Working with an Agency / Recruiter / Headhunter

As we discussed yesterday, not all vacancies are openly advertised and recruited for by the Company in question. Many start their jou
ey with a recruiter or headhunter. Sometimes, typically if they are with an agency, they will be being advertised somewhere with the Company name omitted. If they are with a headhunter you will only hear about them when you get 'the call'. So, how do you get yourself inline for these jobs? Well, the first thing you can do is to research who the top agencies are within your chosen field and then contact them. Most agencies prefer it if you work with them exclusively so you might be better to pick one to send your CV to, in which case decide who you think will work most proactively on your behalf. You can ask questions like; do you have many clients that look to hire someone with my skills and experience and will you speak to multiple clients about me? Then agree a set time of exclusivity; two to four weeks depending on the seniority of the role would be a good starting point. You can always extend that if you think they are doing a great job. To get 'the call' from a headhunter you need to be 'found'. This might be because a colleague or friend recommends you so where possible let people know you are at least open to look for a new role and that you are happy for them to pass on your number. It might be because you have spoken at an event or published an article, so if you are looking make sure your contact details are easy to find somewhere within your work. Or it may be from doing a search on a professional networking site such as linkedin.com. LinkedIn is a fantastic site and is much used by headhunters so make sure your profile is complete and shows you in the best possible light. Include the relevant information as you would on your CV. Then link to people so that you appear in more networks. Personally, I have even used Facebook to find people; normally by posting on my status that anyone with x, y and z should ping me an email. Equally that is another chance for your friend or relative to put your name forward.

For help working with agencies, being found by headhunters or making the transition from where you are to where you want to be please contact one of our Consultant Coaches by visiting our website at http://www.churchillbrook.co.uk