I know what you’re thinking:
“Wait. What? A blog titled ‘The wonderful (and not so weird) reasons why you should hire a recruitment agency’ that’s been written by a recruitment agency. This I’ve got to see.”
Am I right? Either that or you’re generally interested in hearing us bang on about why we’re so good and how we can help you hire the best talent, save you time and money and negotiate salaries.
So let’s go.
Like a berry picker, but for talent
Just like a personal shopper knows how to find the best garments and a berry picker knows where the ripest berries grow, recruitment agencies know how and where to find the best talent.
And it’s not just people who are searching for a job. No. Because recruitment agencies have access to people who are currently employed but are open to a new role if the ‘right’ one comes up. And believe it or not, it’s often these people who come through as the ‘ideal’ candidates — which explains why they’re already sitting cushy in a role.
As well as the actual hiring part, recruitment agencies come with bags of knowledge and a professional phonebook fuller than Kim Ks they can tap into to help connect you with the right people.
Free up your time
Unless you’re in recruitment, sifting through a pile of resumes will feel about as tedious as teaching a kitten to sit. Luckily, your recruitment agency will take care of this, so you can focus all your attention on the candidates who make the cut.
Scheduling interviews can be stressful and time-consuming, too, especially if you’re as busy as a politician at the smell of money. If you hire a recruitment agency, all you’ll need to do is turn up, smile, listen and be nice. Because here’s another thing, we can do the talking on your behalf if you want us to — you know, if you’re shy. But more on that a few points down.
Keeping candidates in the loop when hiring is massive, whether it’s to pop them an update or let them know they haven’t got the job. Thankfully, this industry is full of chatterboxes (you should hear our office at lunchtime), and recruitment agencies are pros at delivering bad news, so they’ll make candidates feel loved — even the unsuccessful ones.
A big bag of tricks
Recruitment agencies don’t just hire people. No. They’ve got a big bag of tricks that, to businesses, are very appealing. These include conducting interviews, following up on references, and making sure candidates aren’t telling fibs on their resumes. You know, all the things you’d love to be able to do but can’t because you don’t have the time, skills or data.
A recruitment agency is another pair of eyes and a second opinion, too, which you can use for things like narrowing down a long list of candidates. And, because of the provisional tests recruitment agencies use, businesses feel assured that any candidate they meet in person is good.
You’ll save money now and in the future
Let’s be frank. When we say a recruitment agency will save you money, don’t expect to see thousands of dollars rolling into your bank account overnight. Instead, we mean small savings here and there that add up over time.
The biggest saving will no doubt be on job adverts. And yep, you guessed it, because we’ll use your ad sparingly and only in places that we know will get a good quality response. One other short term saving will be on overtime. Temp hours through a recruitment agency are generally cheaper than asking staff to work overtime. Plus, it saves you from having to have that awkward chat with your team, you know where you ask them to do overtime, and they’re really nice about it and say yes, but inside, their blood’s boiling. Yeh, that.
We should mention the long-term savings, too. Using a recruitment agency to hire can be quite long the first time around, you know, while they get to know your business and its requirements. But they’ll only need to do this once, so every hire after the first will be quicker and less expensive.
Salary negotiation? Consider it done
Salaries aren’t always easy to negotiate, and money talk, in general, can be awkward. How do you know what to offer? What happens if the candidate wants to negotiate? Do our job ads feature all the right benefits? These questions will most likely cement themselves in your head when you’re hiring.
And the last thing you want as an employer is to get to the final stages of hiring, having settled on a candidate, only to realise the salary on offer is planets apart from what the candidate wants.
As well as being your personal negotiator, a recruitment agency will help you benchmark the salary against other businesses in your industry, to ensure you’re not charging too high or too little.
You’re 15 and you’re about to apply for your first job. Your parents give you one piece of advice. They say: “Zack, whatever job you go for when you apply, pick up the phone and introduce yourself.”
It made perfect sense. Because as well as being able to have a good chat with the employer, it allowed you to subtly talk about your strengths and re-affirm your interest, and it gave them an idea of what you’d be like to work with.
That was many (many) years ago when fewer things were strictly online and cover letters weren’t a typical part of the job application. Fast forward to now, and cover letters are crucial to opening the door.
What is the purpose of a cover letter?
In a couple of hundred words, your cover letter needs to convince the reader you are worth getting to know. It should highlight your genuine interest, and outline your career, accomplishments and experience, along with why you’re the right person for the role.
