Different recruitment agencies and your first recruitment job
Leading and international recruitment groups. These are usually recruitment agencies who over time have expanded into different industry sectors and then different locations over time. With their size and structures come many benefits to new consultant. They are likely to offer comprehensive training and development in addition to having promotion opportunities to aspire to within the company. These promotion opportunities will only be available to the best performers and they may require you to move offices or even countries.
Recruitment roles in these agencies are likely to cover a past of the recruitment process as theytend to break the role down into components such as resourcing, business development and account management, so it's very much a team effort. This can spread the responsibility and pressures of success across others to lighten your load. The converse is that it can be frustrating relying on others (perhaps less able than you) to generate results.
Multiple sector recruitment agencies operating form a single office. These are usually agencies who began in one sector and have branched out into other sectors to benefit from the infrastructure they have built. Additional sectors will likely be related in some way, for example pharmaceutical recruitment, healthcare and medical recruitment. as a consultant in such an agency you may manage a 'desk', the term given to the whole operation of that sector. As such you will have an autonomous role with high responsibility and accountability. This may bring with it high pressure but also big rewards for results. Training may be more limited than in larger multi office organisations as will internal development opportunities.
High Street recruitment agencies. These normally conduct what is known as temporary or contract recruitment, for example for administration al workers to cover of for temporary needs, perhaps sickness or maternity cover, or maybe increased work due to a specific contract. These roles are likely to involve manage a base of clients who will have regular needs for contract workers at short notice. You will also have to manage your candidates who you will rely on for your reputation with clients Earnings potential may not be as high as permanent recruitment roles above however, this may be a little less stressful than the huge peaks and troughs in performance that can often be experienced with permanent recruitment
Niche or boutique recruitment agencies. These agencies operate only in one industry sector and are often highly specialised. the may only have a small handful of staff and have been set up by a consultant or manager who was previously successful in that sector. the benefits of these companies are that they are small and friendly. They may not have the bureaucratic pressures of larger companies and you will have close personal contact with all company members However, the pressure to perform can be considerable, one weak link in a small company and everybody can see and feel the effects.
There are substantial differences between the working environments and task involved with different types of recruitment agencies so choose wisely. That said, if you are to press within the industry it is advisable to gain experience in a number of these roles. good luck
About the Author: John Bult runs a selection of job sites for recruitment agencies in the UK
More articles by john@ukcareers.co.uk
Print Article | Download PDF | 20 views | Jun 19 2008
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