Why Register with HSI
When I started in my recruitment career 17 years ago, I had a set of files containing about 50 candidate records. I knew each one of them and it was my aim to place every single one. Now with the rise of internet based recruiting, agencies have thousands of candidates on their databases and this has contributed to a de-personalisation of the recruitment industry from the candidate’s perspective.
There are of course still many Recruitment Consultants out there who go the extra mile to build relationships and feel responsible for their candidates. However, there are always alot of negative comments about the industry in this area. There seems to be a general mismatch between candidates’ expectations of the recruitment industry in general, and the reality of their day to day experience.
I hope the following points will assist with managing your expectations during your job search and to give you more control:
1. Take responsibility for your own career
Agencies do not find people jobs, they search for potentially suitable candidates to fulfil their clients’ hiring expectations. The recruitment industry is hugely KPI and sales driven, so agencies are under pressure to perform. We at Hospitality Search International will certainly give you personalised advice and assistance. We would like to help and place every candidate we make contact with however, this is not always possible due to being a client driven market. Take charge of your own situation, give yourself the broadest possible exposure and don’t wait for them to call you – you will have to do most of the chasing!
2. Give yourself broad exposure
Register your CV with several agencies, and also post it in selective specific job boards. Make sure you have a lot of search words repeated in your CV as this will give you a higher ranking in the recruiter’s searches. You should also search for online jobs yourself, and if you see something you like send in your CV.
Recruitment really is a numbers game and you will be successful if you embrace this in your job search, whilst managing the frustrations of making many applications and only getting a small number of responses. Make it easy for agencies to reach you, with ALL your up to date contact information on your CV.
3. They are experts in their field
Recruitment agencies often have many branches and departments, from accounting to construction, to make sure they can offer you the best service possible. Because of their vast experience in their specific field, they also have many connections and jobs to offer you, meaning you can work together to find the best position for you.
4. Don’t apply for jobs that are not relevant
Read the job advertisement and if you don’t fulfil the criteria, don’t apply. If you just apply to every single job you see, you may eventually be seen as an unfocused candidate and could even be removed from the agency’s database. Keep track of the jobs you apply to via the web. Agencies often advertise the same role on different sites, so if you have already applied through one site, do not send your CV again through another. You will save yourself time, your expectations will be managed and you will not create the impression of being desperate.
5. They can help you succeed in your interview
As they have a relationship with your potential employer and they have spoken to them about their specific requirements, they can help you succeed in your interview. They can tell you what you should talk about and stress about yourself.
6. Build relationships
Choose 3 or 4 agencies that operate in your specialist area and make contact with an experienced consultant. It is better to deal with specialist agencies rather than generalists, as this reduces the level of risk in your application. Introduce yourself to the consultant, explain what you are looking for and ask their advice.
Also check how frequently they want you to check in with them for updates, and then make it a habit to have a quick catch up without becoming a pest. Remember, they are targeted and don’t have time to speak with you unless there is a real reason. You want to make sure you are top of their mind and on their database for the right reasons.
7. Working in partnership gives you a competitive advantage
If an agency calls you, make sure you call back quickly or answer immediately as timing is sometimes crucial. If they arrange an interview, confirm that you have received the details and call them back straight after the interview. Give them your feedback concisely and be specific about what happened in the interview. Give them time to contact the client for feedback before you chase too hard.
This all helps to build a relationship with your recruiter and even if you don’t get offered the first role, if you do well in interviews they will certainly put you forward to the next suitable role. If you under perform at interview or commit some of the most common faux pas (e.g arriving late, not grooming appropriately, bad mouthing your last employer) they will think hard before including you on a shortlist again.
8. Better exposure
If you use a recruitment agency as well as looking for a new position yourself, you will have better exposure than just researching yourself, meaning you will have more replies and interviews.
9. They will look for you
The main benefit of using a recruitment agency is that you will receive great exposure of yourself, saving you time and effort. This is a great advantage for many people who are under a lot of pressure in their current position and don’t have time to look for their next career move.
8 reasons you should register with Hospitality Search International today:
- Receive live updates and news specific to your sector
- Access exclusive content around interview preparation and salary surveys
- Apply for jobs quickly with your search criteria
- Access our industry specific blogs, content and videos
- Participate in our recommend a friend scheme
- Your details will allow us to consider you for the best, newest jobs as soon as they become available
- Receive our newsletter with leading sector news, articles, features and great job-hunting tips
- Control the information we have about you, your contact details, update your CV and tailor your search preferences
Do not delay - register today