What are the benefits of using a Recruitment Agency?

As a recruitment consultant, a question I commonly get asked is; “Why should I register with a recruitment agency when I can apply for jobs directly?”

Whilst applying for a job directly is certainly one method of approaching your job search, using a specialist recruitment agency can provide a number of additional benefits that go beyond simply getting you an interview. 

Here are five things a recruitment agency can do for you that you won’t get when going it alone.

1.  Mentoring & Careers Advice

At Ambition, we feel that it is important to meet with all our candidates face to face, doing so allows us to understand your motivations for finding a new job as well as what you are looking to get out of your next role. This helps us narrow down which firms and roles would be a good fit for you.

We are specialists in our areas of recruitment, therefore we know our clients and industries inside out. This means we can offer careers advice if required and can help you make sensible career choices that take you one step closer to your ultimate career goals. We are always happy to discuss any concerns or possible career options with you.

2.  Insider Knowledge

We know our clients really well and often meet with them, which helps us find out exactly what they are looking for in candidates. This means we have insider knowledge about the role and the company that you won’t find on a company website or job advert.

For many candidates, firm culture is an important factor to take into consideration when looking for a new job. The close relationships we have developed with employers mean that we know their teams well and can give you some background on the company culture and the personalities of your potential managers and colleagues.

3.  Saving Time

Applying directly to firms can be a lengthy, time-consuming process. When using a recruitment agency, your CV will be sent straight over to the hiring manager and we can chase them for an update - this prevents your CV from getting lost amongst the hundreds of other applications.

We will also work on your behalf to try to secure you an interview. Talking directly to the hiring manager allows us to try and alleviate any initial reservations they may have, or provide them with more information if required.

If your CV does get rejected, we can chase for feedback and this will help us better tailor your CV for future positions.

4.  Interview Preparation

Before an interview, we will always ensure that our candidates are fully prepared. We always try to find out what the interview will involve and how many stages etc. there are likely to be.

When you apply directly to a firm, they often just come back with an interview slot. We take the time to find out exactly who you will be meeting and what their interview technique is like. We can also run mock interviews and give you feedback on your answers to give you the best chance of success.

Knowing exactly what the interview will consist of will mean that you know exactly what to prepare for, and you will be more confident going in.

5.  Negotiation & Managing the Offer

We always try to push our clients to move as quickly as possible. When you apply for a role directly, it can be difficult to find out where they are at in the process. We can chase on your behalf and will keep you updated on this throughout the process.

If we do manage to secure you an offer, we will do everything we can to negotiate the best deal. It can be difficult to do this is you have applied directly as you may not want to be too pushy. We are happy to do this for you and will do everything we can to ensure that all your requirements are met. 

If you require any further career advice or are looking for a new position within the professional services sector, please don't hesitate to contact us.