Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Monday Mission October 22, 2012

Monday, October 22, 2012

Monday Mission October 22, 2012

WHY SHOULD I WORK WITH A STAFFING AGENCY?

One of the many things that I preach to my clients over and over is to register with as many staffing agencies as possible and stay in touch with them. This is important for several reasons:

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Many employers only hire through staffing agencies
Staffing agencies should be considered another source of job openings
Recruiters at staffing agencies can often provide valuable feedback about your match with specific employers
Often, the staffing agencies have insight into what a particular employer is looking for or how to get a "leg up" above the competition
Staffing agencies often provide "Temp to Perm" positions, not just temporary positions (although this may also be a good way to impress an employer)
A recruiter's recommendation of you may carry more weight with an employer than you or your references alone

In short, a job seeker may be considered for jobs he or she might not otherwise have been or at the very least be able to garner an edge over the competition by working with a Staffing Agency.

Job seekers often still ask, "Why should I work with a Staffing Agency?" Why do many job seekers resist taking advantage of this other source for jobs? It is a mystery to me! My thoughts are that they just don't understand the benefit and/or have misconceptions about what staffing agencies are or do.

It is my hope that the benefits above and a few tips on how to work with a staffing agency will make it a more appealing option and part of the job search process.

HOW TO WORK WITH A STAFFING AGENCY

There are a few things to be aware of if you do register with staffing agencies:

Staffing agencies often specialize in specific types of employment
You should treat them as you would an employer - don't get too personal or share information you wouldn't with an employer
Registration processes may vary widely - some will handle everything over the phone or online, others may ask you to come in person and even test or interview
Almost all recruiters at staffing agencies will tell you that you don't have to worry about following up (don't call us, we'll call you)
You do need to follow up to:

Ensure they know you are still looking
Develop a relationship with the recruiter
Obtain information from the recruiter
So they think of you first when an opportunities arises

Utilizing a staffing agency should be just one part of a job search plan. A job seeker still needs to identify openings through other methods if they are to be successful!