Working with companies to fill vacancies

Learning about job vacancies

The first thing that recruitment agencies do is liaising with companies that have job vacancies. They might reach out to companies with vacancies, or the companies might reach out to them. Either way, the recruiter will start to gather a list of job vacancies that a particular company needs filling.

It's important that the recruiter finds out as much information as possible about the job vacancies so that they can find the perfect candidates for the job later down the line.

Sourcing candidates

Once the recruitment agency has all the information about the jobs, they can start to source suitable candidates. This happens in two different ways. Either:

• The recruiters sift through their database of existing candidates looking for jobs, highlighting anyone that's a good fit for the role(s).
• The recruiters post the job vacancies online, allowing potential candidates to apply for the job role(s) directly.

Assessing candidates

It's likely that the recruitment agency will hold some preliminary interviews with the potential candidates. This helps them create a shortlist of the very best candidates for the job, that can then be handed over to the client/company.

To assess candidates, recruitment agencies might hold telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, or ask the candidates to complete a test. These initial stages in the recruitment process can take up a lot of time for companies, which is why it's beneficial to outsource this work and be presented with a shortlist of the best candidates at the end.

Working with candidates to find jobs

Alongside working with the clients to help them find the right candidates, recruitment agencies also work directly with job-seekers to help them find their dream jobs. This process is slightly different!

Learning about the candidate

A candidate will typically get in touch with a recruitment agency when they've decided to look for a new job. They may be unemployed, looking to progress, or interested in a career change. The recruitment agency will spend some time getting to know the candidate, their skills, their job expectations, desired job locations, and much more. All of this information can be used by the recruiters to match them with the right job.

Providing job application support and advice

Another thing that recruitment agencies do is helping to prepare candidates for job interviews. It's possible that some of the candidates that approach recruitment agencies are looking for their first job - perhaps they've only just left university and are keen to find a graduate role. Some candidates may have been in their old job for several years, in which time, they've forgotten how to interview confidently.

Whatever the circumstances of the candidates, recruitment agencies can be great sources of support and advice to help make sure potential candidates have the skills and knowledge to get their dream job.

Working behind the scenes

Whether you're a candidate looking for a job or a company trying to fill a vancancy, you can be sure that working with a recruitment agency will take some of the pressure of the job hunt.

Recruitment agencies work behind the scenes to match the perfect people to the perfect jobs, meaning everyone involved can get on with their day-to-day activities without the added stress.

This is great if you're a busy company with little time to spare for recruitment, or if you're a working professional who can't take time out of your schedule to find your next job.