Revered & Reviled - The Insider Guide To Working With Employment Agencies

Sometimes seen as a necessary evil or a professional marriage of convenience, the recruitment industry is viewed with antipathy and appreciation in equal measure.

In part, the ill-feeling generated in some job seekers toward the industry has been cultivated by a negative personal experience when dealing directly with “agencies”, or in some cases due to a lack of understanding as to how employment agencies actually work.

So how do they work?  The employment agency will charge the employer a fee to recruit the job seeker.  Fees can range from as little as 5% of the annual salary in tight-margin industries, and range up to 30% for senior and executive level placements.

What should you expect?  Needless to say that every job seeker should be treated with the utmost respect, unfortunately that doesn’t always happen.  There are countless instances of recruiters abandoning a job seeker if there isn’t a realistic prospect of making money out of placing them, and although such behaviour is self serving and short-sighted, it is a reality. 

Generally speaking, recruiters have targets to meet that include a number of monthly placements, employers visited, job seekers interviewed, and cold calls made.  Many job seekers who have had dealings with high-volume, target-oriented agencies and come away from a meeting thinking that the recruiter didn’t actually have a job for them, were probably right.  Some firms call this “the numbers game”! Is it any wonder some job seekers feel just like a number?

Employment agencies often work on a “contingency” basis which means that they only get paid if they find the job seeker the employer hires.  Executive recruitment firms usually work on a “retained” basis and are usually paid 1/3 of their fee in advance, and the remaining 2/3 at the end of the assignment or at previously agreed timeframes over the course of the search.

So how should you interact with recruiters? Choose two or three respected firms and make contact with the recruiter in your field to discuss the job market, how they operate, and what they could do for you. If you are satisfied that the recruiter knows what he/she is talking about, submit your resume.  Be clear about what you want, what you will accept, and in which circumstances your information should be shared.  Leverage the expertise of the recruiter to work in your favour, and do not feel compelled to take the first job that is offered to you.  Do your homework, know your worth and act accordingly.

If you’re left feeling like nothing more than a number or another notch on their weekly target sheet, sever ties with that particular firm, withdraw your consent for them to act on your behalf, and move on.

Be assured that there are very good recruiters out there worthy of your time and attention and they can be a tremendous help and resource if you find yourself in a “transitional phase”.  All you have to do is find them!