The
recruitment industry in the UK is huge, with recruitment agencies in
almost every industry sector you could imagine. There are many
common elements to all recruitment jobs, however, within this
industry lies a range of choices for the types of recruitment agency
you could work for. Here are some of the main types of recruitment
agencies you will find with some of their key features for you as an
employee.
Large multinational recruitment agencies.
These companies will have 100s and possibly thousands of staff
worldwide and benefit the ecnomies of scale that large companies can
generate. They are likely to have highly established brands in
their markets meaning business development requirements may be
limited, and indeed they are likely to have a business development
specialist for this task. The recruitment consultant role in these
companies is likely to be fairly narrow, with perhaps resourcers
doing initial database searches with the consultant doing the final
selection for submitting to the client, ultimately managing the
relationship with the recruiting manager.
Large recruitment agencies are also likely to have strong internal
training processes in place
from and intial training course to ongoing training as you
develop. In addition, for successful
recuritment consultants there will be development
opportunities, places higher up the structure
to aim for, promoted positions in other offices or even
other companies. That said, there will
be string competition from all the other consultants in
the organisation
Smaller but cross functional recruitment
agencies. There are many of these in the UK. They usually stem
from a niche specific agency which has exapnded into other relaed
areas. For example a recruitment to recruitment agency who sets up
a sales desk and a graduate desk. a catering agency that bracnhes
out into hospitality. In these companies you may find you have a
more autnomous and all encompassing role in charge of a desk in a
particualr sector or at least part of a very much smaller team than
the larger organisations. you may find the rewards for greater
responsibility are higher but so are the pressures that go with
this. Trianing may not be as thorough in smaller organisation and
consequently they may look to employ people with direct experience
who don't need as much training.
Temporary recruitment agencies. These may be
high street agencies or agencies in sectors where contract work is
common, such as construction, nursing and medicine, pharmacy and
more. In these roles you will have candidates employed by your
agency on behalf of the client generating smaller but regualr fees.
Rather than the one off big hit of permanent recruitment agencies
this role has more elements of account management in constantly
looking to fill your clients vacancies. In addition there is the
additional need to manage candidates who ultimately have the ability
to make you look good or not. A temporary worker who fails to turn
out for work won't do you any favours, if they are letting you down
you need to have your finger on the pulse.
Small boutique/niche specific recruitment
agencies. These are very often either born from recruitment
consultants who have decided to set up their own agency or an
industry manager who has been on the receivinh end of recruitment
services. In these companies you will very much feel you are on the
cutting edge of business with fortunes swaying month on month.
Excellent performance can often bring very high rewards in
businesses with relatively low overheads. However, when things are
tough you are more likely to feel the bumps. Training is often very
limited, perhaps shadowing an experienced consultant or Director for
a few days, don't expect a formal training program. Also
opportunities to develop may be limited if the agency is to remain
small and limited. But, if you think oyu would enjoy being a big
fish in a samll pond this may be for you.
If
you are planning a career in recuritment and have ambitions to
progress, it would be advisable to experiecne different types of
recruitment agencies on the ground level. Agencies can vary greatly
in there work environment, the types of tasks you will face in
addition to varying amounts of pressures.