It will be the first thing the employer or recruiter looks at, presuming you haven’t bombarded them with emails begging for the job. And if the role you’re applying for has a lot of applications (which most do), yours might be judged solely on your cover letter, at least at first. If it’s good, they will move on to your resume. If it’s not, well, you don’t need us to tell you what happens next.
Keep it clear and concise
You know what they say, first impressions count. They count when you’re meeting your other half’s parents and they count when someone’s reading your cover letter. But here’s the thing, there’s no guarantee that someone will read your cover letter. More than likely, they will skim it. So it needs to be clear and concise.
One of the soft skills businesses value most is good written communication. And properly formatting and addressing your cover letter and resume show exactly that.
Sending a resume with a shoddy cover is like turning up for an interview and getting the company’s name wrong, and not bothering to send one altogether is well… like not turning up at all.
Make it personal
Professional? Yes. Corporate? No. Your goal is to make the person reading feel an irresistible urge to get to know you more. If you do, it’s a hit and you’re through to the next round.
The most sure-fire way to hook them is to inject a bit of your personality. You can do this by using a slightly more conversational tone, customising the letter to suit each specific role you apply for, and leaving out any mentions of “Dear”, “Sir”, “Madam” and “Best Regards”. Or even worse, ‘To whom it may concern’. Instead “Hi” and “Thank you” are fine, and take the time to find the addressee’s name. It’s a letter to an employer, not the Prime Minister.
But, how do you write one?
Tips to help you write a cover letter
Cover letters aren’t easy to write. If they were, good cover letters wouldn’t exist, and every Tom, Dick and Halle Berry would be landing top jobs. There’s an art to it, like learning how to paint when you’re little without ripping the paper. Here are a few things to think about when you’re writing:
Get to know the company: It helps to know about the company you’re prepared to spend 40 hours a week working for. You might find that you have some skills they’ll really benefit from, which you can shout about in the opening paragraph.
Keep it short and snappy: Short, snappy and to the point wins 100% of the time. Make it easy to scan and quick to digest, at a maximum of one page and with lots of white space.
Use a clear font and bullet points: Pick a font that’s easy to skim. And use bullet points to get your key messages across.
Be positive and upbeat: While it’s okay to show glimpses of your personality, remember to keep things above board. Might be obvious, but avoid using slang or phrases with negative connotations.
Avoid technical jargon: It may seem counter-intuitive when you are trying to convince the reader that you’re an expert in your field. But often your cover letter may first be scanned by a HR Administrator or even a computer software program that is not able to quickly recognise complex role-specific lingo that can only be learnt after years in the trade.
Name drop: No, we’re not saying put down the time you think you saw Johnny Depp at the airport. If someone within the company referred you, pop their name in your cover letter as close to the opening paragraph as you can.
So *clears throat* keep introducing yourself the old fashioned way by picking up the phone and saying hello. But also give the people what they want – your personality, skills, experience and how you will add value to the role – wrapped up in a few paragraphs on one page. Follow this formula and watch your cover letter do the talking.
Your interview outfit will depend on the type of job you’re going for. Different industries have specific expectations for candidates, so here are some examples of what to wear to a job interview.
Business formal
Fetch your best three-piece, blow off the dust, and don’t forget the iron, because you’re going to need it. For banking, legal, finance and high-profile sales jobs, nothing but a suit will do. This needs to be as professional as a professional can be. The more assertive, confident and polished, the better.
Most prefer a tailored suit, trousers or skirt. Pair this with a plain or light-coloured shirt or blouse. Avoid black as you’re not going to a funeral and scrap the novelty tie unless you plan on stopping by the bingo hall on the way home to lend a hand calling out the numbers. Go with pastel, navy or grey to appear uber approachable.
Your choice of footwear is just as important. A smart black shoe or heel so clean, you can literally see your face in them, is best. If you’re wearing heels, save yourself the embarrassment of falling over by choosing something no bigger than three inches and making sure you can walk comfortably in them.
Avoid too much jewellery. A watch and a couple of rings is fine, but think smart, not tacky. If you don’t own any smart jewellery, go bare.
Business casual
Defining a business casual outfit isn’t so straightforward, as everyone has their own take on what it means and the clothes that define it. But as the name suggests, it’s a mix of casual and formal clothing — the type of people who work in marketing, education, tech and administration wear.
