Why use a recruiter?

 14 Jan 2022

Let’s face it, job hunting is a time consuming and exhausting business and it can be a bit of a minefield. Where do you even start?

Take heart, you don’t need to do it alone.

If you’re working in a specialist industry such as Tax, having a recruiter whose sole focus is your area of expertise to help you through it can be really beneficial.

Why?

Market knowledge

No matter how well networked you are, invariably your recruiter will know some things you don’t. It’s their job to have a broad and deep knowledge of the market.

They can update you on current recruitment trends, tell you who’s doing what, and give a considered view on whether something might work or not.

They will be able to provide insights based on their day to day recruitment experience combined with their industry expertise.

A trusted advisor

Whilst this is an often overused term, it completely sums up the relationship you should have with your agent. Working with a recruiter should go beyond them just finding you a new role.

Some of the ways in which they can support you include:

• General career advice on anything from exams to promotion prospects etc. They can help you recognise your true worth.
• Helping you with your CV, ensuring it captures and showcases your skills and experience in the best way possible.
• Acting as a sounding board on a variety of topics, e.g. when might be the most opportune time for you to make your next career move? Sometimes the best advice will be for you to stay put in your current role for the time being; sometimes it won’t.
• Time saving. Each company has its own recruitment process so making job applications can be time consuming and onerous, especially when you’re juggling work commitments.
• Honesty. Your agent should tell you how it is. If your expectations are unrealistic, whether too high or too low, they can guide you. Better to hear what’s reasonable from your agent than scupper your chances with a prospective employer at interview.
• Another perspective. There is always more than one way to look at every situation. This can often be a revelation and can assist you in gathering the right tools to present yourself the way you want to.
• Your agent could have ideas you’ve not thought of.

Use their network

Recruiters will have vast network of relationships with both Line and HR across a myriad of firms.

In leveraging your agent’s relationships you are gaining access to potentially hot off the press information which may include future, as yet unadvertised, recruitment plans.

There is a vibrant hidden job market out there where roles are filled before they even get to market. (Published estimates of the size of this hidden gem have ranged from 75 to 95 percent of the total job market). This often happens as a result of informal conversations between an employer and a recruiter, or a speculative CV hitting the right person’s desk at a time when their hiring plans are just beginning to formulate in their mind.

Some firms won’t accept speculative applications without a live vacancy, but if your recruiter knows the right person, sometimes magic happens anyway.

Knowing the structure of a particular firm’s recruitment process is often essential too in ensuring that your application doesn’t fall through the cracks and is consistently followed up on, rather than you hearing nothing back and it leaving you feeling disillusioned.

Moreover, your agent may give you access to opportunities you might not otherwise have considered, but which ultimately turn out to be the right move for you.

Salary benchmarking

Your recruiter will have market rate salary bandings at their fingertips.

Think you’re being underpaid? Ask your recruiter.

The interview process

Not only will your recruiter be able to provide you with useful background to the roles you are interviewing for, but they can often also provide information about the culture and the team, including team structure and who will be interviewing you.

They will be able to coach you at each stage of the process, from informal chats through to competency based and technical interviews.

At the senior end, they can help you with your business plans and preparation for panel interview.

An experienced mentor at every step of the way.

The go-between

Applying directly to a company can sometimes be a breeze, but for many people the lack of a mentor through the process can leave them feeling unsure and all at sea. A friendly voice on hand for you to bounce your insecurities off, who will put things into perspective for you objectively and without emotion, is invaluable.

A recruiter will give your feedback on the interview to the employer and give you their feedback in return. So you know where you are. If there are development points for you to note from the interview, your recruiter should tell you. These are not always easy to hear, but constructive observations can really help you prepare better for future interviews.

You can ask your recruiter questions that you would feel uncomfortable asking the employer directly. They can sense check things for you on the q.t. and position things for you with the employer in a way that isn’t detrimental to your application. 

Your agent is a great buffer when it comes to potentially awkward situations, e.g. salary negotiations. They can have the conversations with the employer that you might feel too embarrassed to have. Along with being able to tell you if the offer is reasonable or not.

If you are in the fortunate position of considering multiple offers, your recruiter can help you analyse the pros and cons of each one, throwing their additional market insights into the mix.

Recruiters are too pushy?

Any recruiter worth their salt won’t be trying to push you into a role that’s not right for you. At the end of the day that sort of practice doesn’t do anyone’s reputation any good.

If you find the right one they will have your best interests at heart.

A good recruiter will be invested in your career as a whole and will be on hand whenever you fancy an update, not just when they think you might make a move.

Considering a career move is highly emotive and can be mentally draining. Having an impartial mentor with their finger on the pulse can make all the difference.