What’s the process?
- Send your CV to an agency.
- They’ll call you or might want to meet you to have a chat and sometimes suggest changes you need to make to your CV.
- After this, they’ll start to contact you about roles that might be a good fit.
- If you like the sound of a job, they’ll put you forward for it. And if you’re successful they’ll arrange the date and time of your interview with the company.
How much does it cost?
Their services are free for you. The agency is paid a percentage of your salary by the company once they fill the position, but they might charge you for extra things, like writing your CV.
How do I choose an agency?
There are many agencies but they won’t all be right for you, and some might not work to a very high standard. Run an Internet search for engineering agencies for example, and then read their descriptions and reviews. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is in tiptop condition, as good recruiters will check you out before taking you on.
After you’ve chosen an agency
If they ask you to go in to meet them, you need to treat it like a job interview. Be honest about what you want and keep them in the loop if anything changes. If the agency doesn’t feel right to you then walk away and choose another. Some red flags are: charging you for looking for a job, trying to make you take an unsuitable job and not guiding you through the process.
How to make your CV stand out
Good agencies can be competitive, and if you’re not getting in with the one you want, or you really want a job one particular agency is advertising, you need to make some adjustments. Focus on your CV and make sure it’s error free. Don’t use fancy fonts or inks, they just make it harder to read and it’s likely to end up in the bin.
Make an impression by tailoring your CV to the specific role. Have one generic CV on tap at all times but then create unique CVs including as much reference as possible to the job you’re applying for. You should also make it easy on the eye during skim reads. You should have no more than ten bullet points and include the names of previous employers in bold.