Chinos, smart trousers or a knee-length skirt work well for a smart casual outfit. For the top half, think more casual. So a blouse or a button-down shirt with an open blazer or lightweight jacket. Or a v-neck with a shirt underneath. Feel free to add a bit of colour to your outfit too.
Complete the look with a flat, closed-toe shoe, boot or sneaker. Avoid trainers and open-toe shoes. And swap the briefcase for an over the shoulder bag or backpack.
Smart casual
If you’re in a creative role, whether it’s fashion, arts or theatre, this one’s for you. Injecting a little flair into your outfit seems fit for this industry — so you can feel free to express more of yourself through this first impression.
Think about the things you wear outside of work, and just tone it down a notch or two. A dark jean instead of a light jean. A full-length dress instead of a shorter one. A shoe or boot instead of a trainer. A plain tee instead of a graphic tee. You get the picture.
Oh, and don’t feel pressured to dress up if it’s not your normal style. You want to feel 100% comfortable, so keep things plain and simple if that’s usually how you roll.
Role specific
If you’re in construction, healthcare or traffic control, you might be used to wearing a uniform to work, accessorised with personal protective equipment like glasses, gloves and a not-so-Melbourne-Cup-ready piece of headwear.
There are times when it will be appropriate to wear this uniform to interview, but it will depend. Consider the nature of the role you are applying for, the location of the interview, and the time of day – regardless of whether the uniform is appropriate, it won’t be a good look if it’s the end of a busy shift and you’re covered in dirt.
When in doubt about whether your industry get-up will make for a good interview outfit, follow our tips below to find the answer or opt for a business casual look.
What to do if you’re unsure of the dress code
Sometimes it’s easy to find out what you should wear to your interview. Other times it’s not as clear-cut. But you need to get it right if you want to feel comfortable and give yourself the best chance of getting the job.
If you’re struggling to know what you should wear, try the following:
Visit the company’s website and social media: If they post pictures of their employees you can get an idea of its workplace dress code. Always go one step up from this though, as interviews can bring a touch more formality than what becomes the norm once you’re ‘in’.
Read the job ad: The language they use should give you a good idea of the workplace culture. If it’s corporate, go business formal. If it’s more laid back, business casual.
Ask: There’s nothing wrong with asking for interview dress tips from whoever you’ve been talking to. In fact, we recommend it. Take the guesswork out by asking beforehand what style of dress would be most appropriate.
If all else fails, always play it safe and dress smart. It’s much better to be overdressed than underdressed, both for your confidence and the impression it’ll leave.
Final thoughts
Always prep what you’re going to wear a day or three in advance to avoid a mad last dash around your house or finding an unsightly coffee stain, which can be a real confidence killer.
Resist the pressure to buy anything new (unless you really need to) and have a full dress rehearsal with a friend or family member beforehand.
And above all else, make sure you feel confident and comfortable in what you wear.
Interview questions. The better they are, the more you know and the more you impress.
But we’ve all been there, lost for words when asked if we have any questions about the job or the company. Not a great look, especially if you’re committing 40-hours a week of your time—and all you have to go off is a job description.
So you need to prepare. But what questions to ask in a job interview?
Well, to make sure you’re asking questions that strike gold, we’ve put together some absolute beauties that’ll make a good impression and ensure you come away with lots of useful information.
Questions About the Role
- Can you describe a typical day or week in the job?
Start with the basics. Ask what a typical working day or week looks like to give you an idea of what you’ll be doing. Or if it’s a multi-skilled role, how they’ll expect you to split your time.
Say, for example, the job description mentioned a mix of analysis and admin, you’ll want to know whether it will be a 50/50 split across the two, or whether you’ll be focussing on one more than the other.
And don’t settle for the answer, ‘oh, every day is different. If they say this, ask what the previous month looked like for the person in your position. Doing so will stop you from walking into chaos — or a job where expectations aren’t defined.
2. What challenges do you expect the person in this position to face?
Unrealistic budgets, interdepartmental politics, a pain in the backside coworker, these are all things you can get at by asking what challenges you’ll face in the role.
While we don’t advise only asking questions that lead to a sales pitch about yourself, if asking about challenges leads to an open conversation about how you’ve dealt with similar things in the past, go for it. It can benefit you and the employer and help reassure them that you’ll tackle these challenges without a blip.
