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For some of us, the experience of going through a recruitment agency has been positive, and for others, not so much. It’s interesting to understand Job Seeker’s thought process when they are looking for a new role. Many people default to a recruitment agency because they know no better or believe that all jobs go through an agency. We’ve surveyed hundreds of Job Seekers and, to no surprise, a whopping 60% said they wouldn’t use a recruitment agency if they had a choice. Now, we all have a choice, but when there is an opportunity that presents itself, it’s hard to say no just because of the way you may feel. So next time your searching for your next opportunity, here are 6 things to considering when using a recruitment agency. Hint: Take what they say with a grain of salt.

1. You’re just another number.

This is quite a harsh reality. Many think it, many know it, but many don’t want to accept it. When you walk through the doors of a recruitment agency, we’re afraid to inform you, that you are just another number in a saturated database filled with others, if not, equally qualified candidates. You’ve experienced it, we’ve experienced it. Most candidates are generally forgotten about the next day. The reality is, recruiters, bring in more candidates then what any human is capable to manage, it’s inevitable to be another number. If you want to make the most out of a recruitment agency, make sure you constantly follow them up. Be on the top of their mind so when that opportunity arises, your already there.

2. Recruiters want their commission

Now, we’re not saying this is a bad thing by any means, we all want to get paid for the work we do, right? But it’s something you need to keep in mind. A recruiter that works for an agency is in it for the bucks. Your another sale to them. Money in their pocket. An increase to their monthly target. So next time a recruiter says, “Hey, I have the perfect role for you”, take it with a grain a salt and ask every question under the sun before agreeing to apply for it. There is nothing worse, then setting the wrong expectation upon yourself, and get excited over a potential opportunity that wasn’t quite what was made out to be. And, whatever you do, absolutely do not agree to allow recruiters to throw your resume around without your permission. This brings us to our next point!

3. Recruiters work for the employer

Have you seen a role advertised by a recruiter and never know who it’s for? No company name? No salary? Yet, they expect people to apply. This isn’t necessarily a result of the recruitment agency hiding information, but the employer not wanting to disclose it. In some cases, the reasoning might be valid but let’s be real here, if you’re looking to work for an organization and devoting part of your life to that place, transparency is key. Doesn’t it raise more questions than answers? What else could they be hiding? Are they hiding the job from their internal staff? Then deeper questions arise. What if someone is losing their job but doesn’t know it? What if that person was me in the future? There is a lack of ability to truly understand the business you have or want to apply for. The additional hurdle creates a communication barrier where the truth may be clouded. The last thing you want as a candidate is to start a new job and to only regret the decision because you didn’t have all the facts.

4. Placement is priority

You get a phone call from a recruiter after your initial meeting. Excited by all the potential prospects that come out of the conversation from career opportunities to upcoming businesses and innovative environments, to only be let down with an actual opportunity that doesn’t meet your salary expectations. This is quite notorious in the recruiting world. We know you made your salary clear during the initial meeting. You know what you’re worth and you should never forget that but that doesn’t mean recruiters will always adhere to it. In some cases, and yes, we certainly agree, it’s better to have the candidate say no to an opportunity then to assume, but when the salary is $10k + less then what you are already on, it becomes frustrating and poor candidate experience – Just don’t bother.  One must ask, “are my interests and values important here?” How would they feel if I accepted a role earning far less money? Let me tell you. They’d be running to be bank laughing on another’s misfortune.

5. Placement Potential

Some of us are new to the workforce. Others have years of experience in various industries. Some can be difficult to deal with. So, what happens to those more ‘difficult’ candidates? We’re not talking about hard fill roles; we’re talking about people who may not fit in as well as others. Do they try harder? Do they provide honest feedback and potential solutions? Or do they just put you in the ‘hard basket?”  If a recruiter doesn’t see potential in you for whatever reason, chances are you will never hear from them again. If you’re too much work, the effort outweighs the gain, so they’ll just move on to the next one. They also don’t want to put forward a candidate that may reflect poorly on their reputation. If you’ve never heard back from a recruiter, try to reach out and get feedback where possible and don’t let constructive feedback hurt your ego.

6. What’s a cultural fit?

Culture is becoming more and more important in the workplace today. Studies show that the top priority for job seekers in Australia is work-life balance. And we all know that work-life balance plays an integral part in defining a good culture. It’s difficult to say that recruitment agencies are recruiting for a cultural fit. Who really knows the culture of an organization when you don’t work there? Having a short meeting and talking about culture or seeing people in a relaxed environment in casual clothing does not mean you understand the culture of the organization. To get the best understanding of an organization or culture, make sure you do your research. Look for company reviews and see what previous or current employees have to say.

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Unless you’re an executive or a very talented candidate in a niche industry where quality lacks, then you need to ask yourself, “what value can a recruitment agency provide me?”. Now, in saying that, we certainly recommend keeping all your options open. You never know where you will find your next opportunity but it’s important to be realistic and understand you are not the only one, they’re trying to help. So if you think you’re going to walk through the doors and have an easy and delightful journey filled with endless opportunities where businesses will throw money at you, then think again. As a candidate who has dealt with countless recruitment agencies and fluffy language that may engage you and give you hope, it’s disappointing to admit that no positive stories came from my experiences. Let’s hope your journey is not the same.