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How to Choose the Right Recruitment Agency: For Candidates

Simon Clark • 2 September 2024

Choosing the right recruitment agency can have a huge impact on the success of your job search and help you to find the perfect opportunities but how do you find an agency that’s best suited to your career goals and experience? Here are some things to think about.


Define Your Goals

Before approaching a recruitment agency, it’s important to have a good understanding of what you’re looking for in your next role. Are you seeking permanent employment? Do you have specific skills, qualifications or industry experience that you want to leverage? Knowing what you want, and need will help you to find an agency that can fully support your job search.


What’s Their Track Record?

Look for an agency that has experience in your field. Recruitment agencies that specialise in your industry are more likely to have established relationships with employers in your sector and can connect you with relevant job opportunities quickly. Ask the agency about their success rate in placing candidates with a background like yours to ensure they can best meet your needs.


Understand the Process

A good recruitment agency will have a clear and efficient process for matching candidates with suitable employers. Find out how they source job openings, screen and select the candidates they present to employers. The right agency will take the time to understand your qualifications and preferences, ensuring you’re matched with roles that suit you.



Review Testimonials and Communication Styles

An excellent way to see if a recruitment agency is effective is by browsing testimonials from other job seekers they’ve helped. Think about how the agency has communicated with you too as good communication works both ways and is an essential part of successful job searching. Do you feel comfortable with how they handle interactions?

 

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Our experienced team is here to help. We specialise in connecting job seekers with the right opportunities and work closely with candidates to ensure a smooth and successful job search. For over 35 years, Shepherd Stubbs has been a trusted partner for job seekers across various industries. We have built strong relationships with employers and have the knowledge and resources to help you find your perfect role.

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LinkedIn Poll Results - December 2024

by Simon Clark • 19 December 2024
As we approach the end of 2024, our latest LinkedIn poll sought to uncover the primary professional goals of our network for the upcoming year. The responses we received provide a clear indication of shifting priorities in the modern workplace as we head into 2025. An overwhelming 64% of respondents identified 'Better Work/Life Balance' as their top professional goal for the new year. This significant majority underscores a growing trend among professionals prioritising their well-being and personal time equally with their career ambitions. It reflects a broader movement towards achieving a healthier balance between professional responsibilities and personal life, emphasising the importance of mental health and overall life satisfaction. 'Career Advancement' still remains a priority for many, with 21% of the votes, showing that climbing the professional ladder continues to be important but perhaps balanced with a desire for quality-of-life improvements. Surprisingly, both 'Skill Development' and 'Networking' received the same level of focus, each garnering 7% of the vote this month. This suggests that while continuing education and expanding professional connections are still valued, they may currently take a back seat to more pressing concerns related to personal well-being and career progression. These poll results highlight a critical shift in professional goals as we move into 2025, with a notable emphasis on achieving a sustainable work/life balance. This insight is invaluable for employers and HR professionals as they plan support systems and corporate cultures that align with the evolving needs of today’s workforce.

Key Indicators of a Successful Interview

by Jonathan Shepherd-Stubbs • 29 November 2024
Interviews are often the most nerve wracking part of the job seeking process and whilst you might be happy that you got the interview, you might wonder if it went as well as you’d hoped. This is a natural reaction to something as important as your career but there are several key signs that suggest your interview was a success, let’s take a look at them. Positive Body Language and Engagement We can usually tell when we get on well with someone and you can also read subtle signs in the interviewers body language which could mean that you left a good impression. Were they leaning forward, engaging with you and seeming interested in what you had to say? Did they respond enthusiastically to your answers? These are all good signs. The Interview Takes Longer Than Expected Interviews are typically structured to a strict timeframe to allow the interviewer to see multiple people and find the best candidate for the job. If your interview has gone over the allotted time but it doesn’t feel rushed, this is a really good sign and means that the company is open to learning more about you and sees potential. Natural Conversations If you have built up a natural rapport with your interviewer and the interview doesn’t seem like a basic question and answer session, this bodes well. If the interviewer also shares information about the company culture, team and future plans with you at this stage, it’s a sign they see you becoming part of their company. Next Steps Discussion If the employer takes the time to explain what the next steps of the process are going to be during your interview, asks about your availability for further stages or lets you know about their onboarding process, these are all good indicators that you are being strongly considered for the role. Introduction and Highlighting the Benefits Another sign that your interview has gone well is if your interviewer introduces you to other team members or key decision makers during the course of your interview. This shows that they personally have deemed you a good fit for the role and could be looking for a second opinion before they make a hiring decision. The interviewer could also begin to highlight the benefits of you working for their organisation, they might mention the ‘perks’ of working for the company, any career progression opportunities or just that it’s a great place to work. They could be trying to sell you the role within the company which often means they think you are a strong candidate.  Whilst the above points aren’t a guaranteed measure of success, they are really encouraging signs that your interview has gone well and that you have made a good impression on the company. If you are currently navigating the job market and need some professional support and guidance, we can help, contact us for advice and information on our current vacancies today.
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