Questions About the Company
3. How would you describe the culture here?
The last thing you want is to step foot into a toxic work culture that has more red flags than a Matador. Asking about the work culture and overall vibe is a great way to find out whether you’ll fit in — and whether the job description lives up to your expectations.
After asking, you might find that the company is too corporate. Or, maybe you’ll discover there’s a lack of drive, ambition, and that ‘creative studio’ you were excited to work in is really just an office.
Asking about the culture will give you an insight into the business’ priorities, work-life balance, employee benefits etc. And it leads nicely onto number five.
4. What do you like about working here?
This is one of our favourites. You’ll want to pay attention to how the interviewer answers this question, as it’ll give you an indication of what it’s like to work for said company.
Someone who genuinely likes their job and the company they work for should be able to reel off a handful of things they enjoy, even when put on the spot. So, if there’s a long pause and they can’t find an answer, or they joke and say, ‘the paycheck’, run a mile. But not before you’ve asked this next one.
5. What are the opportunities like within the company? Is there a chance to progress?
Knowing whether you have a future with a company early on can only be a good thing. Because the last thing you want is to accept the job and find out you will be working in the same role for as long as you are on the books.
Asking about your future shows you’re passionate about your career, too. And that you see a long-term relationship with the company, which will please the interviewer.
6. How can I impress in the first three months?
Most jobs have a three-month probationary period, in which it’s your chance to shine. Knowing what they expect from you will help you kick on and smash through this period.
More than anything, though, it shows you’re eager to impress. Plus, if you get through the probationary period having met the targets they set, it shows that you can do the job.
Questions About the Next Steps
7. What’s your timeline for the next steps?
This one’s pretty straightforward, but when the adrenaline’s pumping, it’s easy to forget to ask when you’ll hear a response. The wait can be agonising after a job interview, so knowing the company’s timeline will ease some of the worries that can settle in if you haven’t heard back after a week or two.
Recruiters face many challenges that have the potential to leave them screaming into their pillows at night. To help you avoid this, here are the common recruitment challenges every company will face in 2022, along with tips on how to overcome them.
1. Attracting Good Candidates
Just like finding a fine wine to pair with a Saturday afternoon grazing plate, attracting top talent can be tricky and takes a little intricacy.
When it comes to recruiting, attracting good candidates is one of the biggest (and most stressful) challenges you will face. Because without good talent, how are you going to grow your business the way you want?
Tip: When writing a job ad, ask yourself ‘what benefit is this brining the candidate?’ and include those details at the top. We tend to get caught up talking about the features of the company, but no one cares about how many awards you’ve won.
Use ‘you’ and ‘your’ more than ‘we’.
I.e., “You’re a natural negotiator and this role will have you involved every step of the way”. Try it.
2. Hiring Fast
No one will blame you for wanting to get talent through the door quickly, especially not the candidate, who’ll also be rooting for this. Yet, despite this, it can take companies many months to make a hire. But why?
Well, there are several reasons why this could be, such as a shortage of candidates, too long reaching a consensus that the candidate goes elsewhere or a ridiculously long hiring process.
Tip #1: Look at your hiring process: Are all the stages necessary? Are you looking in the right places for your candidates? Are you responsive when a candidate enquires about the position? These are all questions to ask that will help streamline your process.
3. Engaging Qualified Candidates
The better you are at your job, the more people want you. Qualified candidates will be surrounded by recruiters, like fans around a frontman in a crowded gig. Not only does this make it tougher for you to get their attention, but trickier to keep them engaged, too.
Tip: It’s all about research. Before contacting a passive candidate, research what motivates them, their passions — and give them exactly that. Personalise an email and highlight all the things you can offer them. Think less about you, and more about them.
4. Building a Strong Employer Brand
If your company’s Google listing features more 1 star reviews than Nicholas Cage’s IMDb profile, chances are you’ll struggle to attract and engage top talent.
Studies show that 69% of candidates will avoid a company if it has a bad reputation. And candidates will read six company reviews before deciding whether to go through a job application. So it’s worthwhile having a strong online presence.
Tip: Remember when your boss asked you to reply to all your online reviews? Well, now’s the time to start doing it. Also, chat to your marketing team about how you can start using social proof online and how you can showcase what it’s really like to work at your company.
