subject: The role of recruitment companies [print this page] The role of recruitment companies The role of recruitment companies
Are recruitment companies a blessing or bane in today's job market? To answer this we need to better understand how recruitment companies work and how to work with recruitment companies for best results.
Recruitment companies earn revenue by placing candidates with companies who have vacancies. Recruitment companies are the intermediary between the employer and the employee, and the recruitment companies endeavour to match up connections which may not have existed without their intervention. Obviously candidates in the market have the option to go directly to organisations, but recruitment companies have carved out a successful industry in acting as the go between by developing relations between a) the candidates and recruitment companies, and b) employers and the recruitment companies.
Recruitment companies are engaged by a client company for positions with a particular skills profile, and it is the recruitment companies' role to seek that type of candidate. Recruitment companies benefit candidates because the recruitment companies provide an 'agent' to the job seeker. But do employers see this as a benefit when they have to pay fees to the recruitment companies?
Recruitment companies obtain new requirements through careful client cultivation by consultants working for the recruitment companies or through inbound leads. Sometimes, recruitment companies will approach companies with an exceptional CV; however, be careful of recruitment companies who don't qualify whether they are recruiting for a specific role or merely using your CV. This process can work very well for candidates and recruitment companies if done properly, honestly and with open lines of communication between the candidates and the recruitment companies.
Recruitment companies should always tell you the company they are recruiting for and get your approval first. You should expect this as part of the service you receive from the recruitment companies you are dealing with. When following up with your recruitment companies know that the recruitment companies should be asking for feedback on a regular basis for you.
Most recruitment companies operate with your best interests in mind as it's in the interest of the recruitment companies to place a candidate successfully so that the recruitment companies can get their commission. However, if you feel the recruitment companies are not keeping your best interest in mind, communicate this to your partner recruitment companies and insist on better service from the recruitment companies. The more you communicate openly with your recruitment companies, the better the relationships you will build with the recruitment companies.
