Recruitment Agencies – They’ve gone digital

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In my quest for post-university employment, I sent myself out to Birmingham City Centre to hit the agencies. I went to the following places: Randstad, Key Personnel, Office Angels, Blue Arrow, Pertemps and Brook Street.

I got positive responses from all of the agencies, they liked the fact that I’m a graduate and that I have office experience, but instead of taking a paper copy of my CV, they all wanted me to email it to them so that it would go straight onto their databases for their clients to search through. Only Blue Arrow took my CV from me, while Office Angels had a look through it.

You might think that it was a waste of time then?

I don’t think so. From each of the agencies I got a contact to send my CV to, rather than a generic “recruitment@suchandsuchaplace.co.uk”. At least I know who is going to be dealing with my CV and I have somewhere to email my queries to or an updated CV as it changes and adapts due to experience. I hope to establish a working relationship from the contacts I have been given: they will see what jobs are suitable for my level of experience and I have to give them all of the information necessary to assist them in the search while continuing to conduct my own job hunts.

Here are my top tips for using recruitment agencies

1. Do your research: If you know what area you want to work in then search for agencies that will give you that. Don’t go to a recruitment agency that specialises in catering or engineering when you’re after office work.

2. Take a map: Many of the recruitment agencies in Birmingham are on New Street but there are some hidden away in smaller roads. I did a Google search for “Recruitment Agencies in Birmingham” and they were plotted nicely onto a Google Map for me. You will find that having a map with them on there will help you plan your route carefully as well.

3. Don’t forget a paper copy: Despite only one agency wanting a copy of my CV, you never know when someone may want to look at it.

4. Take your laptop with you: One thing I should have done after I finished my search was to take myself away to somewhere with decent wifi coverage such as Starbucks or even a Wetherspoons and email the agencies my CV there and then. It’s fresh in the mind then.

5. Don’t worry or be nervous: Something I’m prone to doing, but just take a deep breath and relax, they’re trying to help you.

  • http://hetoreahamstring.me.uk/ Ro

    It’s well worth making a telephone call to the said agencies to see if a consultant will be available to meet with you and go through a detailed registration when you arrive. It certainly makes your visit more worthwhile if you have had an initial chat and already emailed your CV. You could end up walking out of there with an interview or potential assignment, as opposed simply to the opportunity of submitting your CV.

    Always have a copy of Passport of other relevant ID with you as this shows preparation and knowledge of legislation. It also allows the agency to have this on file already and to pre-reference you. In a market where there are so many applicants for each position, this will give you a head start against those candidates for whom they have only a CV.

    Good luck with the search, you know where I am if you need anything.