Agency: does it have real vacancies?

Classic sales role

Recruitment agencies play a classic sales role: their remit is to sell their candidates into available vacancies and collect their commission, while at the same time satisfying their clients’ requirement for quality people with the right skills, in the right position.

Credentials

However, some are more established than others: sales is a notorious sector for many small agencies ‘to have a go at’, without having any real experience or affinity for the market. And the shortage of quality candidates in a hungry sales sector mean that almost any agency can place candidates, irrespective of whether there is a real fit between employer and job-seeker.

Real jobs

As a candidate, you need to be clear that the agency has real positions to match your ambition and your ability, and is interested in and capable of developing a long-term relationship, not only with yourself, but also with a range of quality employers.

It should go without saying that a job interview is a two-way process and this applies to recruitment agencies as well. So, use your sales training: after you’ve presented your qualifications, ask questions that will help you assess the consultant’s ability to place you. Here are some vital questions to ask.

1 How long have you been a consultant in this market?

In the recruitment business, it takes time to establish a client-base of companies and contacts. Less-experienced consultants may want to get hold of your CV so they can market it to prospective clients. Recruiters working on assignment are successful because they have real openings to fill and make lots of placements. Established consultants don’t tend to have any incentive to interview candidates they can’t place because it’s a waste of everybody’s time.

Beware agencies fishing for CVs.

2 Can you describe the opportunity on offer?

Requesting specific job information is vital because the consultant’s answer will indicate if real jobs are available. (You can be sure that an effective agency will be probing your CV during the interview process – Ed.) The consultant’s level of knowledge of the company and the position will correlate with actual experience of the client. Beware an agency just fishing for CVs, in the absence of detail on a specific vacancy.

Specifically, you want to hear from the consultant about how long the position has been open, what the recruiter is looking for, the consultant’s insights into the employer’s performance expectations and the company culture. By establishing that real jobs are on offer, you can begin to create trust between yourself and the agency, while also evaluating your fit with the opportunity.

3 Will other consultants within the agency also submit my CV?

The answer is important because the more consultants an agency has, the more vacancies it’s probably dealing with: spending time with one of the firm’s consultants allows you to benefit from the entire team’s placement efforts.

4 Will you ask my permission before submitting my CV to a client?

You always want to know when a consultant plans to submit your CV. First, you don’t want to be submitted to the same company by multiple agencies. Secondly, many companies have a policy which means that, once you have submitted your CV, you won’t be considered for other positions within a specific period (usually six months). This is irrespective of whether you are applying through the same or a different consultancy, so it is vital to make sure you have all the facts before your are put forward.

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