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Brief guide to working with recruitment agencies as a candidate

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There are many types of recruitment agencies out there, but generally it boils down to 2 types:

1. They have consistent clients/roles and are servicing them = Job led (Talent Partner)
2. They don’t have consistent clients/roles but are building them = candidate led (Agency)

While the first option can have roles you immediately slot into (which makes it worthwhile to have a call with them) but if they can’t place you in their current roles, then they will not send your resume to new people as they’re busy servicing their current clients.

You want 2. as for them to build clients, they must approach companies with relevant candidates. This is great as a tool for outreach because if you mention companies you’re interested in, they’ll approach them directly! They are also hungrier as if they don’t get you hired, then they make no profit.

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Ensure you diversify as no recruiter can serve the entire market, otherwise where would they headhunt from?

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What matters more is not the company but the recruiter on the other end. While standards across the company dictates a level of output, it’s really about the person. Personally I don’t work with specific agencies, I work with specific people from these agencies.

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A warning

An old school recruitment agency tactic for building out new clients is calling candidates to screen them and then asking them where they are interviewing, for which they’ll later approach that company to fill the role. This isn’t good for you because you are already in process so they technically cannot gain a fee from this. They’ll then probably use other candidates they called up and blind submit them across.

So what I’m saying is be careful with what information you leak, not every agency recruiter is bad and sometimes cross selling candidates based on where they are interviewing is actually beneficial. I’ve definitely been influenced to interview Candidates knowing they’re interviewing with Competitors.

Don’t be put of by this, it’s easily avoided and not super common. But be safe.

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Why should you use a recruiting agency?

• They have alpha on the company and process beyond the job description
  • Some roles at early startups will be released early to them
• They have connections to many who might be the company you’re looking for
• Good recruiters help you improve the signal you present and are less afraid to provide you with feedback during the process. They want you to win so they win which is the best type of partnership.

How should you use a recruiting agency?

How to find one?

A quick google but honestly, you should just direct message your colleagues and network with the same skills on who they have dealt with that’s been good. Ask internal recruiters as well, but not when you are interviewing with them 🙂

Or use my list .