Whether you’re looking for project work or a full-time job, working with a staffing agency greatly improves your chances of finding a job that fits your specific skills, experience, and career goals.
If you want to build a successful relationship with an agency, it is important to understand and respect the protocol. Staffing agencies are hired, and paid, by companies to identify quality talent. This means that a recruiter’s goal is to not only find the right talent for their client, but also the best fit for their candidates – short term and long term. This entails not only a skills and competency match, but also a culture match.
A staffing agency wants to place you but never at the expense of their client in what might result in a short-term placement and parting of ways. Their goal is to submit your resume to opportunities with the closest match to your background and experience. Your goal should be to build a long-lasting, trusted relationship with the agency, especially if they specialize in your industry. You may not think that keeping them up to date on your career moves or industry related work (speaking engagements or obtained certifications) are important, but the more they know, the better position they are in to market your skills. It’s also a great idea to seek their advice on which areas of your career you can improve upon.
Second, what the staffing agency expects from you. A professional and reliable staffing agency will work with you early on to set expectations around communication, feedback and the process they follow when setting up interviews for potential jobs. Always ask these questions before working with an agency:
· What can you expect when working with them?
· What is the preferred communication protocol?
· How often will they communicate with you?
· Will they share feedback with you regarding your interviews and resume?
Third, it is important to find a staffing agency that is open and honest with you. You want to find an agency that:
· Provides feedback that helps emphasize your strengths to potential employers.
· Is well networked and knowledgeable in your field of expertise.
· Is truthful when the job isn’t the right fit.
· Keeps you informed throughout the interview and hiring process.
· Is able to provide career guidance and best practices as it relates to industry trends.
· Is well informed on the compensation trends for your profession and is prepared to negotiate on your behalf.
However, you also need to reciprocate. Staffing agencies can only do their jobs well when candidates are honest with them. You must be truthful about your skillset, experience level, job preferences and career goals. If you have schedule restrictions, gaps in employment or a criminal record, please communicate that upfront. While you may be hesitant to share certain information for fear that it will impact your chances of getting a job, not telling the truth can damage your reputation and affect your future job prospects.
The fourth and final key to successfully working with a staffing agency is to make sure they are a good fit. There are many staffing agencies available and you need to make sure that you find the right fit for your specific needs. Finding a staffing agency that specializes in your industry is a necessity as well as working with someone whom you feel comfortable with and trust to give you honest feedback.
We’re here to help you in meeting your career aspirations in any way that we can. Sign up for our BCM Career Alert notifications at https://www.bcmanagement.com/business-continuity-jobs to ensure you receive timely new career notifications matching your search preferences. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have. Arrange a complimentary discussion today at info@bcmanagement.com.