The hidden benefits of using a recruitment agency

The benefits of using a recruitment agency in your job search are plentiful. Having someone to help lighten the load of a sometimes stressful and time-intensive process is just one, but some aspects of what they can provide may not be as obvious. Being aware that you are not alone in the process can offer much reassurance and should not be disregarded. So, what exactly are you getting when you use a recruitment specialist like Robertson Bell?

An expert sounding board

During a job hunt, many of us are likely to turn to friends or family to ask for advice, look over our application and bounce ideas off. This frequently results in some useful wisdom and can also help you to organise your own thoughts. Your recruitment consultant provides the same, except that they are armed with specific experience which will allow them to give informed advice. 

Consultants are not there to simply tell you what you want to hear, their role is to make sure that you have the best chance possible at securing a role and will put actions in place which they know will improve your chances, whether that be adjusting your CV or giving advice on what to wear to interview. 

A view from above

Having a recruiter on your side essentially means that you have all of their contacts on speed dial too. Recruiters are masters at networking and know about all of the movers and shakers in the market and who might be looking for a new hire. But beyond that, they have the advantage of a bird’s eye view over the entire industry, which means that they have oversight over wider trends, such as that charities are need of those with a particular skill set for example. 

There is no one else with a better sense of what employers want - after all they speak to them every single day. Their advice isn’t based on guesswork, it is grounded in real life conversations and unrivalled industry insights. 

It’s not guesswork 

There is nothing worse than consistently applying for jobs that you have no idea if you have any chance of securing. Not only are consultants your cheerleaders, there to ensure that you are showcasing your value to potential employers and encouraging you to strive for the best, but they will also keep your expectations in check. 

They won’t put you through a lengthy application process unnecessarily, for example if they know that the employer needs someone with extensive experience with a particular software that you simple do not have, as applying would not be the best use of your time.

You can rest assured, however that they are doing everything they can to ensure that employers are not being narrow minded and are considering applicants who do not necessarily have the specific experience they want. 

Finding a loyal, hardworking individual who integrates well into the team is often a highly sought-after outcome for an employer, but something rarely advertised. Consultants know the value that non-technical skills can bring as well as the benefit of experience gained from varied work backgrounds, and will work hard to highlight this at every turn. 

You’re not in this alone 

One aspect of the job hunt, which is often overlooked is how lonely an experience it can be. Firing off job applications day in, day out can be exhausting and if you have no one to share it with, especially if your peers are all employed, it is easy to feel isolated. Not to mention the fact that it is often stressful, time-consuming and requires resilience. 

Anyone who has been rejected from a job or has never heard back after submitting a lengthy application knows how demoralising it can be, so much so that a new term of Job Search Fatigue has now been coined. Navigating the emotional roller-coaster that is job hunting can challenging and much research has been done on the connection serial job searching has to depression and other mental health conditions.

Having a consultant at your side who understands exactly what you are going through, can make the process feel much more manageable and gives you opportunities for debriefing after an interview or practising answering questions. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved. They know that the process of finding the right job takes time and as they place candidates every day, they can also reassure you that however you feel is understandable and normal. 

Knowing that you have an expert on the case who is giving your application as much exposure as possible, as well as matching you to the jobs best suited to your skillset, can offer peace of mind, alleviate some of the pressure and provide emotional support and reassurance as you look for an exciting new role.

If you’re looking to take on a new role, whether it be permanent or temporary, we know the industry inside-out and can help you to find a role that fits your skillset – get in touch with our team today: https://www.robertsonbell.co.uk/