Recruitment agencies
Choose the right agency for your needs
Recruitment agencies have vacancies that might not be advertised elsewhere. You will also regularly see job advertisements placed in the press by agencies on behalf of employers.
Types of agency
Think about what type of agency is most suitable for you.
- General ‘high street’ agencies that place people into a range of roles within organisations
- Specialist agencies that deal with jobs in a particular sector
- Graduate recruitment specialists that place graduates into a variety of sectors
Look through recruitment agencies categorised by occupational sector on the Recruitment and Employment Confederation website.
Types of job
Recruitment agencies deal with permanent, ‘temporary to permanent’ and temporary jobs. If you are interested in a particularly competitive sector, a temporary job can provide a way in to longer-term employment.
How do I register with a recruitment agency?
You register usually by appointment if it’s a specialist agency. If it’s a more general agency you can usually just call in, but take a copy of your CV.
You may well have to complete an additional registration form.
Online recruitment agencies
Some recruitment agencies offer a web-based service, especially those that specialise in IT recruitment or concentrate on a specific sector.
Some have an online vacancy database that you can browse. Others require you to register with them and then charge employers to search the database for suitable candidates.
Planning to use an online agency?
- Does the type of employer you want to work for use this recruitment method?
- Is the agency reputable? Do they subscribe to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s code of practice?
- Check how employers get to see your details.
- Ask how you can control who sees your information.
- Don’t pay - reputable agencies charge the employer, not you.