Recruitment Agencies
Some employers who need extra help with recruitment or have hard-to-fill/ niche roles may engage another company to help them source talent for their business. This company is called a recruitment agency, however they can be known by other names; recruitment consultancy, executive search firm or head-hunter.
Recruitment agencies operate as an extension to the company they are sourcing candidates for.
Agencies will be passed a role to recruit for by an employer. The employer will tell them about the role and benefits so the agency can sell the opportunity to prospective candidates. The agency will then will proactively source applicants through a number of different ways including posting jobs on job boards, looking at LinkedIn and CV upload databases, and attending events and fairs.
You can contact an agency directly, either by email or telephone and discuss about the kinds of roles you are interested in. If the agency thinks you are suitable, they will pass your CV on to organisations who are looking to hire. However, all personal information will be removed and invites to interviews and assessment centres will likely be managed through the agency. Some agencies may even conduct interviews on behalf of the company.
If the agency candidate is selected for hire, then the recruitment agency will usually charge a fee to the employer to hire the individual. At no point should you, as a potential candidate, be charged a fee for the agencies services as this is a contract between the agency and the employer
Using an agency is a good addition to your job hunt strategy as they may have access to roles which you do not find in your own search. However, they should be used in conjunction with your own search and outreach to employers and NOT as your only source of jobs as you may miss out on some great roles which do not get advertised through agencies.
A quick online search will bring up national and local agencies which could help you with your search. The likes of Adecco, Reed, Michael Page and Hays are well known names and would be good to sign up with. However these tend to be more generalist with experience in roles requiring some level of experience within the field. When looking for an agency, you should check that they are a member of the industry's professional body; The Recruitment & Employment Confederation, as this means they meet the industry standards and requirements.
There are some graduate specific agencies, specialising in the recruitment of graduates into companies and are used by many of the employers we engage with.
Some include:
Graduate Recruitment Bureau
Currently the market leading multi sector agency with over 23 years experience.
STEM Graduates
Specialists in roles with a STEM background
Sanctuary Graduates
Developed by students for students over 15 years ago, they specialise in building relationships with universities to gain access to students to help fill clients’ roles.
Give a Grad a Go
Multi-sector graduate hiring agency, with over 10 years of experience.
Agency Central
Multi-sector graduate hiring agency, with over 20 years of experience.
When looking for agencies to work with you should check:
#1 They specialise: Top recruitment agencies specialise in areas and do not attempt to recruit for everyone. They will have a better understanding of the area you are keen to get into.
#2 They understand both the role and the client: A knowledgeable recruiter in the role and company is a strong sign that they work closely with the company and really understand the requirements.
#3 They have a good website and feedback: Testimonials with hints and tips is a good sign that the agency cares about its clients. If previous candidates have had a positive experience, then it’s likely that you will too!
#4 They are honest and transparent with you: Good agencies are realistic, honest and help to manage your expectations. Even if they aren’t the answers you’re looking for. It’s your career and you deserve to know what’s going on!
#5 They build relationships: A good recruiter will take time to get to know you, your experience and your future plans. They will use this to help recommend suitable roles and companies for you without pressuring you if the role isn’t quite right.
Don’t forget we are always happy to help you with every aspect of your career planning and development, wherever you are in your journey. If you are unclear about where to start or what to focus on first, just make an appointment with a Careers Consultant via Surrey Pathfinder and we can help you develop a plan for moving forward.
Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion careers resources to find out more about diversity initiatives, employer perspectives and support at Surrey.
If you would like more information, visit MySurrey Help to find answers to the most common questions and details on how to ask us a question if you require more support.
