Top tips fromLisa Jobson(pictured), director of talent atHarvey Nash:
- Working with recruitment consultancies can save you a lot of
time in your job search as they can reach a wider range of clients
on your behalf.
- Do your research on the most appropriate consultancies to
approach based on your technical skill sets and the sector you are
focusing your job search on.
- The REC
(
Recruitment and Employment Confederation) is a good starting
point as it has a listing of all its accredited members by
sector.
- Shortlist three or four agents. This way you can build stronger
relationships and keep tighter control of where your CV is being
sent.
- Visit each website to double-check they have the right sort of
jobs on offer. This will also enable you to learn about the
geographies they cover, ways of working, major clients and
registration process.
- Value the relationship with the recruitment consultant and
establish a rapport early in the process. Where possible meet with
your consultant and be honest with them. It will definitely help
them to get to know you and your experience, your motivation, and
represent you more effectively to their clients.
- Sell yourself. Write your own elevator pitch to give to your
recruiter. Not only will it help your recruiter to position you,
but it will also helpwhen you are talking to people in your own job
search.
- Listen to the advice consultants offer. Working with clients
and jobs every day, they have an excellent insight into what roles
your experience will suit.
- Ask for an overview of the current trends in the sector you are
targeting (prevailing salary rates, volume of live roles, typical
recruitment process).
- Utilise their expertise. Ask for feedback on your CV -are there
any refinements you can make? Ask about transferable skills -what
other industries or positions could they recommend?
- If you are serious about finding a new job, specify the notice
you will need to attend interviews and then make yourself available
accordingly. Cancelling at the last minute or not turning up
affects the reputation of both you and the consultant and they may
be reluctant to work with you as a result.
- Make regular contact with your consultant, without stalking
them, and provide updates on how your personal job search is
going.
- This is a free service they are providing, so be realistic
about the results you expect. This is just one route to market to
complement others that you should be pursuing of your own
accord.
Read Part 1 - effective networking
Read Part 2 - How to network effectively online