Working With An Agency
Hundreds of books have been written about interviewing, resume writing and all of the other steps to landing a job. But what about working with an employment agency to find contract or temporary work? With an increasing number of people opting out of the world of traditional employment, knowing how to manage the relationship with an agency is a useful skill in itself.
Few people give much thought to the role played by recruiters at temporary agencies. When seeking a position through an agency, it's not enough to send over a resume and wait for the phone to start ringing. An agency will most likely want to meet you, assess your skills and give serious consideration to the best match between your background and an available position. Too often, people seeking employment through an agency dismiss their interview with an agency recruiter as a formality. That would be a mistake.
The truth of the matter is this: In the search for qualified workers, more companies are using employment agencies to perform recruiting activities. While this has always been the case, to some degree, it has never been a more demanding process than it is today. Client companies may ask for drug testing, credit checks and background reports. In addition, agencies participate in assorted programs to meet corporate quality initiatives. In other words, agencies are being held more accountable than ever not only for the candidates they recommend, but for how long those individuals stay on the job and how they perform in their positions.
For today's job seeker, the message is simple. Now, more than ever, anyone seeking job opportunities through an employment service needs to develop a relationship with a recruiter. The agency needs to be familiar with your background and be comfortable in recommending you for openings. Whether or not the agency has confidence in you -- in your resume, your skills and other insights gained from an interview -- will make a difference in what sort of position you get.
Marketability
In working with an employment service, do not simply rely on your skills, however impressive, to find the right job. Consider your dealings with a recruiter as a critical step in the process of securing the position you want. Here are five tips to help you enhance your marketability with recruiters:
1. Be sure to have a clear, concise resume. Aside from the basics (correct spelling and grammar, etc.), your resume should avoid unique typefaces or graphic elements. Most agencies now scan resumes; for this reason, it's best to have your resume on white or cream-colored paper with black ink, using an easily recognizable font. Think of the agency as a doorway to opportunity, with the resume as the "key" to open that door. If your "key" is on red paper, with blue ink and flowery designs all over it, chances are it may never get past the person who does the scanning. A recruiter may pick up on your skills regardless of the quality of your resume, but it's easy for a bad resume to discourage the recruiter from submitting you as a candidate.
2. Make contact with the agency. Don't just send your resume to an agency and assume that someone will call when a job comes up that fits your skills. A busy recruiter may deal with many candidates at any given time. The candidate who calls and asks for an appointment to drop off a resume and meet with the recruiter has a much better chance than the one who drops a resume in the mail. By speaking to the recruiter in person, your name is more likely to come up when a position is available. By making such an effort, you're more likely to find a position that fits your skills.
3. Never be confrontational with a recruiter. Recruiting is a stressful job, like many others. If you don't agree with a recruiter's assessment of your skills, feel free to ask questions or "seek advice," but do so in a pleasant manner. Chances are, if you find yourself in a confrontation with a recruiter, you'll never hear from that person -- or anyone else in the agency -- again.
4. Stay in touch while looking. Don't assume a recruiter will remember you forever. Meeting with a recruiter is a great start, but you need to make sure to call periodically, just to let the recruiter know you're still available. You need not insist on speaking with the recruiter on each call. If he or she is not available, leave a message stating that you're still available.
5. Treat receptionists and other administrative staff members with respect. Never get angry with the person answering the phone, just because you haven't heard from your recruiter. Don't expect a recruiter to call to tell you he hasn't found a job yet. Remember, recruiters make a living by finding jobs for people. If you have interviewed with a recruiter and you've left messages, you will get a call if a job is available that fits your skills.
Getting the assignment
You've interviewed with an agency or employment service and now you're about to have another interview, this time with the company thinking about hiring you. As always in an interview, you want to conduct yourself professionally, both for the obvious reason -- you want the job -- and because you want to nurture the relationship with the recruiter who recommended you for the position. Here are five things to keep in mind:
1. Be on time for the interview. First impressions matter and being late for an interview doesn't make a good impression, no matter what the excuse.
2. Do not discuss money with the interviewer. As a temporary employee, the agency that sent you on the interview will be your employer; your pay should only be discussed with them. An interviewer who engages in a discussion about a salary is probably unfamiliar with the proper procedures for interviewing potential contract employees.
3. Don't "stiff" the agency. If you accept an assignment, don't assume that because it's a "temporary" job that you aren't expected to call if you decide, in the end, not to take it. This makes both you and the agency look bad. Worst of all, it makes your recruiter look like a poor judge of character. Chances are, you'll never get another chance from that recruiter or company.
4. Stay through the end of the assignment. If you've agreed to a three-month assignment, make sure you see it through. If another opportunity comes up, try to have the other employer wait until the end of your assignment. If this isn't possible, give at least two weeks notice in order for the company to find a suitable replacement. Leaving one temporary assignment for another is frowned upon, of course. Unless the other assignment offers you an opportunity that you just can't pass up, you should make every effort to stay through the end of your assignment.
Be reasonable about money. Be sure you know what is required in the position and that you're comfortable with the pay rate.