Recruitment Agencies – Why Use Them?

You have heard about recruitment agencies, but you may not be aware of what these firms do. Just as the name sounds, recruitment agencies are companies or firms that have a list of job vacancies and a database of people who are looking out for jobs. They match their database of job seekers with job vacancies as and when they come up. These agencies sprung up in America in the year 1893. Fred Winslow started an engineering firm in 1893 and that later on became part of a much broader network called the General Employment Enterprise. The mode of operation of this firm was similar to what recruitment agencies do nowadays. The basic aim of recruitment agencies is to identify, locate and then hire workers on permanent or contractual basis. The temporary agencies handle the recruited people on short term contracts. Many companies like to outsource some of their workload during the peak season or when permanent staffs are on holidays. It is to fill this gap that temporary agencies hire people. There have also been situations where temporary staffs have been upgraded to full time jobs if proved efficient.

There are recruitment agencies that provide services within their country and agencies that provide services to employers abroad. International agencies are known to be present in larger numbers than local recruitment agencies. This is due to the fact that there is always a demand for employment abroad and there are more takers for jobs that come from another country. In fact the highest number of recruitment agencies is sourcing employees for the Middle East, where there is a high demand for foreign workers. The agencies in UAE are on the lookout for persons with varying skills and they usually have a job for people from most backgrounds. With the popularity of internet growing there are many agencies that operate online. Such online recruitment agencies are known to be very successful as the information gets across to the prospective employer and the employee at a much shorter time. There are also many recruitment sites where employers can post their requirement and job seekers can post their bio data onto the website. This gives both the employee and the employee a platform to interact before the final decision is taken. Many such online websites are springing up and are proving to be very successful.

In this modern world, many companies rely on recruitment agencies to find the right person for the job. In general, the agencies do not charge a free from the job seeker. It is the employers who pay the recruitment agencies a fee for finding them an employee that suits their requirement. So as a job seeker you do not end up paying for the agencies services. By going through an agency, you can save time that you would otherwise spend going through classified sections. If you are looking for a job in a particular sector, these agencies are your best bet as they will have a list of jobs that you are looking for and that will help you to land up with a job of your preference. These agencies will also be able to help you in preparing your CV and in preparing for interviews. They can also provide you with valuable feedback on the interviews that you attend and help you by doing mock interviews. Many employers prefer to go through recruitment agencies as they are a one point contact for their recruitment needs. Such employers may not entertain you if you apply to them directly. With so many advantages that a job seeker can avail with the help of a agency, it is a good choice to utilize their services.

With a host of recruitment agencies operating in the market, a job seeker has to exercise some caution before entrusting their future with a recruitment agency. Past records of the agency has to be checked properly and it is better to approach one that has been licensed to recruit people. In the case of online sites, go for reputed sites and check their disclaimer before moving forward. There are many bogus agencies that operate in the market and one has to aware of such agencies. These agencies often request job seekers to pay a nominal amount as registration fee and this is a sign for you to be cautious when dealing with the agency. Be smart and be aware otherwise bogus recruitment agencies can take you for a ride.