We get a lot of feedback from jobseekers saying good and bad things about recruitment consultants in the UK -
But, we want to hear from you - what are your experiences? Good or bad - have they done an exceptional job for you, helped you back to work, or left you feeling worthless?
Lets use this - even mention names if you like, and compare peoples experiences.
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UK Recruitment Consultants - What do you think?
Monday 20 July 2009Posted by TwitJobs at 18:21
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11 comments:
Mixture -
I've had good and bad experiences I guess, like anyone they are only human and some are obviously better than others.
I got my current job using one, but often wonder if I would have got the role without their help...
I think they do a hard job well.
But - i am curious about the amount of training they have into human interaction and treating people professional, rather than like their commission cheque.
I agree, its a hard job for sure and some people just arent meant to do it. But then theres some that should just quit!
I once referred one of my friends to an agency i had used before and they ended up getting the job, and i got £50! i thought hang on a minute, the agency probably earnt £1,000's from that...
bah hate them they are useless
I only have experience of London consultants, and in general I think they give a pretty bad name to the industry.
Many are from a thinking that the more people they put in front of employers the better chance they have of getting commission.
Treating people like numbers or using a old sales technique of the 'numbers game' is going to make you feel that way.
I'm sure there are another 100 good ones for each bad one though. (hope!)
waste of space
I think there are good and bad recruiters like with anything, perhaps just a few more bad than good in this industries.
I'm one myself, and I hope that the people I have worked with have had a good experience. Sure there have been times when I've had my bosses shouting at me to make the placement and not to get too tied to the candidate when I was training up and perhaps those candidates didn't have the best experience. We all have targets to meet, but I've learnt that building good relationships and providing candidates with a service is absolutely key.
Since moving to my current employer I've taken the approach of meeting every candidate that we send on interview to make sure that they receive a service as well as the client finding the talent they require.
The first thing I say to candidates is 'tell me about your ideal job and where you'd like to take your career', as a recruiter if you get bother to understand this, find your candidate their dream job and give them a positive experience along the way they'll come back to you. Perhaps the next time they themselves are in a recruiting position and all of a sudden you're a preferred supplier with ample repeat business. Repeat business is the way to be successful.
There's no need to be a bully in this industry, candidates will take the job that's right for them and turn away those that aren't, just the same as a client will to candidates. If you don't treat your candidates like a commission cheque, and do things right then you'll always be better off and the word will spread quickly.
That's my opinion anyway!
As someone who has both been seeking jobs, and also recruited significant numbers in my HR career, I feel that I'm in as good a position as any to comment from both sides of the recruitment fence.
At the most basic level, the customer care from many agencies for the applicant is at best half-hearted and at worst offensive. There are clear exceptions to this, and many of the major names are totally professional in their approach.
Personally, my major gripe is over the level of engagement with an applicant once he or she has taken the time to produce and submit a CV or letter of application for a particular post. When I have deliberately and strategically applied for a role that is well below my level of seniority and expertise, I do not expect to receive an automated rejection letter that tells me that I don't have the necessary skills and experience. But then at least this is marginally (just!) better than receiving no feedback at all,or even a letter (or e-mail) of acknowledgement.
There are a number of areas where improvement is required immediately if the name of recruiters is not to be dragged through the mud:
1. There is a need for a clear Recruitment Code of Practice to be adhered to by recruiting agencies.
2. Particularly in the current economic climate, expenses incurred by candidatees should be reimbursed by either agencies or recruiting organisations.
3. All candidatates should be entitled to receive regular progress updates on their applications once submitted.
4. There should be a requirement for comprehensive candidate feedback following a decision on the role.
5. The nature of the selection process needs to be publicised and adhered to.
6. Even more comprehensive feedback to candidates should be mandated when psychometric tests have been used.
7. All consultants should be required to have undertaken a basic level of interview training.
8. All recruitment consultancies should be required to have and to publicise a governance statement.
9. All applicants should be provided with a written commitment of what they can expect to receive in terms of service and support from any recruitment agency.
10. The practice of flooding job boards with multiple postings of the same job (yes, JAM, I mean you!!) needs to stop.
11. When more than one agency is involved in the recruitment for a particular client, this needs to be stated.
One could add many more gripes and recommendations for improvement, but essentially all this is down to courtesy, commom sense and self-preservation, especially as today's candidate is potentially tomorrow's client, and therefore a failure to satisfy them at this stage will have inevitable consequences at the next
In short like any industry you get good ones and bad ones. Where I think nearly all of them fall down is if the candidate is not suitable for the l
roll. At this point you never hear from them again and for the most part they they ignor all communication from you. I kinda put most of them on par with Estate Agents and Lawyers. Let me know your thoughts on Twitter @malcyork
So far I have had a good experience with them actaully, but I have to say, because I am nice to them and continue being nice, they eventually reciprocate!
In view of the opinion that they will never call you if you don't fit the bill-come on! That's obvious! The problem is that many jobseekers are emotional and need a source of support. This is not the role of the recruitment consultant. They are simply operations.... they have a role and they want to find the right person to fill it.
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