Job hunting takes time and effort. The great thing about recruitment agencies is they can do some of the leg work for you.

Employers pay recruitment agencies to find the right people for jobs. While they shouldn’t charge you a fee for helping you to find work, some agencies charge for additional services such as helping to improve your CV or interview skills.

How do I sign up with a recruitment agency?

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation website allows you to search for agencies by local area and industry. Once you’ve contacted them they’ll probably ask you to submit your CV and arrange a meeting to discuss your CV in more detail.

Most agencies advertise their jobs on sites like S1Jobs and Monster. If you submit a job application, they may ask to contact you about any future vacancies.

Many agencies have a speciality, such as marketing or HR so make sure you approach the right ones to avoid wasting your time

How do I get the most out of a recruitment agency?

  • Make a good first impression.  When you go in for your initial meeting, prepare as you would for a job interview and make sure you dress smartly. If the recruitment consultant is impressed with you and your CV, they will be far more likely to put you forward for good jobs.
  • If you’re keen to work in a particular field, signing up with a specialist agency can be a smart move as they’ll have a greater insight into the job roles on offer and are less likely to put you forward for the wrong jobs.
  • Don’t sign up with more than four agencies at one time as it will lead to confusion.
  • Give the recruitment agency as much detail as possible about your skills, education and experience. The more information you provide the easier it is for them to match you to jobs.
  • Be honest. If you have specific salary expectations, you don’t want to work in a certain area or you don’t think you have the right skills for some jobs, be upfront about it. While there are some things you shouldn’t tell a potential employer, you need to be honest with your recruitment consultant.
  • Read all job descriptions very carefully. Remember, recruitment agencies get paid to fill vacancies. Look carefully at the tasks and responsibilities, as well the salary and benefits and make your mind up for yourself.

What next?

Use Job Search to look for current job vacancies across Scotland.

When you’re ready to apply for a job, My CV can help you to build a CV step by step.

If you are leaving school or college and don’t have much experience of job interviews, My Interview can help you understand what to expect. It’s also a great tool if you’ve been in the workplace for a while, but want to brush up on your interview skills.