FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FQA'S)

Q: How do I find employment in the UK?

A: Things are a bit different in the UK - it’s not quite the same as looking for work in NZ, Aust or South Africa. You need to contact recruitment agencies. Most employers contract agencies to recruit staff and the recruitment industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK.

Q: What are Recruitment Agencies?

A: Recruitment Agencies are your key to finding employment in the UK! They source candidates for UK jobs. It is in their interests to find you work because their revenue is based on being paid a fee based on the wages you earn.

Q: What does it cost to register with an agency?

A: Nothing. Unless you are looking for modelling or acting type work an agency is not legally permitted to charge you. They make money only when they have placed you in work and then their percentage is added to your wage and charged to the employer, not to you.

Q: How do I choose a Recruitment Agency?

A: Choosing the right recruitment consultancy for you isn’t easy, especially when you’re half a globe away from them. With hundreds of recruitment consultancies in London alone, how do you know which ones to choose? And, how do you know whether they’re actually listening to and understanding your needs or just going through the motions? Here are a few tips to put you on the right track.

Before you leave

The essential thing is to make contact with agencies before you act but don’t think the work stops there. You’re better off signing up with a few agencies rather than relying on one. Spreading your assets will improve your chances of securing work but be prudent. Signing up to too many can be confusing.

Research your choices

Not all agencies specialise in one specific area and can recruit for a variety of different disciplines. Research the agencies thoroughly so you know you are registering with the right companies to find your employment.

Be interactive

Select the agencies you like and have a look at their websites. You can usually tell how professional an organisation is from their website, after all it’s often the first port of call for potential clients as well as candidates, and is therefore how the consultancy has chosen to portray itself to the public.

Industry Standard

Find out if the agencies you choose are members of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC); it’s essentially a body that regulates recruitment agencies through a strict code of conduct. It will give you peace of mind about their ethics if nothing else.

Making Contact

Assess an agency’s performance through their dealings with you. How they present themselves, their website, their literature and act face to face is a reflection of how they will present you to clients. Ask yourself if their performance is up to scratch. If it isn’t, how realistic is it that they can get you the interview you want?

Email

If you contact a company via email see how quickly they respond. This reflects their efficiency.  However do not send them time wasting emails - they have a job to do!

Phone

How quickly they answer the phone and how polite they are to you, reflects their professionalism.

Interview/Meeting

Make sure you meet your consultant face to face, at their offices. How can they recommend you for work when they do not know you? Essentially the consultant should be treated as an employee as they are the ones that will be recommending you to places of work. It is also sensible to appreciate that you will not have strong relationships with all consultants you meet, but those that you relate well to are likely to be able to represent you more effectively.

Be Early

Get there early and have a read of any literature they have out about themselves; also note what kind of magazines and papers they have available for you to read – it shows their awareness of the industries they focus on and the level to which they recruit.

In The Meeting

Conversations should be two way, so make sure the consultant doesn’t talk at you and vice versa. Listen to what they have to say about opportunities, how in demand your skill set is, but also be certain they listen and take on board your requests. Ask questions to make sure.

Deciding

When the meeting is over, don’t be rushed into making a decision. Equally so remember you will be one of many so don’t take ages! Take your time before agreeing to work with a recruitment consultancy. It’s in your best interests to choose with care.

Q: How many agencies should I register with?

A: It is perfectly acceptable and indeed recommended to register with several agencies. Ensure though that each consultant advises you when they are putting your CV forward for a role to prevent different agencies submitting your details to the same company.