5. Using Data to your Advantage
As complex and as stressful as it is at times, using data when recruiting can help you snap up the best talent. Unlike using spreadsheets, which require tons of manual work and are prone to human error, recruitment software makes it easy for you to organise and compile data in an efficient way.
Tip: Using systems like ATS or Google Analytics, you can store and export reports and track key recruitment metrics that matter to you and your business.
6. Recruiting Fairly
There are no two ways about it, companies have to recruit fairly, meaning employing people of different cultures, backgrounds and genders. The benefits of having a diverse workplace outweigh any old fashioned stereotypes ten times over, and it’s not just about brand reputation or some lofty social goal of ‘inclusion’, either.
A diverse workplace is not only a creative and productive one but also one that makes people feel included, no matter who they are or where they come from.
Tip: Use objective hiring techniques like structured interviews and ‘blind’ hiring software, and ensure your panel of interviewers bring a wide range of unique perspectives.
7. Giving Candidates a Good Experience
Think back to a time when you were treated so well, you got that warm, fuzzy, butterfly feeling inside. I bet that moment sticks in your mind and makes you feel good when you think about it, right? This is how you need to make your best candidates feel.
The way you treat your candidates should mirror how you treat your employees. Doing so will not only give your brand a good reputation, but if the candidate is considering several offers, it might push your company to the top of their list.
Tip: There’s nothing worse than leaving a candidate hanging, so always tell them when they can expect to hear a response. And if you’re scheduling an interview, give them all the info they need (like who to ask for, what they need to bring) and explain what they should expect from the interview. And lastly, be nice.
If you bet one Australian dollar that the job market would look like it does now, you’d be laughing it up on a yacht sipping a margarita right now.
So the pandemic flipped the job market on its head and inside out, leaving candidates at sea about how best to bag the job of their dreams, but don’t worry. Because we’ve got the best job search strategies that will ensure you’re doing everything possible to help you secure the job of your dreams in 2022 and beyond.
1. Update your resume
Think of your resume like a shop window. It needs to impress. It needs to stop people in their tracks. And it needs to give employers/recruiters an overview of your career, skills and expertise.
An unknown golden rule when sending a resume is to tweak it to the job you’re applying for, whether it’s highlighting specific skills or adding words or phrases that feature in the job description.
And don’t forget to add a little bit of creativity if you’re applying for a marketing or design role. Just because it’s a resume doesn’t mean it needs to sound like a robot, caked in jargon. Yes, keep it professional. But let it live a little, too.
2. LinkedIn, LinkedIn, LinkedIn
Speaking from personal experience, LinkedIn is the place to be if you’re on a job hunt. It’s a hot, thriving paradise for job seekers. Studies show that 80% of jobs are now fulfilled internally or through networking, and we’ll bet a fair few of those are on LinkedIn.
A scroll-stoppingly good profile has the potential to bag you the job of your dreams, as cringy as that sounds. Unlike your CV, which is limited to a few hundred words, your LinkedIn profile is a chance to get your personality across. And unless you’re a deeply horrible person, this can work in your favour when it comes to applying for jobs and being headhunted.
3. Learn a New Skill
Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world”, which is something we agree with, not just in a work environment, but in life in general, too.
Whether it’s attending a webinar or completing an online course, every little helps and the more training and educational pieces you have on your resume, the better — even if it’s the odd free course. (Psst, LinkedIn is great for these.)
4. Smile, You’re on Camera
Every person and their pet spider are using Zoom, whether for chatting to their pals or having weekly catch-ups with their manager. While we have the pandemic to thank for that, Zoom is here to stay, and with it, video interviews.
Being prepared for video interviews will set you in good stead for when the inevitable happens, and you get invited to attend or complete one. Familiarise yourself with the best practices, interview formats and software you’ll need to use.
5. Be Selective with Your Search
It’s easy to get roped into applying for jobs that don’t quite match what you’re looking for, especially if you’ve been unemployed for a while. But try not to. Broadening your search too wide will only halt your progress, as applying for jobs you’re not entirely passionate about will only lead to you cutting corners and therefore, rejections and time not-so-well spent.
Also, your passion (or lack thereof) for the role will come across in an interview. If you can’t speak freely, openly and honestly about your expertise and experience, this could be a red flag for the interviewer.
6. Check Out Company Websites
It’s a well-known fact that a lot of companies don’t advertise on job sites. Instead, they use their website and social channels. So if you have a company in mind that you’d love to work for, invest time in getting to know what makes them tick.