a job spec that never arrived? Been sent the wrong time or directions to an interview or applied for a job that didn’t exist? Then sadly you’ve been a victim of the small minority of cowboys in the industry. The (revised) Employment Agencies Act means that you now have much better protection from these operators. New guidelines mean that all members of the recruitment industry should be quickly adopting a more professional code of conduct, should they not already of practiced it.
Imagine your phone rings and a voice says: “I spotted your CV and I’ve
got a job that might interest you”.
If you are looking for work and the
initial description over the phone sounds like a good match to your skills and
experience then ask for the consultant’s name and agency. If you wish to pursue
the role and the consultant agrees you fit the role specification, ask for the
name of the client – you are entitled to know this prior to your CV being
sent. Ask the consultant to e-mail you a copy of the job specification
plus job location, salary and package details and ideally a link to the client’s
web site. If you receive all this information promptly then that’s a good
indication that you are dealing with a professional agency.
Be aware that many IT jobs are placed with a number of agencies. Ask your consultant what their relationship with the hiring company is. Is their agency a preferred supplier or not? How many other agencies are also submitting candidates for this job? What is the selection procedure? Your consultant should be happy to answer all these questions. Also be aware that legally your CV may not be sent to anyone external to their business without your approval.
Once your CV has been sent to a perspective employer, ask when you can expect to receive feedback. Of course the employer is busy running their business; just because you do not receive instant feedback does not mean that they are not interested, or that your consultant is not doing a good job. But do expect regular communication from your consultant and do not be shy of calling them for an update. Should the employer not be interested in interviewing you, your consultant should be able to tell you why – just ‘no’ does not help you understand how you were not suitable for the role.
Once you have secured an interview, double check the date, time and directions, and speak to your consultant about the most appropriate dress code, should you wear a suit or be a bit less formal? At this stage your consultant should also be able to give invaluable advice on the interview format, what the client is really looking for, interviewing style etc.
At some stage you will be invited to complete an agency registration form, provide references and copies of your passport and any relevant qualifications. This is a requirement of the Employment Agencies Act and any reputable agency will ask you for these documents BEFORE you start a new position.
When your interviews progress to the point of offer, your consultant should help you negotiate with your new employer on package requirements. This is an important part of the process, and voicing your concerns and requirements to your consultant is key to you being ultimately happy with the job you are taking. Once you are hired, you should still have access to your consultant for advice, and the better ones will contact you to make sure you are in deed happy with your new position. So in reality your consultant should be with you from your initial contact to even after you are in a new role.
Good luck and make sure you get the best from your consultant!