Recruitment agencies and jobs for beginners

Recruitment agencies look to place candidates (that's you the job seeker) into vacancies which belong to their clients (the company you want to work for). The clients (the people looking to fill their own vacancies) may not have the time and resources to look of people themselves, and from a standing start, finding good people for their roles could be tricky and expensive. However, recruitment agencies that specialises in their particular area of work, will be advertising all of the time, constantly building a bank of (a database) people who may be suitable for roles. As a result, a recruitment agencies may be able to supply a candidate the moment a client asks them.

In addition, recruitment agencies are advertising and interviewing people in this particular area all the time, this should mean they become good at spotting the good eggs, so providing the client with much needed expertise to pick out the winning candidates.

How do recruitment agencies make their money?

This is simple, for permanent positions recruitment agencies charges the client of the candidates starting salary, for example 15%. If the recruitment agencies don't fill the position, they make no fee. In the case of temporary recruitment, for example the supply of bank nurses to hospitals, in this case recruitment agencies employ the candidate and pays the salary, then passes on this bill, with their fee, to the client on a monthly basis.

Where do recruitment agencies advertise?

Most recruitment agencies advertise in several places at once. Examples are

• Industry specific publications, newspapers and magazines

• Local Newspapers

• National Newspapers

• Internet jobs sites, both industry specific and general.

How do you you register with recruitment agencies?

In most cases it's quick and easy to register on line, either via the recruitment agencies own website or through a jobs board on which they are advertising. In addition I would recommend following up any registration with a phone call. Recruitment consultants are bombarded with candidates constantly and a phone conversation will increase your profile with them, and with this your chances of being submitted to a job vacancy.

What happens after you register?

If your background is suitable a recruitment consultant will interview you, either face to face or on the phone. Following this, if you are successful they will submit you to a company for a particular company, after which you enter the company's own recruitment process.

Few people get the first few jobs they apply for so be persistent and don't be put of if your first few attempts don't result in employment.

good luck.