by Rachel Flynn

Created on: July 04, 2008

Dos and Don'ts when using a recruitment agency

People are often unsure or confused about what is involved when using a Recruitment Agency. Many candidates are hesitant about approaching an agency and what to expect from consultants in return. So here are a few tips on using agencies. Remember: they are the eyes and ears of potential employers:

CHOOSING AN AGENCY

It is always a good idea to sign up to more than one agency, simply because you will have access to more roles and be exposed to a broader range of potential employers.
One of your agencies should be a local one, as they tend to have a strong local network. They know the local business environment and they often work that little bit harder for individual candidates as they will have a smaller number of people on their database.
If you are looking for a specialist role, Production Engineer for example, don't just approach agencies that limit themselves to that industry sector. You should also register with one or two generalist agencies as they may have some local clients within that sector, and they will charge a smaller fee thereby making you a more attractive candidate to a potential employer.

CV
Make sure you give the agency a well-structured punchy CV not more than 2 pages.
Spell check it! It reflects very poorly on a candidate if they haven't taken the time to spell and grammar check such an important document. Employers have been known to reject a candidate on that basis alone. For some managers it indicates a lack of attention to detail, for others it can touch a raw nerve/ invoke extreme irritation to come across the blatant misuse of an apostrophe.
A reputable agency shouldn't rewrite your CV this is misrepresenting you to their client. However, they can provide hints on how it can be improved. If you're not sure how to structure a CV, ask the agency for a model sample that you can work from.
If applying for an IT role, it is fairly essential to include a section near the beginning that lists all your knowledge and qualifications. If you are not applying for an IT role, it is still a good idea to include an initial section that covers your skills and qualifications in an easy-to-read summary.
Don't use block text as employers, when faced with a slew of CVs, often just speed read over the highlighted points. They won't take the time to read large chunks of text, and will be drawn to bullet-pointed summaries. Agencies often have to draw their clients' attention to vital facts about candidates which

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