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Our resident career doctor is here to study your problems and research the
best advice for you by consulting a vast army of experts.
Here, the career doctor advises an IT professional looking to get the best
out of recruitment agencies.
Dear career doctor,
I am a 36-year-old man trying to move into IT software development, having
worked as a computer officer at a university for eight years. Most IT firms
seem to advertise through recruitment agencies, so this is the route I am
pursuing, but I find dealing with agencies extremely frustrating.
For example, I find that they advise me to go for job outside my specified
geographical location and never seem to read my CV details properly.
They seem to be hindering rather than helping!
What I can I do to make them work for me?
J.
Dear J,
I have given your problems a lot of thought and discussed it with a
cross-section of recruitment specialists.
Firstly, all jobseeking requires homework and preparation, and just because
you are using an agency doesn't mean you can abdicate from your
responsibilities. This means clear lines of communication need to be
established from the start. To do this, step back for a moment from your
efforts so far.
Do you understand the agency scene?
Smaller agencies tend to offer a more personalised service, dealing with
a limited number of clients and contractors but getting to know the needs
of both parties, in terms of skills and personal requirements. However,
the smaller agency is unlikely to be able to offer a wide range of potential
positions, and will probably not be a preferred supplier to major
organisations.
Large agencies usually have more formalised systems and, as they employ
far more staff, you may be contacted by many different account managers.
Make sure that you have kept a copy of your CV in case they phone you to
ask about details, and take plenty of notes. Larger agencies may be
supplying many major recruiters.
Find a recruitment agency.
Once you have sent your CV to an agency, it is then the agency's job to
contact you about relevant roles which ideally, you will not only be
technically able to do but will be interested in undertaking. However, this
doesn't mean that you should be passive. If they appear to misunderstand your
CV or geographical limitations ask them why. No one can object to your
getting on the phone and asking relevant questions, since it's in everyone's
interest for you to get a job.
The CV that you produce is the main method for an agency to sell your
experience and skills. For the IT market your employment history
should cover:
- the hardware you have used;
- software platforms you are familiar with;
- main skills you have used and acquired;
- applications you have worked with;
- responsibilities, authorities;
- main achievements;
- a comprehensive list of all the software packages used and their
version number. Any techniques and methodologies used should also be
included;
- an accurate reflection of what you can do. Don't over- or under-sell
your strengths and experience.
More advice on writing a CV.
You should also bear in mind that as the IT industry is such a rapidly
changing environment, training to keep up to date with current
technologies is vital, so emphasise whatever training you have undertaken
already. Always demonstrate a willingness for continual learning and
when you get interviews ask what the employer can offer you in this regard.
Search for jobs with totaljobs.com.
Register for jobs by email.
Register your CV.
Good luck!
Career doctor
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